European Middle Ages 500-1200 PDF

European Middle Ages, 500-1200 Previewing Main Ideas EMPIRE BUILDING In western Europe, the Roman Empire had broken into many small kingdoms. During the Middle Ages, Charlemagne and Otto the Great tried to revive the idea of empire. Both allied with the Church....

European Middle Ages, 500-1200 Previewing Main Ideas EMPIRE BUILDING In western Europe, the Roman Empire had broken into many small kingdoms. During the Middle Ages, Charlemagne and Otto the Great tried to revive the idea of empire. Both allied with the Church. Geography Study the maps. What were the six major kingdoms in western Europe about A.D. 500? POWER AND AUTHORITY Weak rulers and the decline of central authority led to a feudal system in which local lords with large estates assumed power. This led to struggles over power with the Church. Geography Study the time line and the map. The ruler of what kingdom was crowned emperor by Pope Leo III? RELIGIOUS AND ETHICAL SYSTEMS During the Middle Ages, the Church was a unifying force. It shaped people’s beliefs and guided their daily lives. Most Europeans at this time shared a common bond of faith. Geography Find Rome, the seat of the Roman Catholic Church, on the map. In what kingdom was it located after the fall of the Roman Empire in A.D. 476? INTERNET RESOURCES Interactive Maps Go to classzone.com for: Interactive Visuals Research Links Maps Interactive Primary Sources Internet Activities Test Practice Primary Sources Current Events Chapter Quiz 350 351  What freedoms would you give up for protection? You are living in the countryside of western Europe during the 1100s. Like about 90 percent of the population, you are a peasant working the land. Your family’s hut is located in a small village on your lord’s estate. The lord provides all your basic needs, including housing, food, and protection. Especially important is his protection from invaders who repeatedly strike Europe. 1 For safety, peasants retreat behind the castle walls during attacks. 2 Peasants owe their lord two or three days’ labor every week farming his land. 3 This peasant feels that the right to stay on his lord’s land is more important than his freedom to leave. 4 Peasants cannot marry without their lord’s consent. EXAM I N I NG the ISSU ES What is secure about your world? How is your life limited? As a class, discuss these questions. In your discussion, think about other people who have limited power over their lives. As you read about the lot of European peasants in this chapter, see how their living arrangements determine their role in society and shape their beliefs. 352 Chapter 13  1 Charlemagne Unites Germanic Kingdoms MAIN IDEA WHY IT MATTERS NOW TERMS & NAMES EMPIRE BUILDING Many Charlemagne spread Christian Middle Ages Carolingian Germanic kingdoms that civilization through Northern Franks Dynasty succeeded the Roman Empire Europe, where it had a monastery Charlemagne were reunited under permanent impact. secular Charlemagne’s empire. SETTING THE STAGE The gradual decline of the Roman Empire ushered in an era of European history called the Middle Ages, or the medieval period. It spanned the years from about 500 to 1500. During these centuries, a new society slowly emerged. It had roots in: (1) the classical heritage of Rome, (2) the beliefs of the Roman Catholic Church, and (3) the customs of various Germanic tribes. Invasions of Western Europe TAKING NOTES Following Chronological In the fifth century, Germanic invaders overran the western half of the Roman Order Note important Empire (see map on page 351). Repeated invasions and constant warfare caused events in the unification of a series of changes that altered the economy, government, and culture: the Germanic kingdoms. Disruption of Trade Merchants faced invasions from both land and sea. Their businesses collapsed. The breakdown of trade destroyed Europe’s 500 cities as economic centers. Money became scarce. 1200 Downfall of Cities With the fall of the Roman Empire, cities were abandoned as centers of administration. Population Shifts As Roman centers of trade and government collapsed, nobles retreated to the rural areas. Roman cities were left without strong leadership. Other city dwellers also fled to the countryside, where they grew their own food. The population of western Europe became mostly rural. The Decline of Learning The Germanic invaders who stormed Rome could not read or write. Among Romans themselves, the level of learning sank sharply as more and more families left for rural areas. Few people except priests and other church officials were literate. Knowledge of Greek, long important in Roman culture, was almost lost. Few people could read Greek works of literature, sci- ence, and philosophy. The Germanic tribes, though, had a rich oral tradition of songs and legends. But they had no written language. Loss of a Common Language As German-speaking peoples mixed with the Roman population, Latin changed. While it was still an official language, it was no longer understood. Different dialects developed as new words and phrases became part of everyday speech. By the 800s, French, Spanish, and other Roman-based lan- guages had evolved from Latin. The development of various languages mirrored the continued breakup of a once-unified empire. European Middle Ages 353  Germanic Kingdoms Emerge In the years of upheaval between 400 and 600, small Germanic kingdoms replaced Roman provinces. The borders of those kingdoms changed constantly with the fortunes of war. But the Church as an institution survived the fall of the Roman Empire. During this time of political chaos, the Church provided order and security. The Concept of Government Changes Along with shifting boundaries, the entire concept of government changed. Loyalty to public government and written law had unified Roman society. Family ties and personal loyalty, rather than citizenship in a public state, held Germanic society together. Unlike Romans, Germanic peoples lived in small communities that were governed by unwritten rules and traditions. Every Germanic chief led a band of warriors who had pledged their loyalty to him. In peacetime, these followers lived in their lord’s hall. He gave them food, weapons, and treasure. In battle, warriors fought to the death at their lord’s side. They considered it a disgrace to outlive him. But Germanic warriors felt no obli- gation to obey a king they did not even know. Nor would they obey an official sent to collect taxes or administer justice in the name of an emperor they had never met. The Germanic stress on personal ties made it impossible to establish orderly gov- ernment for large territories. Clovis Rules the Franks In the Roman province of Gaul (mainly what is now France and Switzerland), a Germanic people called the Franks held power. Their leader was Clovis (KLOH vihs). He would bring Christianity to the region. According to legend, his wife, Clothilde, had urged him to convert to her faith, Christianity. In 496, Clovis led his warriors against another Germanic army. Fearing defeat, he appealed to the