• Manorialism:

E o lord-vassal relationship
 lord provided land for the vassal in exchange the vassal
would provide lord with loyalty and army for war
o landlord- serf relationship:
 serf would tend to land, produce harvests & in exchange
the lord would provide land and protection.
 three-field system

• Viking raids:
o great regional political stability and improved agriculture promoted
population growth
o encouraged further economic innovation
 new markets
 growing trade
• Crusades: Christian Holy lands from Muslims
 would provide rich land and goods

Rebecca: New forces economic life of western Europe.

• Hellenistic League

o Encouraged trade
o Created the growth of banking facilities
o Invested in trading ventures
 • Trade redeveloped in the Mediterranean

Feudalism:

S •
•
o linked military elites, mostly landlords, who could afford the
horses
serfs had to pay high taxes to lord
worked and gained sense of freedom, in ability to own land
• improvements in agriculture simplified life of serfs

Guilds:

• grouped people of in the same business or trade in single city,

• stressed security and mutual control
• attempted to give members a share in any endeavor
• tried to limit membership so all members would have work
o all members gained share of profit
• regulated apprentices
• discouraged new methods
• tried to guarantee quality
• gave members a voice in society

Women:
• Christian emphasis on equality of all souls
• veneration of Mary
o gave women real cultural prestige
 • 496- Clovis

P o converted to Christianity to gain allegiance from subjects

o gained prestige over Franks
o converted pagans to Christianity

• 8th century: Carolingians

o conquered northern France, Belgium, and western Germany
o Led by: Charles Martel (defeated the Muslims in the Battle of
Tours during 732) Also preserved Christianity in Europe

• Holy Roman emperors:

o received power from pope
 papal influence remained superior
• 1066 - William the Conqueror
o conquered England
 introduced feudalism into England
 used sheriffs, royal officials to help supervise
administration of justice throughout kingdom
 tied lords of England to his royal court by bonds of loyalty
and alliance
• Magna Carta 1215:
o confirmed feudal rights against monarchial claims
 limited power of monarch
  exhibited democratic aspects

• Hundred Years War due to Viking raids

I •
o Population growth prompted expansionist impulse
o expansion took place in east central Europe from 11th century
1095- Pope Urban II declared Crusades to capture Holy Land

o Charlemagne encouraged establishment of schools

 first university opened in 11th century
 Italy offered training in medicine and law
 from Arab and Hellenistic knowledge
 • Christianity:

R o church was an influential force

o papal influence
o limited power of emperor/ monarch
o Holy Roman emperors had more power than emperors

• Catholic church:

 went through declines and renewals

 focused on land and political interests
 wealthy
 tried to gain more wealth
• Bernard of Clair Vaux
o Stressed the importance of the mystic with God

• Merging Christian Faith and Rational Philosophy was seen throughout the
Post Classical Era and was the leading question in debates of religion

• Thomas Aquinas
o Italian Monk who taught at the University of Paris
o Created a book of Summas where he essentially eliminated
anything but the truth in Christian faith.

• Pope Gregory VII (1073-1085)

o attempted to purify church
o remove from control of feudal lords
o re-establish priesthood
o could not marry
 • Architecture = new high point (Medieval)

I •
•
Literature and music reflected religious interest
Charlemagne during his time in power had more schools and
medical school built.
• Architecture were emphasized on because they served the glory of
god.
o Gothic art
 Huge churches with spiral towers & tall arched
windows
 New means of expression for many individuals in
society

• Scholasticism
o Medieval philosophy
o Based in schools

o Discouraged new scientific work

 • moldboard plow

• 14th and 15th century: experiments with the optics