The document summarizes the Early Middle Ages in Europe following the fall of the Western Roman Empire. It describes how the decline of Roman influence left people vulnerable to invasion, leading them to enter feudal agreements with land-holding lords in exchange for protection. Society was organized into a hierarchy with nobles, clergy, and peasants. Peasants made up 95% of the population and spent their days farming the lands of nobles to fulfill their obligations under the feudal system. The Middle Ages saw invasions from Germanic tribes like the Angles, Saxons, and Vikings, influencing the development of Europe.
2. Middle Ages
The years between CE 400s and 1500s
are called the Middle Ages
Also called the Medieval period
This period is seen as a transition in the
development of western culture
Took place in Europe
3.
4. Foundations of Early Medieval
Society
Classical heritage of Rome
Christian beliefs
Customs of Germanic tribes
5. Background Information
The decline of Roman influence in
Western Europe left people with
little protection against invasion, so
they entered into feudal
agreements with land-
holding lords who promised
them protection.
6. Feudal Agreements
As we have seen repeatedly,
when power falls, chaos often
follows.
With the decline of the Western
Roman Empire (the power),
western Europe fell into complete
chaos.
8. Germanic Invasions
In 476, the last of the Western
Roman Empire vanished.
One of the major reasons for the
decline and fall of Rome was the
Germanic Invasions
9. Those invasions
continued into the
Medieval period, also
known as the Middle
Ages.
These invaders were the
Angles, Saxons,
Magyars and Vikings.
Germanic Invasions
14. Germanic Invasions
Vikings were raiders
that would make raids
into Europe, steal
everything they could,
and then go back to
Scandinavia. They
rarely settled.
Later they migrate to
Russia.
Known for their ship-
building and navigation
skills
15. Rise of Feudal
Agreements
Roman protection is gone
Roman towns are in decline,
losing population rapidly.
Remember, Roman towns
developed to support trade with
the Roman legions stationed at
forts, protecting the borders.
17. Rise of Feudal
Agreements
Without any central government, those
towns started to die and people drifted
away.
Add to this mix, the Germanic barbarians
wandering the countryside causing
trouble.
These people had no written laws and
elected kings to lead them.
18. Rise of Feudal
Agreements
People were
looking for
leadership and
protection.
Local strongmen
who commanded
small armies
often provided
that protection
19. Rise of Feudal
Agreements
The agreement part came when
people agreed to work the land of
the local strongman in return for
protection.
“I’ll farm for you and you won’t let
the bad guys get me.”
Each side had responsibilities and
benefits.
20. Medieval Society
Three social classes grew
out of this initial chaos and
reorganization:
Nobles
Clergy
Peasants
21. Nobles
Ruling class, top
of the pyramid,
the strongman
Kings, lords,
vassals, and
knights were all
types of nobility.
27. Nobility & Feudal Obligation
Fief – the lot of land granted to a
vassal by a lord
28. Fallow Field
Blacksmith Shop
Lord’s Oven
Lord’s Manor House
Peasant’s Houses
Church
Well
Kitchen Garden
Mill
Wheat Field
Peas, Oats, Barley,
Beans
29. Life in a Manor
Peasant Life
Very hard life – spent long hours in the fields
Little time for leisure activities
Life expectancy was short due to hunger,
disease, and war
Noble Life
Lived in castles that served
as a fort for protection
Not a luxurious life – disease
