Middle Ages, Mongols, and Crusades

• The test review covers the Mongols, Middle Ages, Feudalism, Chivalry, the Power of the Church and the Crusades

Mongols

• Mongolia's geography includes North China and the Asian Steppe, which served as a grassland trade route
• Mongol Nomads were herders in the Asian Steppe
• Mongol clans were groups descended from common ancestors, often interacting and raiding other clans
• Temujin was Genghis Kahn's original name; he was the leader who revolted Mongol tribes
• Genghis Kahn means "universal ruler"
• Genghis Kahn led the Mongol Conquest of Asia through central Asia, ending in 1225
• The Mongol Empire was the largest contiguous empire, expanding from China to Poland
• The Mongol Empire was very large and expanded over time
• Khanates were four regions ruled by Gengis Khan's descendants
• Pax Mongolica was a time period of stability and increased trade

The Middle Ages

• The Middle Ages occurred from 500-1500 AD
• Cities declined due to Germanic invasions
• Population shifted to rural areas because Germanic attacks made nobles retreat to their estates
• Charlemagne ruled the Franks, expanded his empire, and had core values, also known as Charles the Great

Feudalism in Europe

• Feudalism's hierarchy was: 1) King, 2) Lords/Nobles, 3) Knights/Vassals, 4) Peasants/Serfs
• The Feudal Pyramid was a hierarchical system of governance and landholding that defined medieval European society, based on relationships between lords, vassals, and serfs
• A Lord was someone who granted land (fiefs) to vassals in exchange for military service
• Fief relates to the land granted to vassals by Lords
• A Vassal was someone who worked the land and provided agricultural output, living under the protection of their lords
• Manor refers to where the serfs lived
• A serf was someone who lived under the protection of Lords

Age of Chivalry

• The Pope was the head of the Church, wielding significant influence over both spiritual and political matters in medieval Europe
• The life of a knight included being a page and a squire
• The Church shaped social classes and daily life, often engaging in power struggles with political rulers over authority
• Excommunication and interdict were tools used by the Church to exert control, banishing individuals from the Church or suspending sacraments to enforce compliance

Power of the Church

• The First Crusade (1096-1099) was a success for Christians, establishing a foothold in the Holy Land
• The Second Crusade (1147-1149) ended in failure for the Christians
• The Third Crusade (1189-1192) also failed to reclaim Jerusalem, which remained under Muslim control
• The Crusades marked a new age of religious fervor, driven by a desire to reclaim the Holy Land from Muslim control and to assert Christian dominance
• The causes of the Crusades included the threat posed by Muslim armies to the Byzantine Empire, particularly Constantinople
• The First Crusade resulted in a narrow strip of land captured by Christians, while subsequent crusades saw Muslims regaining control