Europe after the Roman Empire

The Middle Ages

476 – 1300 C.E. 

I.  Division of Europe

     A.  No central, unifying government

     B.  Geography causes people to become divided = different kingdoms

     C.  Different societies and cultures develop across Europe as a result

II.  Germanic Kingdoms

     A.  A group called the Franks became the dominant force in Europe

     B.  The Pope supported them in an attempt to restore order    and promote Christianity across Europe

     C.  Charlemagne (742-814 A.D.) made this kingdom into an empire – conquered new lands (Muslim)

     D.  Empire collapses due to invaders after the death of Charlemagne

III.  Rise of the Catholic Church
A.  Christianity continues to grow even after the collapse of the Western Roman Empire

B.  Monks and missionaries travel throughout Europe to spread the Christian message

C.  As a result, the Church grows in influence and power and clashes with political leaders

IV.  Church vs. State

A.  The Catholic Church wants to stop kings from appointing church officials and gain more power

B.  The kings want this power because they have authority over nobles by appointing local bishops

C.  Pope Gregory VII excommunicates King Henry = loss of power for Henry  - no longer Catholic

D.   Big victory for the Pope and Church

Feudalism

800 – 1300 C.E.

I.  Feudalism = Manorial System

A.  Lords gave vassals or knights land in return for protection

B.  Knights hired serfs who farmed the land in return for protection

C.  Each manor had housing, a castle for the lord, farmland and a church

II.  Dark Ages (800 – 1100 C.E.)

A.  Lack of money or government to repair bridges or roads = no trade

B.  Very dangerous place (lots of invaders) = need for protection = the manor was the place where you lived your whole life

C.  People know nothing of the outside world due to lack of education and travel

III.  Formation of Cities

A.  Slowly trade increased and cities were formed on the manor

B.  Trade increased and ideas were spread

C.  Guilds were established and people could become a craftsperson (apprentice to journeyman to master)

D.  Ideas bring about end to Feudal System over time.

IV.  Venice

A.  Settled on swampland to get away from invaders

B.  Developed outstanding trading boats and slowly grew into a huge trading city

C.  By 1200 A.D., it is the center of trade and the most powerful city in Western Europe

D.  Establishes the monetary system for the region = Venetian Coins

V.  The Crusades

A.  Organized by European Christians to take back the "Holy Land".  

B.  First Crusade was very "successful" for the Christians.

C.  Muslims win back the land they had lost over the next 200 years

D.  4^th Crusade = burned Constantinople (benefit to Venice = more $ 4 them!)

E.  Crusades open trade and ideas to Western Europe = end of Dark Ages

VI.  The Black Death

A.  Between 1347 – 1351 a plague killed 38 million people in Europe alone

B.  The economy and culture of Europe was devastated due to the death of so many people

C.  Black death however helped serfs gain more rights including better jobs, pay and even ownership = weakened the Feudal System

VII.  Black Death Assignment