The Early Middle Ages: A Tennessee Honors World History Presentation
Content
The Early Middle Ages
The Fall of Rome
Western Europe in Decline •
•
When Rome collapses, things fall apart in Western Europe A dark age? –
Why?
–
Why not?
Germanic Kingdoms •
•
“Barbarians” begin to create dominant kingdoms Clovis, king of the Franks –
•
Preserves Roman customs
Charles “The Hammer” Martel vs. Muslim Army
Charlemagne •
46-year reign
•
New Roman Emperor? –
Not quite
•
Unifying Christian Europe
•
Revival of Latin Learning
•
Empire falls apart after death
Invaders •
Magyar –
•
Hungarian, Eastern Europe
Vikings –
Let’s talk about Vikings
Feudalism •
Remember this?
•
Mutual obligation –
Feudal contract
•
Highly structured
•
The Knight Path
Chivalry and Women •
Women tend to run the manor in absence of men
•
Inheritance restricted
•
Chivalry –
More romance and reality
The Manor Economy •
Mutual obligation between lord and peasants
•
Self-sufficient
•
Life is tough for peasants
The Church •
Parish priest – main point of contact
•
Church is social focal point
•
Building cathedrals
•
Reduced role of women
•
Monastic Life
The Church, cont’d •
Pope is spiritual leader of Western Europe
•
Papal supremacy
•
Religious and political power –
•
Reform movements –
•
Excommunication
Friars and reformers
Persecution against Jews
The Fall of Rome
Western Europe in Decline •
•
When Rome collapses, things fall apart in Western Europe A dark age? –
Why?
–
Why not?
Germanic Kingdoms •
•
“Barbarians” begin to create dominant kingdoms Clovis, king of the Franks –
•
Preserves Roman customs
Charles “The Hammer” Martel vs. Muslim Army
Charlemagne •
46-year reign
•
New Roman Emperor? –
Not quite
•
Unifying Christian Europe
•
Revival of Latin Learning
•
Empire falls apart after death
Invaders •
Magyar –
•
Hungarian, Eastern Europe
Vikings –
Let’s talk about Vikings
Feudalism •
Remember this?
•
Mutual obligation –
Feudal contract
•
Highly structured
•
The Knight Path
Chivalry and Women •
Women tend to run the manor in absence of men
•
Inheritance restricted
•
Chivalry –
More romance and reality
The Manor Economy •
Mutual obligation between lord and peasants
•
Self-sufficient
•
Life is tough for peasants
The Church •
Parish priest – main point of contact
•
Church is social focal point
•
Building cathedrals
•
Reduced role of women
•
Monastic Life
The Church, cont’d •
Pope is spiritual leader of Western Europe
•
Papal supremacy
•
Religious and political power –
•
Reform movements –
•
Excommunication
Friars and reformers
Persecution against Jews