Christian God. “For I have called on my gods,” he prayed, “but I find they are far from my aid.... Now I call on Thee. I long to believe in Thee. Only, please deliver me from my enemies.” The tide of the battle shifted and the Franks won. Afterward, Clovis and 3,000 of his warriors asked a ▼ Illuminated bishop to baptize them. manuscripts, such as the one The Church in Rome welcomed Clovis’s conversion and supported his military below, were campaigns against other Germanic peoples. By 511, Clovis had united the Franks usually the work into one kingdom. The strategic alliance between Clovis’s of monks. Frankish kingdom and the Church marked the start of a partnership between two powerful forces. Germans Adopt Christianity Politics played a key role in spreading Christianity. By 600, the Church, with the help of Frankish rulers, had con- verted many Germanic peoples. These new converts had settled in Rome’s former lands. Missionaries also spread Christianity. These religious travelers often risked their lives to bring religious beliefs to other lands. During the 300s and 400s, they worked among the Germanic and Celtic groups that bordered the Roman Empire. In south- ern Europe, the fear of coastal attacks by Muslims also spurred many people to become Christians in the 600s. Monasteries, Convents, and Manuscripts To adapt to rural conditions, the Church built religious communities called monasteries. There, Christian men called monks gave up their private possessions and devoted their lives to serving God. Women who followed this way of life were called nuns and lived in convents. 354 Chapter 13  Benedict Scholastica 480?–543 480?–543 At 15, Benedict left school Scholastica is thought to be and hiked up to the Sabine the twin sister of Benedict. She Hills, where he lived in a was born into a wealthy Italian cave as a hermit. After family in the late Roman learning about Benedict’s Empire. Little is known of her deep religious conviction, a early life, except that she and group of monks persuaded Benedict were inseparable. him to lead their monastery. Like her brother, Scholas- Benedict declared: tica devoted her life to the We must prepare our hearts Church. She is thought to and bodies for combat have been the abbess of a under holy obedience to the convent near the monastery divine commandments.... founded by Benedict and is We are therefore going to considered the first nun of the establish a school in which Benedictine order. She was a strong influence on her one may learn the service of brother as he developed rules that guide Benedictine the Lord. monasteries to this day. They died in the same year and are buried in one grave. In his book describing the rules for monastic life, Benedict emphasized a balance between work and study. Such guidelines turned monasteries into centers of stability RESEARCH LINKS For more on Benedict and and learning. Scholastica, go to classzone.com Around 520, an Italian monk named Benedict began writing a book describing a strict yet practical set of rules for monasteries. Benedict’s sister, Scholastica (skuh LAS tik uh), headed a convent and adapted the same rules for women. These guidelines became a model for many other religious communities in west- ern Europe. Monks and nuns devoted their lives to prayer and good works. Monasteries also became Europe’s best-educated communities. Monks opened schools, maintained libraries, and copied books. In 731, the Venerable Bede, an English monk, wrote a history of England. Scholars still consider it the best histori- cal work of the early Middle Ages. In the 600s and 700s, monks made beautiful Making Inferences copies of religious writings, decorated with ornate letters and brilliant pictures. These What role did illuminated manuscripts preserved at least part of Rome’s intellectual heritage. monasteries play during this time of Papal Power Expands Under Gregory I In 590, Gregory I, also called Gregory chaos? the Great, became pope. As head of the Church in Rome, Gregory broadened the authority of the papacy, or pope’s office, beyond its spiritual role. Under Gregory, the papacy also became a secular, or worldly, power involved in politics. The pope’s palace was the center of Roman government. Gregory used church revenues to raise armies, repair roads, and help the poor. He also negotiated peace treaties with invaders such as the Lombards. According to Gregory, the region from Italy to England and from Spain to Germany fell under his responsibility. Gregory strengthened the vision of Christendom. It was a spiritual kingdom fanning out from Rome to the most distant churches. This idea of a churchly kingdom, ruled by a pope, would be a central theme of the Middle Ages. Meanwhile, secular rulers expanded their political kingdoms. An Empire Evolves After the Roman Empire dissolved, small kingdoms sprang up all over Europe. For example, England splintered into seven tiny kingdoms. Some of them were no European Middle Ages 355  Charlemagne‘s Empire, 768–843 larger than the state of Connecticut. The Franks controlled the largest and Frankish Kingdom before strongest of Europe’s kingdoms, the 8°E 0° 16°E Charlemagne, 768 area that was formerly the Roman Areas conquered by North Charlemagne, 814 0 250 Miles province of Gaul. When the Franks’ Papal States Sea 0 500 Kilometers first Christian king, Clovis, died in 511, Division by Treaty Elb of Verdun, 843 eR. he had extended Frankish rule over 50°N ENGLAND most of what is now France. Charles Martel Emerges By 700, an Rh i ne Aachen official known as the major domo, or SLAVIC R. Paris EAST STATES FRANKISH mayor of the palace, had become the Tours KINGDOM most powerful person in the Frankish (Louis Danube R. WEST the German) kingdom. Officially, he had charge of ATLANTIC FRANKISH the royal household and estates. OCEAN KINGDOM (Charles CENTRAL Unofficially, he led armies and made the Bald) KINGDOM Pavia (Lothair ) policy. In effect, he ruled the kingdom. 42°N The mayor of the palace in 719, PAPAL Charles Martel (Charles the Hammer), Eb Corsica STATES ro held more power than the king. Charles R. SPAIN Mediterranean Rome Martel extended the Franks’ reign to the Sea north, south, and east. He also defeated Muslim raiders from Spain at the Battle GEOGRAPHY SKILLBUILDER: Interpreting Maps of Tours in 732. This battle was highly 1. Region By 814, what was the extent of Charlemagne’s significant for Christian Europeans. If empire (north to south, east to west)? the Muslims had won, western Europe 2. Region Based on the map, why did the Treaty of Verdun signal the decline of Charlemagne’s empire? might have become part of the Muslim Empire. Charles Martel’s victory at Tours made him a Christian hero. At his death, Charles Martel passed on his power to his son, Pepin the Short. Pepin wanted to be king. He shrewdly cooperated with the pope. On behalf of the Church, Pepin agreed to fight the Lombards, who had invaded central Italy and threatened Rome. In exchange, the pope anointed Pepin “king by the grace of God.” Thus began the Carolingian (KAR uh LIHN juhn) Dynasty, the family that would