Here are the answers to your questions: 1. Invading groups of Germanic peoples overran the Western Roman Empire which was already weakened, and invading Germanic peoples raided Rome and overthrew the last Roman emperor, ending the Western Empire. 2. Feudalism (political system where people had rights and responsibilities to those of higher rank) and Manoralism (economic system where people lived and worked on isolated self-sufficient manors). 3. 1066 4. The Crusades were a series of battles between Christians and Muslims in the Middle East where Christian knights wanted to take the Holy Land and give it back to Christians. 5. Classical Era (500 BC - 600 AD

1. The Fall of Rome and the
beginning of the Middle
Ages.
World History A
Unit Three: The Middle Ages, the Plague,
and the Crusades

2. Major Eras of European History
Classical Era (Greece and Rome- first two
units) 500 B.C.- 600 A.D.
Middle Ages (time of knights and castles-
this unit) 500 A.D. – 1500 A.D.
Early Modern Era (time of powerful kings
and exploration- our next unit) 1500 A.D. –
1776 A.D.

3. Fall of the Roman Empire
Rome was the most
powerful empire the
world had ever seen.
So what happened?

4. Roman Empire at its height 117 C.E.

6. Weaker West
Western Empire cities, far from trade
routes, were smaller, poorer
Cities exposed to attack from invaders
along northern border
- defense forces were often poorly paid, so
less willing to risk lives

7. The Two Roman Empires
Wealthy East
Eastern Roman Empire (Byzantine Empire)
much stronger than Western Roman Empire
Constantinople traded with Asia, Africa,
Europe
- Eastern Empire had more wealth as a result
of trade
Eastern cities were larger, better fortified
- Black Sea was natural barrier against
invasions

8. Main Ideas
The Western Roman Empire was much
weaker than the more prosperous Eastern
Roman Empire.
Invading groups of Germanic peoples
overran the already weakened Western
Empire.
Invading Germanic peoples raided Rome
and overthrew the last Roman emperor,
ending the Western Empire.

9. Invading Peoples
The Germanic Peoples
Defense on north, northeast borders of Roman Empire weakened
Towns, cities attacked by nomads—people who move from place
to place
Nomadic groups known as Germanic peoples, named for their
languages
Romans felt Germanic people, or anyone outside empire, were
barbarians
- Greek word for people who speak a language other than Greek
Despite Roman contempt, Germanic peoples had complex culture
- were skilled metalworkers and fond of jewelry
- some groups had elected assemblies
- military organizations were headed by war chiefs
Germanic peoples were loyal, especially to chieftains

10. The Aftermath of Rome’s Fall
Western Roman Empire fell in A.D. 476,
when last emperor was removed
Life in Western Europe changed after fall
- roads, public structures fell into disrepair
- trade, commerce declined
- Germanic kingdoms claimed former
Roman lands
- Roman Catholic Church became unifying,
powerful force

12. Why was Rome so affected by
the Plague?

13. The Culprits

14. The Symptoms
Bulbous
Septicemic Form:
almost 100%
mortality rate.

15. Lancing a Buboe

16. The Disease
Cycle
Flea drinks rat blood Bacteria
that carries the multiply in
bacteria. flea’s gut.
Human is infected!
Flea bites human and
Flea’s gut clogged
regurgitates blood
with bacteria.
into human wound.

17. Medieval Art & the
Plague

18. Medieval Art & the
Plague
Bring out your
dead!

20. Attempts to Stop the
Plague
“Leeching”
A Doctor’s
Robe

21. Attempts to Stop the
Plague
Flagellanti:
Self-inflicted “penance” for our sins!

22. The Mortality
Rate
35% - 70%
25,000,000
dead !!!

23. No more large cities, trade,
scholarship.
With all the disease, riots, outside
attacks and starvation people fled the
cities of the once strong Roman
empire.
In Europe, people now lived on manors,
self-sufficient communities consisting
of a castle, church, village and
surrounding farmlands.

