The Middle Ages lasted from around 500 AD to 1500 AD. This period between the fall of the Roman Empire and the modern era is also known as the Dark Ages (500-1000 AD) and saw the rise of the Franks and Charlemagne's empire in Western Europe. Charlemagne's empire influenced the development of feudalism and serfdom across Europe and helped establish the Holy Roman Empire. The Viking invasions further disrupted society during this time.

1. The Middle Ages

2. The period of time beginning about 500 AD and extending
for about 1000 years is called the Middle Ages. Period in
history between the breakup of the Roman Empire and the rise of
modern times. (about 1,000 years 500 A.D. to 1500 A.D.)
Middle Ages

3. The “Dark Ages” are commonly considered to be the early part of the
period known as the Middle Ages. Often the term Dark Ages refers to
the initial five hundred years following the fall of Rome in A.D.
476 and continuing till A.D. 1000. During this time Rome and other
cities deteriorated because of the invasions of barbarians from
northern and central Europe. Since there was no longer an imperial
authority with the power to protect the citizens of the cities, the urban
population declined sharply during this period of history.
Dark Ages

4. Along the Rhine River in the area that is now Germany, a
group of people known as Franks established a powerful
kingdom in Western Europe. Although there were other
groups of people in this area who constantly fought with
each other, the Franks gradually gained control of much of
the former Western Roman Empire.
The Franks

5. The leader of the Franks was Clovis, a brilliant, cruel, and
brutal military leader. A few years after Clovis became king,
an important event took place. Influenced by his Christian
wife, he vowed to accept her religion if he won a certain
battle. When Clovis won the battle, he kept his vow and
accepted Christianity. He also ordered 3,000 of his warriors
to receive baptism. By converting to Christianity, he gained
the support of the Romans in his kingdom.
Clovis

6. Soon, the Franks began to speak a form of Latin that became
the modern French language. By worshipping the same way
as the people and speaking the same language, Clovis easily
united the country under his rule.
Latin

7. In the 700s, Muslim armies threatened to invade western Europe.
When these armies advanced toward France, Charles Martel, a Frank
known as the "Hammer," led the Franks against the Muslims in the
Battle of Tours (toors).
Charles Martel
Charles Martel

8. The Battle of Tours was one of the most important battles in
European history. Because the Muslims were defeated,
Christianity survived in western Europe, and the spread of
Islam into western Europe was stopped.
Battle of Tours

9. After the Muslims were defeated, Frankish power descended
from Charles Martel to his son Pepin. In 768 AD, Pepin's
son, Charlemagne (SHAR luh mane), meaning Charles the
Great, became king of the Franks.
Charlemagne became the most powerful leader in western
Europe. He created a large empire that included Germanic
people as well as people in northern and eastern Europe. The
size of his kingdom nearly doubled during his 46 years of
rule.
Charlemagne

10. On Christmas Day in 800 AD, at St. Peter's Church in
Rome, Pope Leo III crowned Charlemagne as the new
Roman Emperor. Charlemagne involved himself deeply in
church affairs. He became protector of the popes.
Pope Leo III

11. Charlemagne's empire formed the basis of what became the
Holy Roman Empire in 962 AD. The Holy Roman Empire
lasted until 1806. It consisted largely of German and
Italian states ruled by German emperors.
Holy Roman Empire

12. The formation of Charlemagne's empire was another turning
point in European history. For the first time since the fall of
the Roman Empire, one emperor ruled over Europe.
Charlemagne ruled from Aachen (AH kuhn) in the northern
part of France. Today it is known as Aix-la-Chapelle (AKES
lah shah PEL).
Charlemagne

13. Education was important to Charlemagne. He was proud of his
intellectual ability and wanted everyone in his kingdom to be educated.
He set up a school to train children in one of his palaces and invited
scholars from all over Europe to teach. Students practiced writing by
copying transcripts.
The teachers invented a clear, written script known as the Carolingian
(kar uh LIHN jee uhn) minuscule. It is a form of writing that uses
both upper and lower case letters, and is still used today.
Carolingian Minuscule
Fun Fact:
Despite Charlemagne’s deep interest in education and his ability to
read, he never learned to write no matter how hard he tried.

