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The Middle Ages

The document summarizes the Middle Ages in Europe. It describes the collapse of centralized government after Rome, the rise of feudalism, and some key events. Specifically, it notes that Christianity became dominant, Charlemagne established the Holy Roman Empire in 800 AD but it collapsed after his death, and society developed a rigid feudal hierarchy with lords, vassals, knights, and serfs.

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enrico.cara09
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20 views19 pages

The Middle Ages

The document summarizes the Middle Ages in Europe. It describes the collapse of centralized government after Rome, the rise of feudalism, and some key events. Specifically, it notes that Christianity became dominant, Charlemagne established the Holy Roman Empire in 800 AD but it collapsed after his death, and society developed a rigid feudal hierarchy with lords, vassals, knights, and serfs.

Uploaded by

enrico.cara09
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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- T HE M I D D L E A G E S-

BY ENRICO
I. Introduction

A. After the collapse of Rome, there was a lack of strong central


government in Western Europe
B. Characteristics of the Early Middle Ages
included:

1. Disruption of trade

2. A decline in learning

3. Loss of a common language

4. A general lack of progress


C. Urban centers disappeared as people moved to rural settings

D. Christianity became the dominant religion in Europe during the Middle


Ages
E. The Battle of Tours

1. An army led by Charles Martel stopped the advance of Muslim


armies at the northern border of Spain

2. Prevented the spread of Islam in Europe


II. Charlemagne

A. Germanic Kingdoms that invaded Roman territory stake


their claim to small areas of land in Western Europe
1. Spain – Visigoths

2. Germany – Saxons

3. Britain – Anglo-Saxons

4. Italy – Lombards

5. The Balkans – Avars and Slavs

6. France / Western Germany – Franks


B. Charlemagne established a centralized kingdom in 800 A.D.

1. This was known as the Holy Roman Empire


2. Charlemagne was crowned emperor by the Pope

a. This expanded papal power in Western European political affairs


C. Under Charlemagne’s rule, the Holy Roman Empire flourished with
accomplishments such as:

1. The revival of learning and the return of trade


D. Following Charlemagne’s death,
the Holy Roman Empire collapsed

E. The Treaty of Verdun divided the


Holy Roman Empire into three pieces
in 843 A.D.
III. Feudalism

A. A lack of strong leaders led to a


new system of government and land
holding, know as feudalism

B. One of the reasons behind the


development of feudalism was to
provide protection from three groups
of invaders

1. Vikings

2. Magyars

3. Muslims
C. Political characteristics of feudalism included:

1. Decentralized governments

2. A system of local government based on the control of land


and mutual obligations
3. Kings granted land to their nobles
in return for their pledge of loyalty
and military support

a. The land kings gave to


nobles was called a fief

4. Local lords made their own laws


and controlled their own armies
D. Social characteristics of feudalism included:

1. The division of society into a rigid class system

2. Class was determined by birth and there was little social


mobility
3. The four feudal classes were:

a. Lords

b. Vassals

c. Knights

d. Serfs

4. Serfs were bound to the land


and had few rights
5. Noble women had few rights but did have control of their husband’s
fiefdoms when they died

6. Chivalry was the ethical and moral code of knights


E. Economic characteristics of
feudalism included:

1. Manorialism was the


economic system of feudalism

a. The manor was


the lord’s estate

2. The economy of the


manor was self-sufficient

3. There were limited advances


in agriculture or industry

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