Medieval Europe
- Legacy of Rome
- Large road systems that connect the empire
- Legal
- Written law
- Specific law code that governs all members of the empire
- Architecture
- City Plan
- Centralized government
- Fall of Rome (approx 400-476)
- Roman Empire is split into East (Byzantine) and West (Rome)
- Migrating Germanic Tribes (336- approx. 700)
- Anglos, Saxons, Goths, Vandals, Franks, etc.
- Unknown why they move south/West
- Some were former/current members of Rome’s army
- Huns pushing west from Asia
- Why Rome falls (Sept. 4, 476)
- Extremely weak leadership
- No centralized power
- Much of military made of barbarians
- Powerful barbarian warriors
- Defending for about 100-150 years
- Migration of Germanic Peoples (336- approx. 700)
- Structure
- Tribes led by chieftains/kings
- Rank based on fighting prowess
- Not bound to borders, territories based on region and people
- Successful economy based on invading other groups
- Plunder, raid, bribe for supplies, gold, and people
- Law system
- Members of a tribe are bound by the law of the tribe
- Unwritten
- Culture
- Writing
- Pre-rome invasion- Mostly unwritten language
- Post-rome invasion- used latin alphabet to write language
- Unified closely by one’s tribe
- War oriented
- Migratory
- Writing
- Structure
- Feudalism
- System of granting land to lower Lords in order to farm and cultivate, in return for a tax
- The King owns all of the land
- He then give fiefs (land grants) to his vassals (lords)
- The vassals farm the land
- The vassals serve as the king’s knights
- The vassal may appoint his own vassals to serve as knights
- Vassals rent out their land to peasants- farm the land for a price
- Serfs- peasants who are bound to the land for life
- He then give fiefs (land grants) to his vassals (lords)
- Life in Medieval Europe
- Development of Town life
- Lifestyles revolved around the town
- Life based on order and structure
- Home to merchants and craftsmen
- Farmers lived outside the town on their farms
- Governed by a feudal lord
- Taxes to support the town
- Guilds
- Organization of people in a skilled craft or trade (mysterium)
- Controlled rates and quality of crafts
- Work done by masters and apprentices
- Apprentices studied under masters for at least 7 yrs until capable
- Growth of Trade Towns
- Primary economy was trade or banking
- Venice, Florence
- Traded goods between towns or East and West
- Towns known for producing specific high quality goods
- Primary economy was trade or banking
- Homes
- Mostly built of wood and plaster
- Poor
- Lived in cramped homes with few rooms
- Dark and damp
- Wealthy
- More spacious
- Gardens
- Warmed by fireplaces
- Cooled by windows
- Health and hygiene
- Towns very dirty
- No system of trash or human waste disposal
- No running water
- Little understanding of hygiene
- Some thought bad smells spread disease
- Use of herbs for medicines
- Bleeding
- Mass spreads of plagues
- Towns very dirty
- Leisure
- Games, cards
- Mystery Cycle plays
- Fights (jousting, swordplay, throwing spears…)
- Development of Town life
- Rise and Fall of Feudalism
- Frankish Kingdom (Merovingians and Carolingian 486-987)
- Clovis
- First Frankish king and defeats the Gauls
- Converts to Christianity in 496
- Secures the support of the Church
- Charles Martel
- Defeats Muslims at the battle of Tours in 732
- Prevents Islamic spread into Europe
- Defeats Muslims at the battle of Tours in 732
- Charlemagne (768-814)
- Stately, tall, dignified, respected, and good leader
- Clovis
- Frankish Kingdom (Merovingians and Carolingian 486-987)
- The pioneer of the European Knight and feudal system
- Promoted education, culture, and chivalry
- Military Leadership
- Defeated Muslims from invading Europe at Roncesvalles in 778
- Unite most of W. Europe (France , Germany, Switz)
- In 800 crowned Holy Roman Emperor
- England
- Frequent invasions of Normans (787-954)
- During this time England develops feudal governments to defend
- Eventually they consolidate power under a single king
- Legal Reform
- Henry II- Common law
- All people, even the king, are subject to the law
- Pushed for trial by jury
- Disputes with Bishop Thomas Becket over trial of clergy
- Leads to assassination and martyrdom of Becket
- John I- Magna Carta
- Lost territory in Normandy (France)
- Demanded huge taxes from lords and peasants
- In 1215 his lords demand he approve Magna Carta
- A system of laws that protects the nobles and limits the power of the king
- Habeas Corpus- can’t be jailed without charge of a crime
- Edward I- Model Parliament
- A body of nobles and commoners who assist in law making and advising
- Henry II- Common law
- Frequent invasions of Normans (787-954)
- Bubonic Plague and the Great Famine
- Famine 1315-1321
- The Little Ice Age lead to a 25% decrease in food production
- Caused mass starvation
- Famine 1315-1321