14. Charlemagne died in 814, and the empire did not survive long after his
death. In the Treaty of Verdun (ver DUHN), Charlemagne's empire
was divided among his three grandsons. The East Frankish Kingdom,
or the Kingdom of Louis, eventually became Germany. The West
Frankish Kingdom, or the Kingdom of Charles, later became France,
and the area in the center was called the Kingdom of Lothair. Lothair
kept the title of emperor, but he and his brothers were too weak to
maintain power.
Treaty of Verdun
West Frankish Kingdom
(Modern-day France)
Charles the Bald
East Frankish Kingdom
(Modern-day Germany and
central Europe)
Louis the German
Kingdom of Italy (Northern
Italy) Lothar I

15. The Vikings were farmers and traders, expert sailors, and
fearful warriors. They burned and looted their way
through most of western Europe, occupying parts of
England and France and exploring as far as the eastern coast
of North America. Their invasion affected the lives of most
people in western Europe.
Vikings

16. Western Europe was attacked by invaders from many areas
about the same time Charlemagne's empire was divided. The
strongest invaders were the Vikings from an area called
Scandinavia. Scandinavia includes the countries of Denmark,
Norway, and Sweden. The term refers to the countries where
Scandinavian people live.
Vikings

17. The Viking invasions changed the way of life for most of the
people in Europe. Because the Vikings were so terrifying,
communities lived in fear.
Vikings
Vikings used the
skulls of their
enemies as drinking
vessels.

19. CLICK to continue to Middle Ages Lesson 2

20. Life and Times During Medieval Europe
500 to 1400 AD

21. After repeated threats of invasion, citizens lacked security. Farmers
could not work in their fields without protection. They could not work
while constantly looking over their shoulders for fear of invaders. Their
lives and normal routines were disrupted. As a result, communities
hired soldiers to protect them.
Introduction of Feudalism

22. I. Feudal System
A. The basic government and society in Europe during the middle
ages in which the king owned the land and everything in it.
II. Fiefs (feefs)
A. Large sections of land the king granted to his nobles in
exchange for their loyalty.
Feudal System and Fiefs

23. 1. The nobles, in return for the land, the nobles promised to fight for
the king and provide the king with soldiers or taxes.
2. The nobles then granted parcels of their land to vassals, less powerful
nobles, in exchange for their loyalty.
3. The vassals would keep the peasants safe in return for their growing
crops.
Feudal System

24. I. Peasants
A. The majority of people during the Middle Ages were peasants.
B. Peasants were required to worked the land of the estate and
perform many other services in exchange for a small plot of
land and a small cottage.
1. Kept the manor in repair, harvested crops, and served in the
army.
2. Women tended the children and animals and wove cloth.
Peasants

25. Serfs
I. Serfs
A. Peasants were required to spend about three days a week working
for the nobles.
1. Eventually, the peasants did more for the nobles than they did for
themselves and gradually became serfs, or people bound to the
land.
2. When a fief was granted to a noble, it included the serfs who
worked the land.

26. Farming
Farming was an inefficient process at the beginning of the Middle Ages.
Seeds were scattered randomly, and crops grew in a tangled mess. The
seeds that did produce fruit were hard to harvest. However, around 800
AD, several advancements in agriculture made farming more efficient.
One improvement was a system of crop rotation in which farmers used
three fields for planting. One field was unused during a season, while
the other two fields were planted with two different crops. The next
year, a different field was left vacant, and crops were planted in the other
two fields.
Crop rotation allowed the nutrients in the soil to
be replenished and produced larger harvests on
the fields that were used.

27. Manors
There were not many towns or villages in Europe at the beginning of
the Middle Ages. Instead, life centered around manors, large farming
estates that were self-sufficient. Nearly everything needed was grown
or made at the manor.
The feudal system made life in Europe during the Middle Ages very
harsh. The serfs were unable to free themselves from the control of the
lord of the manor.

