Medieval Europe: Social Systems

1. Medieval Europe: Social Systems

2. The “Dark” Ages • After the fall of the western Roman Empire, Europe entered a period of political and social turmoil popularly called the Dark Ages (“dark” as in “not enlightened”) • But were the Dark Ages really all that “dark”?

3. The Franks • Germanic invaders • In 486 AD, Clovis, first king of the Franks, conquered the Roman province of Gaul (France) and converted to Christianity as a way to unite his people under his rule

4. Battle of Tours • In 732 AD, Frankish king Charles “the Hammer” Martel led his Christian Franks to a victory over Muslim invaders at Tours, France, stopping Islam’s advance into Europe (although Spain remained under Muslim rule for the next 750 years.)

5. Charlemagne • Frankish King Charlemagne (or “Charles the Great”) • Rewarded by the pope (head of the Christian church) for his loyalty to the Church with the title “King of the Romans” • Tried to establish a united Christian empire across Western Europe, but it did not survive his death • Valued education and did much to revive formal learning in Europe • Laid the foundation for the European feudal system that dominated the Middle Ages

6. Threats to Europe • Outside invaders: • Muslims periodically tried to invade Europe from the south and east from the 700s to the 1600s • Magyars & Mongols invaded from the east from the 900s to the late 1300s • Vikings threatened from the north between 790s to 1070s AD

7. European Feudalism • Kings in Europe were too weak to fight off invaders without help • To get help, they gave control of local areas to nobles who agreed to provide king taxes and soldiers • These nobles gave control of smaller localized areas to lesser lords who agreed to serve them • The lesser lords then hired knights to serve as warriors in their service • The lesser lords also used the knights to oversee the local peasants, towns, and villages

8. The Nobility • Nobles & knights • Lived in castles or fortified keeps • Marriages were arranged within their social station • Were expected to follow a code of conduct, known as chivalry, which emphasized honor and duty

9. The Peasants • Were serfs, which means they were bound to the land they worked – they could not leave their assigned land without permission, but also could not be bought and sold like slaves • Had to work the lord’s land and provide payments at certain times of the year and on certain occasions • In return, it was expected that the lord would protect them from invaders

10. Rise of Towns • Usually began as small temporary markets or fairs at major crossroads • As demand for goods grew, these markets became permanent towns • Walled for protection • Very crowded, dirty, & noisy

11. Economic Changes • Agricultural Revolution • Yoke & iron plow invented • Crop rotation practiced • Trade • More trade along the Silk Road • Cities become larger as more traders and artisans settle there • Commercial Revolution • Merchants began to work in partnerships to sell more goods • Banks introduced to Europe • Merchants and artisans living in towns become a new “middle” class

12. Guilds • Associations of merchants and artisans, which set the rules for membership in a trade and fixed prices for their products • to join a guild, you had to start as an unpaid “apprentice” while still a child • after 7 years as an apprentice you were promoted to a “journeyman” who could then work in the trade for pay • Once you were able to open your own shop, you became a “master” and could join the guild

13. The Medieval Church • During Middle Ages, nearly all of western Europe becomes Christian • Each feudal manor would have its own parish priest • Performed all baptisms, marriages, funerals • Led Sunday worship services • Helped the sick and needy • Collected the tithe (10% “tax” on everyone’s income)

14. Monks & Nuns • Monks and Nuns – men and women who withdrew from worldly life to work for God • Took three vows • Vow of obedience to the Church’s hierarchy • A vow of poverty to hold no material wealth • A vow of chastity to never marry or have sex • Performed manual labor through farming, making the things they needed • Hand copied and illustrated the Bible as well as old Greek and Roman texts

15. Papal Supremacy • The pope, or head of the Church, became extremely powerful • Popes claimed that they had authority over even kings • The Church owned large tracts of land, including entire regions in Italy governed directly by the Pope himself • The Church had its own laws and courts which could prosecute anyone

16. Eastern Orthodoxy • Byzantine emperor Justinian refused to recognize the Pope’s authority, instead taking personal control of the Eastern Church • Byzantine priests were allowed to marry • Byzantine priests used Greek instead of Latin • placed greater emphasis on Easter than Christmas • All art should be religious • These differences led to a schism (or break) within the church • In 1054, Christianity formally split into the Eastern Orthodox (east) and Catholic (west) churches

17. European Jews • Large numbers lived in Spain under Muslim protection • Elsewhere, they were increasingly persecuted, mocked, & humiliated • Were not allowed to own land or hold certain jobs • Forced to live in specific neighborhoods, known as ghettos, within towns and cities • Occasionally, whole communities were killed or run off • Tolerated only because they could serve as bankers, a profession forbidden to Christians

18. The Crusades • In 1095: Pope Urban II called on European nobles to free the Holy Land (specifically Jerusalem) which was under Muslim control • Thousands of knights responded to launch the First Crusade • Why? • Religious zeal • hoped to win wealth • hoped to carve out new kingdoms • some were criminals fleeing trouble at home

19. The Crusades

20. Early Crusades • The First Crusade: 1096-1099 • Christian knights captured Jerusalem, massacred all Muslims and Jews in the city • The Second Crusade: 1147-48 • More Christians arrived to fend off attacks by Muslims on the Kingdom of Jerusalem • The Third Crusade: 1189-92 • Muslim general Salah al-Din retook Jerusalem, but spared all the Christians living there • New crusade was launched, led by kings of France, England, the Holy Roman Empire, but failed

21. Later Crusades • The Fourth Crusade • Crusaders never reach the Holy Land and instead sack Constantinople, a Christian city! • The Fifth Crusade • Christians tried to invade through Egypt, defeated easily by Muslims • The Sixth Crusade • Frederick II wins access for Christians to Holy sites through diplomacy • The Seventh Crusade • Louis IX leads a failed attack • The Eighth Crusade • Louis IX tries again – this time he dies on the way there • The Ninth Crusade • The English fail to free Jerusalem • By 1300, all Christian holdings in the Holy Land were back under Islamic control

22. The Reconquista • Spain had been controlled by Muslims since the 700s • Beginning in 1085, Christians slowly began to push Muslims out • 1492: a united Spain under King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella forced last Muslims to abandon Spain to Christian rule