25. Manoralism (econ. system)
or safety and for defense, people in the Middle Ages
formed small communities around a central lord or
master. Most people lived on a manor, which consisted
of the castle, the church, the village, and the surrounding
farm land. These manors were isolated, with occasional
visits from peddlers, pilgrims on their way to the
Crusades, or soldiers from other fiefdoms.
Why do you think everyone chose to be isolated?

26. Feudalism (political system)
The kings had lots of land; he gave land to lords in exchange
for protection and $.
Lords gave their land to knights in exchange for protection, $.
Knights let serfs work the land and he would protect them.
Serfs got food and shelter.
Thus, each person had rights and responsibilities

28. Knights!

29. Chivalry- code of honor

30. Castles!

31. Feudal Warfare!!!!

32. Trebuchets were used to hurl all
sorts of objects at the enemy.

33. Vikings
Another invader from the north were the
Vikings
Home: Scandinavia (Norway, Sweden, and
Denmark)
Independent farmers and expert sailors
Left Scandinavia around 700 and began
looting and burning European villages

34. More Vikings
Traders and Explorers:
Sailed all over Mediterranean Sea
Under Leif Eriksson Vikings sailed to North
America in 1000, set up short-lived colony
Later became Christians
“God deliver us from the fury of the Vikings”
Those Europeans must have been Packers,
Bears, and Lion Fans!!!! :)

35. Vikings!

36. Role of Church in Middle Ages
Never was there a
time when the
Church was so
powerful in
Western
Civilization.

37. Church Power
Church’s Role in Society
Pope
• Spiritual leader of the Western Christian Church (Rome)
• Representatives of God on Earth
• Claimed papal supremacy (power over all rulers)
Church Hierarchy
• Pope
• Bishops & Archbishops
• All held land, armies, money & power
• Often connected to political rulers

38. Church Power
Authority & Power
The Church controlled the sacraments
The people needed the sacraments in order to avoid
Hell
Therefore, the church had absolute power
• Canon Law: Church Laws on life
• Excommunication: Punishment for breaking canon law (No
sacraments or Christian burial = Hell)
• Interdict: Entire kingdoms could be excommunicated
Peace
Forced nobles into temporary peace
Mainly on religious holidays

39. Churches and Cathedrals during
the Middle Ages

40. Crusades
The Crusades were a
series of battles
between Christians
and Muslims in the
Middle East.
Christian knights
wanted to take the
Holy Land and give it
back to Christians

41. Crusades
Thousands of knights
and “barbarian”
soldiers united under
Christianity attacked
Muslims and Jews in
Turkey and Jerusalem
to gain the land for
Christians.

42. The Arab world was relatively peaceful and civilized at the time.
An Arab gentleman was expected to be a poet and philosopher
as well as a warrior. They had correctly calculated the distance
from earth to the moon. And one Arab had even suggested that
if he could split the atom, it would release enough power to
destroy a city the size of Baghdad. Furthermore, Jerusalem
itself was a multicultural city. Jews, Moslems and Christians all
lived together harmoniously. Christians on pilgrimages to
Jerusalem were freely allowed across to the Holy Places

43. Impact of the Crusades
Persecution of Jews
and Muslims
Economic
development via
trade
Kings and popes,
gained power as a
result.

44. Summary
Feudalism/ Manoralism came from people’s
need for protection. Each member had rights
and responsibilities.
Cultures interact through wars, such as the
Crusades, and trade ideas such as democratic
ideas or religious ideas

45. Any questions before the
quiz?

46. 1. What 2 reasons did the Roman
empire cease to be a powerful
empire?
2. Name 2 examples of Rule of Law
3. What was the economic system
of the Middle Ages in Europe?

47. 4. Under Feudalism, what
responsibility does a knight have?
What does he give in return?
5.In what year did William of
Normandy invade England?
6. What were the Crusades?

48. 7. What era (time period) describes
the time of Greece and Rome?
8. What year was the Magna Carta
signed?