rule the Franks from 751 to 987. Charlemagne Becomes Emperor Pepin the Short died in 768. He left a greatly strengthened Frankish kingdom to his two sons, Carloman and Charles. After Carloman’s death in 771, Charles, who was known as Charlemagne (SHAHR luh MAYN), or Charles the Great, ruled the kingdom. An imposing figure, he stood six feet four inches tall. His admiring sec- retary, a monk named Einhard, described Charlemagne’s achievements: PRIMARY SOURCE [Charlemagne] was the most potent prince with the greatest skill and success in different countries during the forty-seven years of his reign. Great and powerful as was the realm of Franks, Karl [Charlemagne] received from his father Pippin, he nevertheless so splendidly enlarged it... that he almost doubled it. EINHARD, Life of Charlemagne Charlemagne Extends Frankish Rule Charlemagne built an empire greater than any known since ancient Rome. Each summer he led his armies against enemies that surrounded his kingdom. He fought Muslims in Spain and tribes from other 356 Chapter 13  Germanic kingdoms. He conquered new lands to both the south and the east. Through these conquests, Charlemagne spread Christianity. He reunited western Europe for the first time since the Roman Empire. By 800, Charlemagne’s empire was larger than the Byzantine Empire. He had become the most powerful king in western Europe. In 800, Charlemagne traveled to Rome to crush an unruly mob that had attacked the pope. In gratitude, Pope Leo III crowned him emperor. The coronation was historic. A pope had claimed the political right to confer the title “Roman Emperor” on a European king. This event signaled the joining of Germanic power, the Church, and the heritage of the Roman Empire. Charlemagne Leads a Revival Charlemagne strengthened his royal power by limiting the authority of the nobles. To govern his empire, he sent out royal agents. They made sure that the powerful landholders, called counts, governed their counties justly. Charlemagne regularly visited every part of his kingdom. He also kept a close watch on the management of his huge estates—the source of Carolingian wealth and power. One of his greatest accomplishments was the encouragement of learning. He sur- rounded himself with English, German, Italian, and Spanish schol- Drawing ars. For his many sons and daughters and other children at the Conclusions court, Charlemagne opened a palace school. He also ordered What were monasteries to open schools to train future monks and priests. Charlemagne’s ▲ Emperor Charlemagne’s Heirs A year before Charlemagne died in 814, he crowned his most notable Charlemagne achievements? only surviving son, Louis the Pious, as emperor. Louis was a devoutly religious man but an ineffective ruler. He left three sons: Lothair (loh THAIR), Charles the Bald, and Louis the German. They fought one another for control of the Empire. In 843, the brothers signed the Treaty of Verdun, dividing the empire into three kingdoms. As a result, Carolingian kings lost power and central authority broke down. The lack of strong rulers led to a new system of governing and landholding—feudalism. SECTION 1 ASSESSMENT TERMS & NAMES 1. For each term or name, write a sentence explaining its significance. Middle Ages Franks monastery secular Carolingian Dynasty Charlemagne USING YOUR NOTES MAIN IDEAS CRITICAL THINKING & WRITING 2. What was the most important 3. What were three roots of 6. DRAWING CONCLUSIONS How was the relationship event in the unification of the medieval culture in western between a Frankish king and the pope beneficial to both? Germanic kingdoms? Why? Europe? 7. RECOGNIZING EFFECTS Why was Charles Martel’s victory 4. What are three ways that at the Battle of Tours so important for Christianity? civilization in western Europe 8. EVALUATING What was Charlemagne’s greatest declined after the Roman achievement? Give reasons for your answer. 500 Empire fell? 9. WRITING ACTIVITY EMPIRE BUILDING How does 1200 5. What was the most important Charlemagne’s empire in medieval Europe compare with achievement of Pope Gregory I? the Roman Empire? Support your opinions in a three- paragraph expository essay. INTERNET ACTIVITY Use the Internet to locate a medieval monastery that remains today in INTERNET KEYWORD western Europe. Write a two-paragraph history of the monastery and Medieval monasteries include an illustration. European Middle Ages 357  2 Feudalism in Europe MAIN IDEA WHY IT MATTERS NOW TERMS & NAMES POWER AND AUTHORITY The rights and duties of feudal lord serf Feudalism, a political and relationships helped shape fief manor economic system based on today’s forms of representative vassal tithe land-holding and protective government. knight alliances, emerges in Europe. SETTING THE STAGE After the Treaty of Verdun, Charlemagne’s three feud- ing grandsons broke up the kingdom even further. Part of this territory also became a battleground as new waves of invaders attacked Europe. The political turmoil and constant warfare led to the rise of European feudalism, which, as you read in Chapter 2, is a political and economic system based on land ownership and personal loyalty. TAKING NOTES Invaders Attack Western Europe Analyzing Causes and Recognizing Effects Use From about 800 to 1000, invasions destroyed the Carolingian Empire. Muslim a web diagram to show invaders from the south seized Sicily and raided Italy. In 846, they sacked Rome. the causes and effects Magyar invaders struck from the east. Like the earlier Huns and Avars, they of feudalism. terrorized Germany and Italy. And from the north came the fearsome Vikings. The Vikings Invade from the North The Vikings set sail from Scandinavia Cause Cause (SKAN duh NAY vee uh), a wintry, wooded region in Northern Europe. (The region is now the countries of Denmark, Norway, and Sweden.) The Vikings, also Feudalism called Northmen or Norsemen, were a Germanic people. They worshiped warlike Effect Effect gods and took pride in nicknames like Eric Bloodaxe and Thorfinn Skullsplitter. The Vikings carried out their raids with terrifying speed. Clutching swords and heavy wooden shields, these helmeted seafarers beached their ships, struck quickly, and then moved out to sea again. They were gone before locals could mount a defense. Viking warships were awe-inspiring. The largest of these long ships held 300 warriors, who took turns rowing the ship’s 72 oars. The prow of each ship swept grandly upward, often ending with the carved head of a sea mon- ster. A ship might weigh 20 tons when fully loaded. Yet, it could sail in a mere ▼ A sketch of a three feet of water. Rowing up shallow creeks, the Vikings looted inland villages Viking longboat and monasteries. 