Europe during the Middle Ages

1. Section 3 Chapter 1 Europe during the Middle Ages

2. The Viking Explorations • The Vikings were from Scandinavia– this includes Denmark, Norway, and Sweden • The curved ends of the Viking ships made them better for the rough North Atlantic • They raided and traded through out Europe • Much of what we know about the Vikings comes from sagas (Viking stories)

3. The Viking Explorations • Leif Erikssongathered a crew in about A.D. 1000 and reached North America, landing on the island of Newfoundland (first European contact with North America) • Eriksson settled at an area called Vinland but left after a few years • Their main reason for leaving was Native attacks

4. The Middle Ages • The Middle Ages in Europe begins as the Roman Empire ends in the late A.D. 300s • The time period is roughly from A.D. 500 to 1500 • Trade and communication during this time were limited and populations of cities fell

5. The Middle Ages • Feudalism emerged during this time period • Vassals would pledge their loyalty to a lord in exchange for land • Lords needed money to equip and feed knights that defended their manor (large estate)

6. The Middle Ages • Peasants were free tenants or serfs that farmed the land • Tenants rented their land while serfs lived on the land for free both were loyal to the lord in exchange for his protection

7. Life on the Manor • Lords and their families lived in large wooden or stone houses or castles • Noblemen spent their time ruling, fighting in battle, and managing their farmland • Noblemen and Noblewomen spent a large amount of time carrying out duties as Christians • Eleanor of Aquitaine was described as the ideal noblewomen as “beautiful yet virtuous (moral), powerful yet gentle, humble yet keenwitted (intelligent) • As a peasant the whole family lived, ate, and slept in the same room • Under feudalism a person’s birth usually determined their place in society

8. The Catholic Church • The Catholic Church was the center of religious and social life in the Middle Ages • Most Europeans during this time were Roman Catholic • By the 800s, the Church owned large amounts of land and advised rulers on important decisions • Many art and achitecture projects were paid for by the Catholic Church

9. The Catholic Church • Monasteries were important because they housed monks who gave up all personal possessions and created centers of learning and produced books • Though Monasteries themselves had vast lands

10. The Catholic Church • Convents allowed the same thing for women who would then become nuns • Women would sometimes choose this life instead of marriage and child-rearing • Convents did allow women to become educated which did not happen any where else

11. The Rise of Nations • During the mid and late Middle Ages some nobles were losing power to kingdoms • William of Normandy conquered England in 1066 and made it into one of the kingdoms in the world • He then surveyed the kingdom and put together the “Domesday Book” or Day of Judgement Book for taxes

12. The Rise of Nations • In 1215 the nobles rebelled against William’s great-great-grandson King John and made him sign the Magna Carta (Great Charter) • It was the first document that protected free people from the King

13. The Rise of Nations • In the early 1200s trade greatly increased and Italian Merchants began to trade with nations around the Mediterranean Sea and northern Europe • This marked the beginning of the Renaissance, a rebirth of arts and learning of ancient Greece and Rome

14. The Rise of Nations • Farming changed during this time as farmers learned to rotate crops, fertilize crops, and new technology lead to a greater output for farmers • This lead to rise in population in towns and cities • With this growth of technology, trade, and kingdoms– the 1500s marked the ending of the Middle Ages