Chapter 8 The Middle Ages

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Chapter 8 The Middle Ages

• By Frank Bommarito

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Medieval Europe

• Medieval Europe occurred shortly after the fall
  of the Roman Empire in 476 AD
• After the fall of the Romans, Europe basically
  became up for grabs
• Medieval European countries and states were
  constantly being invaded or attacked by stronger
  empires

• The major kingdoms and empires were the German
  states, Vikings, Muslims, Normans, and later, the
  Holy Roman Empire
• Besides the change in the landscape of Europe,
  many other things were changing as well

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Feudalism

• After various invasions on the newly separated
  lands that were once the Roman empire, a system
  called feudalism emerges
• In feudalistic society kings were virtually
  powerless
• Instead of kings, Lords, or local noblemen, ruled
  over their piece of land
• For this land, vassals had to exchange service
• On this land, lived peasants who worked the farms
  everyday
• This allowed for the people on the feif to live
  off the land

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Feudal Warfare

• From the feudal society came a unique type of
  warfare
• Knights were the warriors
• They lived by a strict code for everyday life
  called Chivalry
• Chivalry- code of conduct
• a) Greatly stressed bravery, honesty
  and generosity

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The Medieval Church

• The only thing that crossed the many boundaries
  of the Middle Ages was the Medieval Church
• They educated many kings and lords
• They owned enormous pieces of land and offered
  Church indulgences for the forgiveness of sins
• People who committed heresy or questioned the
  church were usually excommunicated by the pope
• It was believed that the best way to serve God
  was to dedicate their whole life to his service
• a)Nuns and Monks had complete dedication

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Medieval Culture and Technology

• Architecture had major advances, especially that
  of Cathedrals.
• a)Romanesque (columns,arches and
  domes)
• b)Gothic (windows and flying
  buttresses)
• Literature had two revolutionary writers emerge
  Dante and Chaucer
• New inventions such as the improved plow, horse
  shoe, water mill, and wind mill made farm life
  easier
• Also with these inventions came a growth in trade
• Middle class emerged due to the new job
  oppurtunities

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• Science bloomed as well did medicine and
  education
• The Church,however, still had the main authority
  on almost all issues
• Universities began teaching the ideas of
  Aristotle, Roman Law and were also run by the
  clergy

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The Crusades

• In 1071 Seljuk Turks conquer Jerusalem and
  torture the Christians
• Pope Urban II preaches the Crusade to recapture
  the Holy Land in 1095
• reunite the church
• control the Holy Land
• increase prestige of the Church
• response was great
• salvation, greed
• The crusades lasted until1212

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• After the crusades The Churchs power temporarily
  increased but the crusades also tarnished the
  Churchs image
• Many people saw how the church would kill to stay
  in power
• Europe also began to change more quickly

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Review

• 1) In Europe during the Middle Ages, increases
  in trade and commerce resulted in
•  1. 
• lower living standards for industrial workers
•  2. 
• decreased economic rivalry between kings
•  3. 
• increased political power for the clergy
•  4. 
• development of towns and cities
• 2) All things were under its domain...its
  power was such that no one could hope to escape
  its scrutiny.Which European institution during
  the Middle Ages is best described by this
  statement?
•  1. 
• the Guild
•  2. 
• Knighthood
•  3. 
• the Church

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• 3) In Europe during the Middle Ages, the
  force that provided unification and stability was
  the
•  1. 
• central government in Rome
•  2. 
• military alliance between France and Germany
•  3. 
• federation of the craft guilds
•  4. 
• Roman Catholic Church
• 4) Which is a characteristic of a feudal
  society? 1. 
• rapid social change
•  2. 
• high literacy rate
•  3. 
• industrial-based economy
•  4. 
• rigid class structure
•  

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• 5) Which economic system existed in Europe
  during the early Middle Ages?
•  1. 
• free market
•  2. 
• socialism
•  3. 
• manorialism
•  4. 
• command
• Answer Key 1) Choice 4 2) Choice 3 3)
  Choice 4 4) Choice 4 5) Choice 3

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In Conclusion

• At the end of the middle ages there were many
  changes from the previous Empires
• The Middle ages ended with the black death
• It was a spread of the bubonic plague that
  eventually would go on to kill 1 of every 3
  people in Europe
• It also caused a complete economic crash

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Important Dates

• 1066 William Duke of Normandy crossd into
  England and declared himself King of England
• 1348 Middle ages end