358 Chapter 13  Invasions in Europe, 700–1000 0 500 Miles To Iceland 58° W N 0 1,000 Kilometers 24° SCANDINAVIA V o l g a R. North Sea W. D v a in a Se 50° IRELAND R. N Ba ltic Dn ENGLAND R US S IA iepe r R. London Vol ga Aachen Kiev R. ien W ATLAN TIC S e R. 16° Paris Rh land R. O CEAN ne CAR Ca y a n ube PA nd ine sp D R. TH i Tours Rhône R urgu IA ia Rh 42° N n M ALPS N B FRANCE. Se TS PY a. RE NE Sea ES Genoa Pisa Black CALIPHATE OF CÓRDOVA Corsica Rome Viking invasion routes Constantinople Viking areas Sardinia Muslim invasion routes BYZANTINE EMPIRE Muslim areas 34° N Magyar invasion routes Sicily 48°E Magyar areas 16°E 32°E 24°E 0° 8°W 8°E GEOGRAPHY SKILLBUILDER: Interpreting Maps 1. Location What lands did the Vikings raid? 2. Movement Why were the Viking, Magyar, and Muslim invasions so threatening to Europe? The Vikings were not only warriors but also traders, farmers, and explorers. They ventured far beyond western Europe. Vikings journeyed down rivers into the heart of Russia, to Constantinople, and even across the icy waters of the North Atlantic. A Viking explorer named Leif (leef) Ericson reached North America around 1000, almost 500 years before Columbus. About the same time, the Viking reign of terror in Europe faded away. As Vikings gradually accepted Christianity, they stopped raiding monasteries. Also, a warming trend in Europe’s climate made farming easier in Scandinavia. As a result, fewer Scandinavians adopted the sea- faring life of Viking warriors. Magyars and Muslims Attack from the East and South As Viking invasions declined, Europe became the target of new assaults. The Magyars, a group of nomadic people, attacked from the east, from what is now Hungary. Superb horse- men, the Magyars swept across the plains of the Danube River and invaded west- ern Europe in the late 800s. They attacked isolated villages and monasteries. They overran northern Italy and reached as far west as the Rhineland and Burgundy. The Magyars did not settle conquered land. Instead, they took captives to sell as slaves. The Muslims struck from the south. They began their encroachments from their strongholds in North Africa, invading through what are now Italy and Spain. In the 600s and 700s, the Muslim plan was to conquer and settle in Europe. By the 800s and 900s, their goal was also to plunder. Because the Muslims were expert seafar- ers, they were able to attack settlements on the Atlantic and Mediterranean coasts. They also struck as far inland as Switzerland. The invasions by Vikings, Magyars, and Muslims caused widespread disorder and suffering. Most western Europeans lived in constant danger. Kings could not European Middle Ages 359  effectively defend their lands from invasion. As a result, people no longer looked to a central ruler for security. Instead, many turned to local rulers who had their Recognizing own armies. Any leader who could fight the invaders gained followers and politi- Effects cal strength. What was the impact of Viking, Magyar, and A New Social Order: Feudalism Muslim invasions In 911, two former enemies faced each other in a peace ceremony. Rollo was the on medieval Europe? head of a Viking army. Rollo and his men had been plundering the rich Seine (sayn) River valley for years. Charles the Simple was the king of France but held little power. Charles granted the Viking leader a huge piece of French territory. It became known as Northmen’s land, or Normandy. In return, Rollo swore a pledge of loyalty to the king. Feudalism Structures Society The worst years of the invaders’ attacks spanned roughly 850 to 950. During this time, rulers and warriors like Charles and Rollo made similar agreements in many parts of Europe. The system of governing and landhold- ing, called feudalism, had emerged in Europe. A similar feudal system existed in China under the Zhou Dynasty, which ruled from around the 11th century B.C. until 256 B.C. Feudalism in Japan began in A.D. 1192 and ended in the 19th century. The feudal system was based on rights and obligations. In exchange for military protection and other services, a lord, or landowner, granted land called a fief.The person receiving a fief was called a vassal. Charles the Simple, the lord, and Rollo, the vassal, showed how this two-sided bargain worked. Feudalism depended on the control of land. The Feudal Pyramid The structure of feudal society was much like a pyramid. At the peak reigned the king. Next came the most powerful vassals—wealthy landowners such as nobles and bishops. Serving beneath these vassals were knights. Knights were mounted horsemen who pledged to defend their lords’ lands in exchange for fiefs. At the base of the pyramid were landless peasants who toiled in the fields. (See Analyzing Key Concepts on next page.) Vocabulary Social Classes Are Well Defined In the feudal system, status determined a per- Status is social son’s prestige and power. Medieval writers classified people into three groups: ranking. those who fought (nobles and knights), those who prayed (men and women of the Church), and those who worked (the peasants). Social class was usually inherited. In Europe in the Middle Ages, the vast majority of people were peasants. Most peasants were serfs. Serfs were people who could not lawfully leave the place where they were born. Though bound to the land, serfs were not slaves. Their lords could not sell or buy them. But what their labor produced belonged to the lord. Manors: The Economic Side of Feudalism The manor was the lord’s estate. During the Middle Ages, the manor system was the basic economic arrangement. The manor system rested on a set of rights and obligations between a lord and his serfs. The lord provided the serfs with housing, farmland, and protection from bandits. In return, serfs tended the lord’s lands, cared for his animals, and performed other tasks to maintain the estate. Peasant women shared in the farm work with their husbands. All peasants, whether free or serf, owed the lord certain duties. These included at least a few days of labor each week and a certain portion of their grain. A Self-Contained World Peasants rarely traveled more than 25 miles from their own manor. By standing in the center of a plowed field, they could see their entire world at a glance. A manor usually covered only a few square miles of land. It 360 Chapter 13  Feudalism FEUDAL FACTS AND FIGURES Feudalism was a political system in which nobles were granted the use of land that legally belonged to the king. In return, the nobles agreed to give In the 14th century, before the bubonic plague struck, the their loyalty and military services to the king. Feudalism developed not only population of France was in Europe but also in countries like Japan. probably between 10 and 21 million people. European Feudalism King In feudal times, the building of a cathedral took between 50 to 150 years. In feudal times, dukedoms were large estates ruled by a Church Noble duke. In 1216, the Duke of Official Anjou had 34 knights, the Duke of Brittany had 36 knights, and the Count of Flanders had 47 knights. Knights Knights In the 14th century, the nobility in France made up about 1 percent of the population. The word feudalism comes from the Latin word feudum, meaning fief. The Japanese word daimyo Peasants Peasants comes from the words dai, meaning “large,” and myo (shorten from myoden), meaning “name-land” or “private land.” Emperor * SOURCES: A Distant Mirror by Barbara Tuchman; Encyclopaedia Britannica Japanese Feudalism Daimyo Daimyo Samurai Samurai Artisans Peasants 1. Comparing What are the similarities between feudalism in Europe and feudalism in Japan? See Skillbuilder Handbook, Page R7. 