28. Knighthood: Page
The lord of a manor had to be ready to go to war with very little
notice. Sometimes his vassals would be needed to help another lord
fight. To help with the readiness for war, male children were trained
to be knights, or professional soldiers and specialists in war.
Knighthood involved several stages. From the ages of 7 to 14, a
young boy was a page. He acted as a servant and messenger to the
lord and lived in the lord's castle.

29. Amazing Meals
Amazing Meals
A variety of food was served at
the Great Hall table. Meat was popular
and bread was a main dish—literally.
Flat pieces of stale bread, called
trenchers, were often used as plates!
It was popular to make the meat look alive
when it was served. How? One way was to
put real feathers back on a cooked bird.
Pudding
Cooked pheasant
(with feathers)
Trenchers (bread)

30. Medieval Come Dine with Me

31. At age 15, a boy became a squire, serving only one knight. He was
taught to ride and fight. He cared for a knight's horse and kept his
armor ready for war. At 20, a squire became a knight if he had served
his master well.
Knighthood: Squire

32. Knighthood: Being Knighted
Sometimes men were knighted on the field of battle, but the
ceremony usually took place during times of peace. The earliest
knighting ceremonies were simple. A knight buckled the armor onto the
squire and proclaimed the man a knight.
Later, ceremonies became more complicated. One man buckled on the sword , and another
fastened the spurs. The squire knelt before the parrain, or the man who was knighting him. With a
tap of a sword, the parrain would say, "I dub you knight.”

33. Age of Faith
By this time, Christianity had become very widespread. Faith in God
was an accepted fact of life, and the church influenced every aspect of
feudal life. Because people had unquestionable faith in the church
the Middle Ages are sometimes called the Age of Faith.

34. The Church in the Middle Ages
I. The Church in the Middle Ages
A. Roman Catholic Church
1. The Church was the most powerful institution in Medieval
Europe.
a. Entire lives were guided by the Catholic Church.

35. The Pope
I. The Pope
A. The pope is the head of the Catholic church.

36. The Power of the Church in 1500
I. It Was Not Controlled by the King.
A. The Church was Roman Catholic and therefore was lead by the
Pope.
1. This meant that the King could not tell anyone from the Church
what to do.

37. The Power of the Church in 1500
I. It Owned Land:
A. The Church owned many large areas of farmland.
1. People who grew crops on this land had to give one tenth of
everything they grew to the Church called the Tithe.

38. The Power of the Church in 1500
I. It Controlled People’s Beliefs:
A. The Church told people that when they died, their souls lived on either in Heaven
or in Hell.
1. Hell, they said, was a place of great pain and suffering, people were
understandably frightened of going there.
a. So, the Church gave them hope and said that after you die your soul goes
first to a place called Purgatory, where it would stay until any sins had
been burnt away.

39. How the Church Enforced Its Authority
I. Excommunication
A. Christians who disobeyed the orders of the church were threatened
with excommunication.
1. Means to be forced out of the church and were treated as an
outcast.
a. Considered a severe form of punishment.
b. Even kings could be excommunicated.
II. Interdiction- Cut off an entire nation or region from Church
services.

40. Inquisition
This threat was an effective form of discipline for church members. The
church set up a special court called the Inquisition. The purpose of the
Inquisition was to try people accused of heresy, or having beliefs
different from those of the church.
During the Middle Ages literally thousands of Jews were asked to convert to
Christianity or be burned alive on stakes rows on a platform built on city’s
burial ground. Those who did not convert to Christianity were killed. More than
2,000 Jews were burned to death.

41. Religious Communities
Some people believed they could best serve God by withdrawing from
society and living an isolated life with others who had the same beliefs.
Religious communities for men were called monasteries; for
women, they were called convents.

42. Religious Communities
These religious communities were similar to manors because they were
self-sufficient. At the center of these communities stood a church. Some
children were given to the church at birth and lived their entire lives
there, never leaving the monastery or convent.

43. Religious Communities
Beneath the library was a room called a
scriptorium where books were copied by
hand. Here, much of history was
recorded, copied, and saved for posterity
by the tedious work of monks. Most of
the manuscripts they copied were from
religious works, especially the Bible.
Monks also copied other works,
including writings from ancient Greece
and Rome. The monks sold some of the
copies they made and kept others in the
monastery libraries.
Life in a monastery or convent was very strict. Nuns and monks were
kept busy nearly every hour of every day. Each monastery included a
library, and monasteries became important places of learning.

