Chapter 11

From Empire to Feudalism

Western Europe people
• The main actors on the stage of world history
Europe had tremendous potential for progress
• Politics
• Economics
• Philosophy
• Science
• And all areas of life
Politics and Christianity
The Church as Heir to the Roman Empire
• Pope Gregory the Great(ruled
590-604) helped to fill the
power vacuum in Europe.

• Church had inherited the

authority of the old Roman
Empire
Rome it had become a vast bureaucracy
• Its territory was divided and
subdivided into units with the
same names as similar political
units in the old empire such as
diocese and parish
• Pope headed the hierarchy
(persons arranged in a series
according to the degree of their
power) of the Roman Church
Pontifex maximus “high priest” – a title once used
by Roman emperors
• Military strongmen called lords who controlled small dominions
The Franks –(German tribe) means “free”
• France and Germany today
• Established the first large empire in western Europe after the fall of
Rome and helped popes acquire the worldly power they desired.

Clovis – the first great Frankish military and political leader

- Began the Merovingian series of kings, named for his grandfather
Merovee.
- 15 year old king, united the Franks as never before, not hesitating to
double-cross, trick, or murder.
- Soon covered the area formerly known as Gaul
- Was extremely crafty warrior and ruler
Clovis and Christianity
• By 498 – Clovis was calling himself a Christian
• God helped Clovis turn a losing military battle at Tolbiac in 496
• He was baptized with his 3,000 men on Christmas Day in 498
• Clovis soon began combining politics and religion-much like Constantine
• Church council met in the city of Orleans
• Roman church benefited having Clovis, for wherever Clovis conquered,
the church conquered.
• Clovis benefited from this relationship, for some people believed that
God approved of everything Clovis did.
• Mayors of the Palace – officials took over the kings’ duties.
• Charles Martel – one of the famous mayors; he supported the
missionary work of Bishop Boniface
• Charles defeated Muslims at the Battle of Tours
• Martel – means “Hammer”
• Charles Martel’s victories prevented western from being swallowed
up by the Muslim empire.
Carolingian Kings
• Pepin the Short – became Mayor of the Palace upon his father’s death
• Bishop Boniface – crowned Pepin king in 751
• Stephen II- a pope crossed the Alps into France to crown Pepin king
again
• Lombards –a Germanic tribe, showed interest in the pope’s territory
• “Donation of Pepin” – a strip of land which Pepin donated to the pope
became known as Papal States
• “Patricians of the Romans” – The title given by the Pope to Pepin
• Charlemagne, French for “Charles the Great” – the son of Pepin
• Charlemagne – was called “leader of the Christian people” and
“defender of the churches of Christ.”
“Christian empire” – Charlemagne’s vast kingdom called.
• Leo III – placed a crown of gold upon his head and called him Charles
Augustus, emperor of the Romans.
• Charlemagne considered himself “the ruler of both church and
government; successor of Caesars, heir to the power of David and
Solomon, anointed of God.”
• Louis - Charlemagne’s son is remembered is history as “the Pious”
because of the large role played by priest in his upbringing.
❑Treaty of Verdum – which divided the empire into three parts.
Western - France
Eastern - Germany
Middle kingdom – Northern Italy
▪ Magyars – penetrating deep into southern Europe and even to Rome. Known as
“Scourge of Europe” for their fierce raids
- Settled down in the area known since as Hungary

▪ Moors – Muslims from North Africa

▪ Norsemen – German Barbarians, in Scandinavia. The Countries of Sweden,
Denmark, and Norway today.
some explored and settled Iceland and Greenland.
Norsemen or Vikings had even reached the coasts of North America
Feudalism- is a way of life-based upon the ownership and use of
land.
Fief – a piece of land owned by one man who permitted another man
to use it in return for certain promised services.
Lord – the man who owned the land
Vassal – the man who used the land in exchange for his services
Solemn vows:
Homage – the vassal knelt and vowed to be his “lord’s man.”
Oath of fealty- in which the vassal swore, sometimes with his hand on
a Bible
Act of investiture – the lord gave the vassal some objects
Forfeiture – if vassal failed to honor his promises to his lord
Origins of Feudalism:

✔ In the Roman Empire

✔ Among the German barbarians
✔ After Charlemagne
✔ Knights
Western Europe Feudal system
The Feudal System
• Chivalry – feudal period, was the
code of conduct for nobility and the
knights

• Knighthood:
Page- (at the age of seven) a
household servant in the service of a
lord.
Squire (at the age of 15 or 16) a
personal servant to his lord
Coat of arms – a group of emblems
and figures usually displayed on a
knight’s armor for identification
purposes.
Heraldry – the study of these
emblems and their designs
Castles – nobles heavily fortified
dwellings (castra in Latin, a camp)
Moat – a protective trench of water
surrounded by many castles
Drawbridge – a bridge that could be
raised or lowered to access the
castles
Turrets - towers
• Medieval sports – war
• Joust- fought to unseat or unhorse each other
• Tournaments – two teams of knights fought a mock battle that lasted
an entire day and ranged over the whole countryside
Falconry – nobles’ one of the favorites method of
hunting
Manors – estates belonging to the nobles
Serfs – the farmers of the
manors, lived in villages of
ten to fifty families. If born a
serf, one died a serf.
Middle Ages people the vast
majority did not live in
castles and had no time or
energy for games
Churches
• Each manor had its own little church
• Most people were unable to read, and few had
access to Bibles
• The church had become a great landholder
• Many bishops even became lords and vassals
• As Europe disintegrated from an empire into
Feudalism, the light Christ had brough into the
world was dimmed.
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