2. Forming and Supporting Opinions Merchants Today, does the United States have a RESEARCH LINKS For more on system of social classes? Support feudalism, go to classzone.com your answer with evidence. 361  The Medieval Manor The medieval manor varied in size. The illustration to the right is a plan of a typical English manor. 1 Manor House The dwelling place of the lord and his family and their servants 2 Village Church Site of both religious services and public meetings 3 Peasant Cottages Where the peasants lived 4 Lord’s Demesne Fields owned by the lord and worked by the peasants 5 Peasant Crofts Gardens that belonged to the peasants 6 Mill Water-powered mill for grinding grain 7 Common Pasture Common area for grazing animals 8 Woodland Forests provided wood for fuel. typically consisted of the lord’s manor house, a church, and workshops. Generally, 15 to 30 families lived in the village on a manor. Fields, pastures, and woodlands surrounded the village. Sometimes a stream wound through the manor. Streams and ponds provided fish, which served as an important source of food. The mill for grinding the grain was often located on the stream. The manor was largely a self-sufficient community. The serfs and peasants raised or produced nearly everything that they and their lord needed for daily life— crops, milk and cheese, fuel, cloth, leather goods, and lumber. The only outside purchases were salt, iron, and a few unusual objects such as millstones. These were huge stones used to grind flour. Crops grown on the manor usually included grains, such as wheat, rye, barley, and oats, and vegetables, such as peas, beans, onions, Analyzing Causes and beets. How might the decline of trade The Harshness of Manor Life For the privilege of living on the lord’s land, peas- during the early ants paid a high price. They paid a tax on all grain ground in the lord’s mill. Any Middle Ages have attempt to avoid taxes by baking bread elsewhere was treated as a crime. Peasants contributed to the also paid a tax on marriage. Weddings could take place only with the lord’s self-sufficiency of the manor system? 362 Chapter 13  consent. After all these payments to the lord, peasant families owed the village priest a tithe, or church tax. A tithe represented one-tenth of their income. Serfs lived in crowded cottages, close to their neighbors. The cottages had only one or two rooms. If there were two rooms, the main room was used for cooking, eating, and household activities. The second was the family bedroom. Peasants warmed their dirt-floor houses by bringing pigs inside. At night, the family hud- dled on a pile of straw that often crawled with insects. Peasants’ simple diet con- sisted mainly of vegetables, coarse brown bread, grain, cheese, and soup. Piers Plowman, written by William Langland in 1362, reveals the hard life of English peasants: PRIMARY SOURCE Analyzing Primary What by spinning they save, they spend it in house-hire, Sources Both in milk and in meal to make a mess of porridge, What problems To cheer up their children who chafe for their food, did peasant families And they themselves suffer surely much hunger face? And woe in the winter, with waking at nights And rising to rock an oft restless cradle. WILLIAM LANGLAND, Piers Plowman This 14th century For most serfs, both men and women, life was work and more work. Their days drawing shows two revolved around raising crops and livestock and taking care of home and family. As men flailing corn. soon as children were old enough, they were put to work in the fields or in the home. Many children did not survive to adulthood. Illness and malnutrition were constant afflictions for medieval peasants. Average life expectancy was about 35 years. And during that short lifetime, most peasants never traveled more than 25 miles from their homes. Yet, despite the hardships they endured, serfs accepted their lot in life as part of the Church’s teachings. They, like most Christians during medieval times, believed that God determined a person’s place in society. SECTION 2 ASSESSMENT TERMS & NAMES 1. For each term or name, write a sentence explaining its significance. lord fief vassal knight serf manor tithe USING YOUR NOTES MAIN IDEAS CRITICAL THINKING & WRITING 2. What is the main reason 3. What groups invaded Europe in 6. COMPARING How were the Vikings different from earlier feudalism developed? Explain. the 800s? Germanic groups that invaded Europe? 4. What obligations did a peasant 7. MAKING INFERENCES How was a manor largely self- have to the lord of the manor? sufficient both militarily and economically during the early Cause Cause 5. What were the three social Middle Ages? classes of the feudal system? 8. DRAWING CONCLUSIONS What benefits do you think a Feudalism medieval manor provided to the serfs who lived there? 9. WRITING ACTIVITY POWER AND AUTHORITY Draw up a Effect Effect contract between a lord and a vassal, such as a knight, or between the lord of a manor and a serf. Include the responsibilities, obligations, and rights of each party. CONNECT TO TODAY WRITING A NEWS ARTICLE Research modern marauders, who, like the Vikings of history, are involved in piracy on the seas. Write a brief news article describing their activities. European Middle Ages 363  3 The Age of Chivalry MAIN IDEA WHY IT MATTERS NOW TERMS & NAMES RELIGIOUS AND ETHICAL SYSTEMS The code of chivalry has shaped chivalry troubadour The code of chivalry for knights modern ideas of romance in tournament glorified both combat and Western cultures. romantic love. SETTING THE STAGE During the Middle Ages, nobles constantly fought one another. Their feuding kept Europe in a fragmented state for centuries. Through warfare, feudal lords defended their estates, seized new territories, and increased their wealth. Lords and their armies lived in a violent society that prized combat skills. By the 1100s, though, a code of behavior began to arise. High ideals guided warriors’ actions and glorified their roles. TAKING NOTES Knights: Warriors on Horseback Summarizing Identify the ideas associated Soldiers mounted on horseback became valuable in combat during the reign of with chivalry. Charlemagne’s grandfather, Charles Martel, in the 700s. Charles Martel had observed that the Muslim cavalry often turned the tide of battles. As a result, he organized Frankish troops of armored horsemen, or knights. The Technology of Warfare Changes Leather saddles and stirrups changed the Chivalry way warfare was conducted in Europe during the 700s. Both had been developed in Asia around 200 B.C. The saddle kept a warrior firmly seated on a moving horse. Stirrups enabled him to ride and handle heavier weapons. Without stirrups to brace him, a charg- ing warrior was likely to topple off his own horse. Frankish knights, galloping full tilt, could knock over enemy foot soldiers and riders on horseback. Gradually, mounted knights became the most important part of an army. Their warhorses played a key military role. The Warrior’s Role in Feudal Society By the 11th century, western Europe was a battleground of warring nobles vying for power. To defend their territories, feudal lords raised private armies of knights. In exchange for military service, 2 inches These two- ▲ inch iron spikes, called caltrops, were strewn on a battlefield to maim warhorses 0 or enemy foot soldiers. 