44. Stained Glass Windows
Hundreds of elaborate churches were erected during the Middle Ages,
especially between 1000 AD and 1300 AD. Their towers seemed to reach
for heaven and rose high above shops and homes. Stained glass
windows told Bible stories to people who could not read.

45. CLICK to continue to Middle Ages Lesson 3

46. Formation of Western Europe
800 to 1500 AD

47. The Crusades (A.D. 1095 to A.D. 1291.)
I. Crusades (A.D. 1095 to A.D. 1291.)
A. Wars fought to retake the Holy lands (Palestine or the birth
place of Christ.)
1. Muslim Turks threatened the Byzantine Empire. (Christians)
a. Byzantine emperor appealed to Pope Urban II for help.

48. Council of Clermont, 1095
I. Council of Clermont, 1095.
A. Pope Urban II summoned western Christians to go to the
Byzantine Empire's aid.
1. A fight against a common enemy was believed to reunite
Christian Europe.
Pope Urban IICouncil of Clermont, 1095

49. The Crusades (A.D. 1095 to A.D. 1291.)
I. Reasons why Christian knights volunteered:
A. Religious reasons- God's will to retake holy lands from the
“wicked Muslim Infidels."
1. The Pope promised forgiveness of sins and heaven to anyone
who fought against them.
B. Acquire new lands and riches.
C. Adventure.
D. Escape troubles in Western Europe.

50. Mythic Monsters of the Holy Land

51. Crusades- Old Crone

52. The Crusades (A.D. 1095 to A.D. 1291.)
III. Crusades lasted for over 200 years.
A. First Crusade (A.D. 1096-1099)
a. Most successful
b. Crusaders captured Jerusalem.
B. Second Crusade (A.D. 1147-1149)
a. Muslims led by Saladin recaptured Jerusalem
1a. Massacred Christians.
C. Third Crusade (A.D. 1189-1191)
a. Crusaders failed to retake Jerusalem, but bargained to allow
Christians to go to Jerusalem on religious pilgrimages.

53. The Crusades Failed But...
I. The Crusades failed but...
A. Introduced a new way of life to Europeans.
B. Discovery of new spices.
C. Fine jewelry.
D. Silk (material used for clothing.)
E. New medicines found.
F. Perfume (rich people loved it.)
Perfume
Spices
Silk
New Medicine
Jewelry

54. Crusader's Homecoming Gifts

55. Guilds in Medieval Towns
I. Guilds in Medieval towns.
A. Skilled craftsman
1. Bakers, tailors, carpenters, and candle makers.
a. Established working hours, quality products, quotas, and
prices.
B. Apprentices
1. Beginning worker who learned a trade.
a. Not paid (Usually committed to 7 years or more of service)

56. Guilds in Medieval Towns
I. Guilds in Medieval towns.
C. Journeyman
1. Workers who work for a master craftsman for a wage.
D. Master craftsman
1. Maintained own business. (His own boss)

57. Characteristics of Medieval Towns
I. Characteristics of Medieval Towns.
A. Surrounded by heavy walls for protection.
B. Small and compact.
C. Houses were small and crowded.
D. Streets were narrow.
E. Sanitary conditions were very poor.
1. Frequent epidemics and diseases.

58. The Black Death

59. Black Plague (Bubonic Plague) 1347-1444
I. The Plague Arrives
A. Arrived in Europe from Asian traders.
B. One-third of Europe's population died.
C. Caused by fleas on rats.

60. Where Did the Black Death Come From?

61. Medieval Plague Enters Europe

62. How the Plague was Transmitted
Bubonic plague is a serious, life-threatening disease,
which is transmitted to humans when they are bit by
an infected rat flea and causes death quickly. There
are more than 100 species of fleas that have been
reported to naturally be infected with the plague.
Most people thought it was God's punishment,
witchcraft, cats, and / or persons of a different faith.

