The Code of Chivalry

Chivalry

• Chivalry is a set of values and rules that knights were expected to live by.
• The code of chivalry included:
  • Respecting and serving God: Fear God, maintain His church, keep faith, respect spiritual authority.
  • Loyalty to one´s lord: Serve with valor and faith, obey those placed in authority.
  • Honoring other knights: Guard each other's honor , fight fairly, speak truthfully, eschew unfairness, meanness and deceit.
  • Protecting the vulnerable: Protect the weak, defenceless, widows, and orphans, refrain from wanton giving of offense, fight for the wellbeing of everyone.
  • Respecting women: Respect their honor, never refuse a challenge from an equal, always persevere in any enterprise, never leave a challenge unfinished.
• Chivalry emphasizes a focus on honor and bravery, a willingness to serve those less fortunate and the importance of upholding the ideals of Christianity.

Holy Land Control Leading to the First Crusade (1095 CE)

• The Holy Land was controlled by different groups leading up to the first crusade.
• The Byzantine Empire held significant influence over the Holy Land.
• The Byzantine Empire had a complex relationship with Judaism and Christianity.
• The interaction between the Byzantine Empire, Jewish communities, and Christian pilgrims shaped the political and religious landscape of the Holy Land.
• Control of the Holy Land was a complex issue with many parties involved, including Jewish groups, Christians, and the Byzantine Empire.

First Crusade

• The First Crusade in 1095 was a critical moment in the history of the Holy Land.
• The First Crusade led to the establishment of Crusader states in the region.
• The First Crusade altered the power dynamics in the Holy Land, affecting relationships between Christians, Muslims, and Jewish communities.
• The crusades had a lasting impact on the history of the Holy Land and had a complex and often tumultuous effect on interfaith relationships.

Judaism, Christianity, and Islam in the Holy Land

• Judaism, Christianity, and Islam all have deep historical ties to the Holy Land.
• The Holy Land is a place of spiritual significance and a religious crossroads for followers of all three religions.
• The complex history of control and influence over the Holy Land among Judaism, Christianity, and Islam has shaped the region's religious landscape and identity.
• Understanding the religious and political history of the Holy Land sheds light on the interfaith dynamics and the interactions between different faith communities in the region.

Medieval Times

• Medieval comes from the Latin word medius, meaning "middle".
• The Middle Ages refer to the transitional time between ancient and modern times.
• It is also called the Middle Ages and the Dark Ages.

Setting the Scene

• The fall of Rome marks the beginning of the Middle Ages.
• The Frankish Empire was the largest post-Roman barbarian kingdom in Western Europe.
• The Franks were a Germanic people.
• The name “Franks” is believed to mean “the fierce” or “the brave”.

The Rise of the Frankish Empire

• Childeric I founded the Merovingian dynasty, uniting most of Gaul and bringing various Frankish tribes under his control.
• Clovis I converted the Franks to Christianity.
• Charlemagne, who took over in 768, greatly expanded the Frankish Empire's power.

Charlemagne's Reign

• Charlemagne unified modern-day Italy, Germany, and Burgundy into the Frankish Empire.
• He gained complete power following the death of his brother.
• Charlemagne sought to unify all Germanic peoples and convert them to Christianity.
• He donated money and land to the Church while actively protecting Popes.

Charlemagne's Ruthlessness

• Charlemagne conquered the Lombards (present-day northern Italy), the Avars (present-day Austria and Hungary), and Bavaria, establishing his reputation as a formidable leader.
• During his three-decade-long campaign against the Saxons, he ordered the slaughter of 4,500 Saxons in the Massacre of Verden.
• He forced the Saxons to convert to Christianity or face death.

Charlemagne and the Church

• Charlemagne was named the first Holy Roman Emperor on Christmas Day in 800.
• He continued to convert conquered peoples to Christianity.
• He promoted education and encouraged the Carolingian Renaissance, which brought about the standardization of writing through Carolingian minuscule.

Life in the Early Middle Ages

• The Early Middle Ages saw a decline in civilization.
• Trade decreased significantly.
• Bridges, roads, and cities fell into disrepair.
• Formal laws were rare.
• Formal learning was confined to monasteries.
• No common language existed due to regional dialects.

Church and Secular Authority

• The Church played a significant role in providing social and religious needs.
• Christianity spread through missionaries.
• Monasteries preserved Greco-Roman culture and achievements.
• Church authority was immense.
• Secular rulers had to consult the Church for guidance and recommendations.

The Fall of Rome and the Rise of Feudalism

• The fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 CE created a power vacuum, leading to instability, violence, and invasions.

• The instability led to the development of feudalism, a decentralized system of rule based on land ownership.

Feudalism: Land for Loyalty

• Kings granted fiefs (land) to lords in exchange for loyalty and military service.

• Vassals (knights and other lords) pledged allegiance to their lords and raised armies to protect their own lands and fight for their lord.

Manorialism: The Economic System

• Manorialism was an economic system structured around the manor, the lord’s estate.

• The manor included the lord's landholding, farming lands, and peasant villages.

• Most peasants were serfs, bound to the land and not allowed to leave without the lord’s permission.

• Serfs worked the land and provided services to their lord.

The Self-Sufficient Manor

• Manors were largely self-sufficient, producing most of their own food, clothing, tools, and furniture.

• This limited the need for trade with outside regions, making them relatively independent economic units.

Medieval Society and Social Hierarchy

• Feudalism established a rigid social structure, with limited social mobility.

• The social hierarchy was based on birth and established positions, with little room for advancement.

• The king was at the top, followed by lords, knights, and serfs.

• The Roman Catholic Church held significant power in medieval society, exerting both spiritual and secular influence.

The Role of the Church

• The Church held a prominent place in medieval society, operating its own courts and laws (canon law).

• Those who disobeyed Church law faced penalties, including excommunication, which ostracized them from the Church and condemned them to hell.

Knights and Chivalry

• Warfare was a prominent part of medieval noble life.

• Knights emerged as skilled warriors who adopted a code of conduct called chivalry.

The Effects of Feudalism

• Feudalism and manorialism provided some stability in the turbulent times following the fall of Rome.

• They also solidified a rigid social hierarchy, with little opportunity for social mobility.

• The manor system created a self-sufficient economic system but also limited outside trade and innovation.

Explore the fundamental values and rules that guided knights through the ages. This quiz delves into the principles of respect, loyalty, honor, protection, and the reverence for women found in the code of chivalry. Test your knowledge on how these ideals shaped medieval society and knightly behavior.