364 Chapter 13  feudal lords used their most abundant resource—land. They rewarded knights, their most skilled warriors, with fiefs from their sprawling estates. Wealth from these fiefs allowed knights to devote their lives to war. Knights could afford to pay for costly weapons, armor, and warhorses. As the lord’s vassal, a knight’s main obligation was to serve in battle. From his knights, a lord typically demanded about 40 days of combat a year. Knights’ pas- times also often revolved around training for war. Wrestling and hunting helped them gain strength and practice the skills they would need on the battlefield. Knighthood and the Code of Chivalry Knights were expected to display courage in battle and loyalty to their lord. By the 1100s, the code of chivalry (SHIHV uhl ree), a complex set of ideals, demanded that a knight fight bravely in defense of three masters. He devoted himself to his earthly feudal lord, his heavenly Lord, and his chosen lady. The chivalrous knight also protected the weak and the poor. The ideal knight was loyal, brave, and cour- teous. Most knights, though, failed to meet all of these high standards. For exam- ple, they treated the lower classes brutally. A Knight’s Training Sons of nobles began training for knighthood at an early age and learned the code of chivalry. At age 7, a boy would be sent off to the castle of another lord. As a page, he waited on his hosts and began to practice fighting skills. At around age 14, the page reached the rank of squire. A squire acted as a servant to a knight. At around age 21, a squire became a full-fledged knight. Chivalry The Italian painter Paolo Uccello captures the spirit of the age of chivalry in this painting, St. George and the Dragon (c. 1455–1460). According to myth, St. George rescues a captive princess by killing her captor, a dragon. The Knight St. George, mounted on a horse and dressed in armor, uses his lance to attack the dragon. The Dragon The fierce- looking dragon represents evil. The Princess The princess remains out of the action as her knight fights the dragon on her behalf. SKILLBUILDER: Interpreting Visual Sources In what way does this painting show the knight’s code of chivalry? European Middle Ages 365 Castles and Siege Weapons Attacking armies carefully planned how to capture a castle. Engineers would inspect the castle walls for weak points in the stone. Then, enemy soldiers would try to ram the walls, causing them to collapse. At the battle site, attackers often constructed the heavy and clumsy weapons shown here. Siege Tower Battering Ram Trebuchet had a platform on top that made of heavy timber worked like a lowered like a drawbridge with a sharp metal tip giant slingshot could support weapons swung like a pendulum propelled objects and soldiers to crack castle walls or to up to a distance knock down drawbridge of 980 feet Mantlet shielded soldiers Tortoise moved slowly on wheels sheltered soldiers from falling arrows An Array of High-Flying Missiles Using the trebuchet, enemy soldiers launched a wide variety of missiles over the castle walls: pots of burning lime captured soldiers boulders diseased cows severed human heads dead horses 1. Making Inferences How do these siege weapons show that their Mangonel designers knew the architecture of a castle well? flung huge rocks that crashed into See Skillbuilder Handbook, Page R16. castle walls 2. Drawing Conclusions What are propelled objects RESEARCH LINKS For more on medieval some examples of modern weapons up to a distance weapons go to classzone.com of war? What do they indicate about of 1,300 feet the way war is conducted today? 366  After being dubbed a knight, most young men traveled for a year or two. The young knights gained experience fighting in local wars. Some took part in mock battles called tournaments. Tournaments combined recreation with combat train- ing. Two armies of knights charged each other. Trumpets blared, and lords and Comparing ladies cheered. Like real battles, tournaments were fierce and bloody competitions. How are tour- Winners could usually demand large ransoms from defeated knights. naments like Brutal Reality of Warfare The small-scale violence of tournaments did not match modern sports competitions? the bloodshed of actual battles, especially those fought at castles. By the 1100s, massive walls and guard towers encircled stone castles. These castles dominated much of the countryside in western Europe. Lord and lady, their family, knights and other men-at-arms, and servants made their home in the castle. The castle also Vocabulary was a fortress, designed for defense. A siege is a military A castle under siege was a gory sight. Attacking armies used a wide range of blockade staged by strategies and weapons to force castle residents to surrender. Defenders of a castle enemy armies trying poured boiling water, hot oil, or molten lead on enemy soldiers. Expert archers to capture a fortress. were stationed on the roof of the castle. Armed with crossbows, they fired deadly bolts that could pierce full armor. The Literature of Chivalry In the 1100s, the themes of medieval literature downplayed the brutality of knighthood and feudal warfare. Many stories idealized castle life. They glorified knighthood and chivalry, tournaments and real battles. Songs and poems about a knight’s undying love for a lady were also very popular. Epic Poetry Feudal lords and their ladies enjoyed listening to epic poems. These poems recounted a hero’s deeds and adventures. Many epics retold stories about legendary heroes such as King Arthur and Charlemagne. The Song of Roland is one of the earliest and most famous medieval epic poems. It praises a band of French soldiers who perished in battle during Charlemagne’s reign. The poem transforms the event into a struggle. A few brave French knights led by Roland battle an overwhelming army of Muslims from Spain. Roland’s friend, Turpin the Epic Films Archbishop, stands as a shining example of medieval ideals. The long, narrative epic poem has Turpin represents courage, faith, and chivalry: given way in modern times to the epic film. Epic films feature larger- than-life characters in powerful PRIMARY SOURCE stories that deal with mythic and And now there comes the Archbishop. timeless themes. These films take He spurs his horse, goes up into a mountain, their stories from history, legend, and summons the French; and he preached them a sermon: fantasy. The first epic film was Birth “Barons, my lords, [Charlemagne] left us in this place. of a Nation, released in 1915. We know our duty: to die like good men for our King. Some modern epic films are Fight to defend the holy Christian