CH 2

1
CH 2

• EUROPES HIGH MIDDLE AGES

2
THE BATTLE OF HASTINGS

• 1066 ce
• For the throne of England
• The Bayeux Tapestry
• Propaganda
• bias

WILLIAM VS HAROLD
3
THE FEUDAL SYSTEM

• Based on the three Fs
• Fief - land
• Fealty- loyalty
• Faith - religion
• The Feudal Contract
• A series of obligations to each other bonded by
  an Oath of Allegiance.
• The monarch parcelled out blocks of land.

4
MEDIEVAL HIERARCHY
MONARCH (King) GREATER NOBLES (Barons) LESSER
NOBLES MINOR NOBLES COMMONERS (Serfs/Freeholders
)
5
THE MANOR

• KEY TERMS
• Self-sufficient - mills, tannery,
  bakehouse,well, blacksmith,church.
• Sustainable
• Lords demesne
• Bailiffs
• Three field system
• Fallow

6
ORDINARY PEOPLE

• Serfs and freeholders did much of the work but
  had the least.
• Serfs donated 2-3 days/week labour.
• 5000 calories/day gt bread beer.
• Small homes with dirt floor and 1 room.
• No power or water and little furniture.
• Hard lives - men, woman and child worked.

7
LORD AND LADY OF THE MANOR

• Lived well in comparison but still a simple life.
• Had many privileges - servants, falcons, horses,
  troubadours, furniture.
• Obligations - provide knights, to marry and have
  children(marriage power, not love), provide the
  necessities.
• Boys were a priority - the land went to the
  eldest son.
• Women had few rights.
• Widows maintained land
• many refused to remarry.

8
BELIEF AND DEVOTION

• Almost all Western Europeans were Christians.
• People would be judged after death.
• Heaven or Hell ?!?!
• No important event could proceed without Gods
  blessing.
• Their place in society was all part of Gods
  plan.

9
THE CHURCH

• Christians could only practice through the
  church.
• The worst thing that could happen was to be
  excommunicated.
• Seven Deadly Sins - (pride, anger, envy, greed,
  lust, gluttony, sloth)
• The church had considerable power even
  monarchs.
• The church collected tithes.
• 10 of income
• Some clergy became
• very wealthy

10
MEDIEVAL LAW

• Trial by Ordeal Trial by Battle
• God would determine innocence
• Manor Courts- settled minor disputes usually to
  do with farming or property.
• Royal Courts dealt with serious crimes such as
  murder, treason, rape and burglary.
• Used common law.
• Church Courts tried the clergy.
• Usually gave out lighter sentences.

11
MEDIEVAL GEOGRAPHY

• Most were uneducated and knew very little of the
  world.
• Journeys were dangerous and outlaws were common.
• T-O maps placed Jerusalem at the center of the
  map.
• Marco Polo
• Silk Road - China

12
THE CRUSADES

• European Christians fought the Muslims for
  control over the Holy Land (Palestine)
• Seven crusades in total.
• Reasons to fight place
• in heaven, wealth, land,
• adventure, excitement.
• Results new ideas
• brought home, trade,
• knowledge, further
• exploration.

13
ROYAL POWER AND DEMOCRACY

• By custom the monarch had power.
• The Feudal Code kept him honest to the Barons who
  would attack if corrupt.
• A time when family honour was of great importance.

14
ELEANOR OF AQUITAINE

• Most famous woman in Europe.
• Queen of both France and England.
• Fought in crusades and promoted womens rights
  both uncommon.
• Spent 16 yrs. in prison.
• treason against her husband.
• her sons included Richard
• the Lion-Hearted and King
• John I.

15
KING JOHN The Robin Hood villain

• Lost the peoples support when fought with the
  Pope.
• Excommunicated the King and placed England under
  an interdict (no religious ceremonies).
• Broke Feudal Code with Barons.
• Raised taxes and hired army to fight his own
  people.
• The people rebelled and forced him to sign the
  Magna Carta
• The first step towards democracy.