63. What Were the Symptoms of the Plague?
Bubonic plague symptoms appear suddenly, usually 2–5 days after
exposure to the bacteria. Symptoms include:
• Chills
• General ill feeling
• High fever
• Muscle Cramps
• Seizures
• Smooth, painful lymph gland swelling called a bubo, commonly found
in the groin, but may occur in the armpits or neck, most often at the
site of the initial infection (bite or scratch)
• Pain may occur in the area before the swelling appears
• Skin color changes to a pink hue in some extreme cases
• Bleeding out of the ear will begin after 12 hours of infection

64. Black Death Symptoms

65. Plague CycleDay 1: Painful swelling
called buboes appeared in
the victim’s armpits and
groin. These were usually
about the size of an egg,
but could sometimes be as
big as an apple.
Day 2: The
victim vomited
and developed
a fever.
Day 3: Bleeding under
the skin caused dark
blotches all over the
body.
Day 4: The disease
attacked the nervous
system. This caused the
victim to suffer spasms
and terrible pain.
Day 5: sometimes the buboes
burst and a foul-smelling black
liquid oozed from the open
boils. When this happened, the
victim usually lived. However,
in most cases the victim
suffered a painful death.

66. Ring a Ring a Roses
Another indication of bad smells being thought to cause the disease is
the children’s rhyme shown here. Many believe this rhyme references
the Black Death and recommends carrying around posies (flowers) to
keep out bad smells.
A ring, a ring of roses,
A pocket full of posies-
Ashes, Ashes we all fall down.

67. Medieval Cures for the Plague
When the plague massacre reached its peak, the ill-informed doctors of
those days resorted to treatments with urine, dung and other weird stuff
which literally aided spreading of the disease.
The reason such weird stuff were used for treatment was that the doctors
started believing that bad smell can drive the plague out.
The hat was likely just a way to
identify a person as a doctor.
The staff was used to
keep infected people
at a distance.
The doctors wore thick
coverings over their hands and
bodies. Their cloaks were
coated with wax on the inside
to help seal out the disease. It
seems to have helped. Few
doctors appear to have gotten
sick.
“Plague Doctors” stuffed their
masks with herbs and flowers to
keep out the bad smells that many
doctors believed was causing the
disease. The glass eye coverings
helped to seal out the smell. It is
interesting that though doctors of
the time didn’t really know about
germs these techniques are not very
different from modern biological
safety techniques.

68. Medieval Solutions & Cures for the Plague
Medieval Cure #1
The swellings should be softened
with figs and cooked onions. The
onions should be mixed with yeast
and butter. Then open the swellings
with a knife.
Medieval Cure #2
Take a live frog and put its belly
on the plague sore. The frog will
swell up and burst. Keep doing
this with further frogs until they
stop bursting. Some people say
that a dried toad will do the job
better.
Several other weird thoughts were put into practice with the belief that doing so will
help to cure or at least prevent the spreading of the plague. Some of the methods were:

69. Medieval Solutions & Cures for the Plague

70. Plague Song

71. Terms to Know:
Dark Ages
Vikings
Charlemagne
Franks
Aachen
Pope Leo III
Treaty of Verdun
Feudalism
Fiefs
Vassals
Manor
Peasants
Three-field System
Roman Catholic Church
Excommunication
Interdiction
Crusades
Byzantine Empire
Pope Urban II
Council of Clermont
Serfdom
Skilled Craftsman
Apprentices
Journeyman
Master Craftsman
Black Plague (Bubonic)

72. Concepts to Know:
•What was the Medieval period?
•Explain the "Dark Ages."
•Who were the Vikings?
•Describe the age of Charlemagne.
•Describe the division of Charlemagne's kingdom.
•What was Feudalism? What were some of its advantages and disadvantages?
•Describe life during the time of feudalism.
•Explain the life of a medieval peasant.
•Describe the power of the Church during medieval times. What was
excommunication and interdiction?
•Describe the Crusades. Why were they fought? And what knowledge did
Europeans gain from them?
•Describe the growth of medieval towns and their characteristics.
•Explain the development of guilds in medieval towns.
•What was the Black Plague? What were its symptoms? What was its impact?