faith.” Braveheart (1995), pictured above; from The Song of Roland Gladiator (2000); and the Star Wars saga (six films, 1977–2005). Love Poems and Songs Under the code of chivalry, a knight’s duty to his lady became as important as his duty to his lord. In many medieval poems, the hero’s difficulties INTERNET ACTIVITY Research five epic resulted from a conflict between those two obligations. films. Write a one-sentence description Troubadours were traveling poet-musicians at the cas- of the historical content for each. Go to classzone.com for your research. tles and courts of Europe. They composed short verses and European Middle Ages 367  songs about the joys and sorrows of romantic love. Sometimes troubadours sang their own verses in the castles of their lady. They also sent roving minstrels to carry their songs to courts. A troubadour might sing about love’s disappointments: “My loving heart, my faithfulness, myself, my world she deigns to take. Then leave me bare and com- fortless to longing thoughts that ever wake.” Other songs told of lovesick knights who adored ladies they would probably never win: “Love of a far-off land/For you my heart is aching/And I can find no relief.” The code of chivalry promoted a false image of knights, making them seem more romantic than brutal. In turn, these love songs created an artificial image of women. In the troubadour’s eyes, noblewomen were always beautiful and pure. The most celebrated woman of the age was Eleanor of Aquitaine (1122–1204). Troubadours flocked to her court in the French duchy of Aquitaine. Later, as queen of England, Eleanor was the mother of two kings, Richard the Lion-Hearted and John. Richard himself composed romantic songs and poems. Women’s Role in Feudal Society Most women in feudal society were powerless, just as most men were. But women had the added burden of being thought inferior to men. This was the view of the Church and was generally accepted in feudal society. Nonetheless, women Daily Life of a Noblewoman Daily Life of a Peasant Woman This excerpt describes the daily life of an English This excerpt describes the daily life of a typical medieval noblewoman of the Middle Ages, Cicely Neville, Duchess of peasant woman as pictured below. York. A typical noblewoman is pictured below. PRIMARY SOURCE PRIMARY SOURCE She gets up at 7a.m., and her chaplain is I get up early... milk our cows and waiting to say morning prayers... and turn them into the field.... Then I when she has washed and dressed... make butter.... Afterward I make she has breakfast, then she goes to the cheese.... Then the children need chapel, for another service, then looking after.... I give the chickens has dinner.... After dinner, she food... and look after the young discusses business... then has geese.... I bake, I brew.... a short sleep, then drinks ale or I twist rope.... I tease out wool, wine. Then... she goes to the and card it, and spin it on a chapel for evening service, and has wheel.... I organize food for the supper. After supper, she relaxes with cattle, and for ourselves.... I look her women attendants.... After that, after all the household. she goes to her private room, and says FROM A BALLAD FIRST WRITTEN nighttime prayers. By 8 p.m. she is in bed. DOWN IN ABOUT 1500, quoted in Women DAILY ROUTINE OF CICELY, DUCHESS OF YORK, in Medieval Times by Fiona Macdonald quoted in Women in Medieval Times by Fiona Macdonald DOCUMENT-BASED QUESTIONS 1. Drawing Conclusions What seem to be the major concerns in the noblewoman’s life? How do they compare with those of the peasant woman? 2. Making Inferences What qualities would you associate with the peasant woman and the life she lived? 368 Chapter 13  played important roles in the lives of both noble and peasant families. Noblewomen Under the feudal system, a noble- woman could inherit an estate from her husband. Upon her lord’s request, she could also send his knights to war. When her husband was off fighting, the lady of a medieval castle might act as military commander and a warrior. At times, noblewomen played a key role in defending castles. They hurled rocks and fired arrows at attackers. (See the illustration to the right.) In reality, however, the lives of most noblewomen were limited. Whether young or old, females in noble families generally were confined to activities in the home or the convent. Also, noblewomen held little Summarizing property because lords passed down their fiefs to sons What privileges and not to daughters. did a noblewoman Peasant Women For the vast majority of women of have in medieval society? the lower classes, life had remained unchanged for cen- turies. Peasant women performed endless labor around the home and often in the fields, bore children, and took care of their families. Young peasant girls learned practical household skills from their mother at an early age, unlike daughters in rich households who were edu- cated by tutors. Females in peasant families were poor ▲ The noblewomen and powerless. Yet, the economic contribution they depicted in this made was essential to the survival of the peasant household. manuscript show As you have read in this section, the Church significantly influenced the status their courage and combat skills in of medieval women. In Section 4, you will read just how far-reaching was the defending a castle influence of the Church in the Middle Ages. against enemies. SECTION 3 ASSESSMENT TERMS & NAMES 1. For each term or name, write a sentence explaining its significance. chivalry tournament troubadour USING YOUR NOTES MAIN IDEAS CRITICAL THINKING & WRITING 2. Which ideas associated with 3. What were two inventions 6. DEVELOPING HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE How important a chivalry have remnants in from Asia that changed the role did knights play in the feudal system? today’s society? Explain. technology of warfare in 7. MAKING INFERENCES How was the code of chivalry like western Europe? the idea of romantic love? 4. Who were the occupants of a 8. COMPARING AND CONTRASTING In what ways were the castle? lives of a noblewoman and a peasant woman the same? 5. What were some of the themes different? Chivalry of medieval literature? 9. WRITING ACTIVITY RELIGIOUS AND ETHICAL SYSTEMS Write a persuasive essay in support of the adoption of a code of chivalry, listing the positive effects it might have on feudal society. CONNECT TO TODAY WRITING AN ADVERTISEMENT Conduct research to learn more about tournaments. Then, write a 50-word advertisement promoting a tournament to be held at a modern re-creation of a medieval fair. European Middle Ages 369  4 The Power of the Church MAIN IDEA WHY IT MATTERS NOW TERMS & NAMES POWER AND AUTHORITY Today, many religious leaders clergy Holy Roman Church leaders and political still voice their opinions on sacrament Empire leaders competed for power political issues. canon law lay and authority. investiture SETTING THE STAGE Amid the weak central governments in feudal Europe, the Church emerged as a powerful institution. It shaped the lives of people from all social classes. As the Church expanded its political role, strong rulers began to question the pope’s authority. Dramatic power struggles unfolded in the Holy Roman Empire, the scene of mounting tensions between popes and emperors. TAKING NOTES The Far-Reaching Authority of the Church Following Chronological Order List the significant In crowning Charlemagne as the Roman Emperor in 800, the Church sought to dates and events for the influence both spiritual and political matters. Three hundred years earlier, Pope Holy Roman Empire. Gelasius I recognized the conflicts that could arise between the two great forces— the Church and the state. He wrote, “There are two powers by which this world is Date/Event chiefly ruled: the sacred authority of the priesthood and the authority of kings.” Gelasius suggested an analogy to solve such conflicts. God had created two symbolic swords. One sword was religious. The other was political. The pope held a spiritual sword. The emperor wielded a political one. Gelasius thought that the pope should bow to the emperor in political matters. In turn, the emperor should bow to the pope in religious matters. If each ruler kept the authority in his own realm, Gelasius suggested, the two leaders could share power in harmony. In reality, though, they disagreed on the boundaries of either realm. Throughout ▼ A pope’s the Middle Ages, the Church and various European rulers competed for power. tiara symbolized The Structure of the Church Like the system of feudalism, the Church had its his power. own organization. Power was based on status. Church structure consisted of dif- ferent ranks of clergy, or religious officials. The pope in Rome headed the Church. All clergy, including bishops and priests, fell under his authority. Bishops supervised priests, the lowest ranking members of the clergy. Bishops also settled disputes over Church teachings and practices. For most people, local priests served as the main contact with the Church. Religion as a Unifying Force Feudalism and the manor system cre- ated divisions among people. But the shared beliefs in the teachings of the Church bonded people together. The church was a stable force dur- ing an era of constant warfare and political turmoil. It provided Christians with a sense of security and of belonging to a religious com- munity. In the Middle Ages, religion occupied center stage. 370 Chapter 13  Medieval Christians’ everyday lives were harsh. Still, they could all follow the same path to salvation—everlast- ing life in heaven. Priests and other clergy administered the sacraments, or important religious ceremonies. These rites paved the way for achieving salvation. For example, through the sacrament of baptism, people became part of the Christian community. At the local level, the village church was a unifying force in the lives of most people. It served as a religious and social center. People worshiped together at the church. They also met Analyzing Motives with other villagers. Religious holidays, especially Christmas Why did and Easter, were occasions for festive celebrations. medieval peasants The Law of the Church The Church’s authority was both An Age of Superstition support the Church? religious and political. It provided a unifying set of spiritual Lacking knowledge of the laws of beliefs and rituals. The Church also created a system of jus- nature, many people during the Middle Ages were led to irrational tice to guide people’s conduct. All medieval Christians, kings beliefs. They expected the dead to and peasants alike, were subject to canon law, or Church reappear as ghosts. A friendly goblin law, in matters such as marriage and religious practices. The might do a person a good deed, but Church also established courts to try people accused of vio- an evil witch might cause great harm. lating canon law. Two of the harshest punishments that Medieval people thought an evil offenders faced were excommunication and interdict. witch had the power to exchange a healthy child for a sickly one. Popes used the threat of excommunication, or banish- The medieval Church frowned ment from the Church, to wield power over political rulers. upon superstitions such as these: For example, a disobedient king’s quarrel with a pope might preparing a table with three knives result in excommunication. This meant the king would be to please good fairies denied salvation. Excommunication also freed all the king’s making a vow by a tree, a pond, or vassals from their duties to him. If an excommunicated king any place but a church continued to disobey the pope, the pope, in turn, could use believing that a person could an even more frightening weapon, the interdict. change into the shape of a wolf Under an interdict, many sacraments and religious services believing that the croak of a raven or meeting a priest would bring a could not be performed in the king’s lands. As Christians, the person good or bad luck king’s subjects believed that without such sacraments they might be doomed to hell. In the 11th century, excommunica- tion and the possible threat of an interdict would force a German emperor to submit to the pope’s commands. The Church and the Holy Roman Empire When Pope Leo III crowned Charlemagne emperor in 800, he unknowingly set the stage for future conflicts between popes and emperors. These clashes would go on for centuries. Otto I Allies with the Church The most effective ruler of medieval Germany was Otto I, known as Otto the Great. Otto, crowned king in 936, followed the policies of his hero, Charlemagne. Otto formed a close alliance with the Church. To limit the nobles’ strength, he sought help from the clergy. He built up his power base by gaining the support of the bishops and abbots, the heads of monasteries. He dom- inated the Church in Germany. He also used his power to defeat German princes. Following in Charlemagne’s footsteps, Otto also invaded Italy on the pope’s behalf. In 962, the pope rewarded Otto by crowning him emperor. Signs of Future Conflicts The German-Italian empire Otto created was first called the Roman Empire of the German Nation. It later became the Holy Roman Empire. It remained the strongest state in Europe until about 1100. However, European Middle Ages 371  Otto’s attempt to revive Charlemagne’s empire caused trouble for future German leaders. Popes and Italian nobles, too, resented German power over Italy. The Emperor Clashes with the Pope The Church was not happy that kings, such as Otto, had control over clergy and their offices. It especially resented the practice of lay investiture, a ceremony in which kings and nobles appointed church officials. Whoever controlled lay investi- ture held the real power in naming bishops, who were very influential clergy that kings sought to control. Church reformers felt that kings should not have that power. In 1075, Pope Gregory VII banned lay investiture. The furious young German emperor, Henry IV, immediately called a meeting of the German bishops he had appointed. With their approval, the emperor ordered Gregory to step down from the papacy. Gregory then excommunicated Henry. A