World History - Ms. Cassida Global Studies I



World History

SOL Review

Middle Ages

After the fall of the Roman Empire in 476 AD, Europe lacked government, law and order. Eventually, Frankish rule and Charlemagne will restore unity to Europe for a short time.

The decline of the Roman Empire left Europeans with little protection against barbarian invasions, such as the Angles and Saxons that attacked Britain. In the later years of the Roman Empire, serfs were bound to the land, beginning the manor system.

Frankish kings first brought organization to post-Rome Europe. Frankish kings reestablished Roman culture and made alliances with the church. Charlemagne was the last and greatest Frankish king, crowned by the Pope in 800 AD as Emperor of the Romans. Charlemagne emphasized learning and revived Roman culture. He invited scholars to his court in Aachen to study and teach.

In the Middle Ages, the power of the church grew as Europeans held their first loyalty to the church.

Feudalism:

• The Treaty of Verdun divided Charlemagne’s empire between his three grandsons

• The divided empire was attacked by a new wave of invaders called the Vikings, Muslims, and Magyars

• These new invaders caused chaos and led to the development of the feudal society

• The authority of local lords grew as they provided protection and land ownership

• Manors with castles also provided protection

• Lords provided land to their vassals in exchange for military service and fulfilling feudal obligations (planting and harvesting)

• Vassals were lords that were given land by another lord

• This land was called a fief

• The rigid class structure was well-defined with nobles, clergy, and peasants

• The manor system was a self-sufficient system where the manor provided for all needs

• The peasants provided the labor under the feudal system

• The church also had manors, and church officials were often vassals

• Towns declined and trade was disrupted

The Church

Early medieval society was a blend of Greco-Roman heritage, Christian beliefs, and Germanic customs. In early Medieval society, people held greater loyalty to the church over the government.

• Monasteries, such as that founded by St. Benedict, preserved Greco-Roman culture and reproduced secular manuscripts

• Missionaries spread the Christian faith and Latin alphabet to German tribes

• Parish priests administered the sacraments which were essential to salvation

During the late Middle Ages, Europe began to form nation-states with powerful kings and definite borders. Feudalism will end and nations will begin!

England

• England has been ruled by Angle-Saxon kings and lords before 1066

• In 1066 England was invaded by William the Conqueror from Normandy

• He defeated Howard of England at the Battle of Hastings

• Henry II made many changes in England during his reign. He began common law using royal courts and uniform laws

• King John was not an efficient king. He was forced by the nobles to sign the Magna Carta in 1215 that limited the king’s power

• England became involved in a very long war with France called the Hundred Years War. England lost the war by was on its way to being a strong nation.

France

• Hugh Capet established the first hereditary throne in Paris. From Paris, he extended his control over much territory

• The Hundred Years War was fought against England

• France won the war thanks to the inspired leadership of Joan of Arc

Spain

• Spain was united by Ferdinand and Isabella

• They expelled the Muslims and Jews

• Exploration and Columbus’ voyage began with them

Russia

• Mongols had invaded Russia in the 13th century and forced Russia to pay tribute for hundreds of years

• Ivan the Great was able to throw off Mongol rule. He centralized power around the city of Moscow. He began the expansion of Russia

• Power in Russia was in the hands of the tsar

• The Orthodox Church was also powerful and influenced Russia for years

Crusades

• The Crusades started after a speech by Pope Urban II. He wanted European knights to take back the Holy Lands from the Muslims

• The 1st Crusade was successful as the European knights were able to take the holy city of Jerusalem. The knights also founded Crusader states in the Middle East.

• Jerusalem fell to Saladin and his Muslim army

• On the 4th Crusade, the crusaders never made it to the Holy lands. Instead they sacked the city of Constantinople

Effect of the Crusades

• The losses in the Crusades resulted in a weakening of the power of the pope and nobles

• The power of the monarchy increased

• The Crusades resulted in an increase in trade as Europeans discovered the goods from the East

• The massacres that occurred during the Crusades left a legacy of bitterness between Christians, Jews, and Muslims

• The sacking of its capital weakened the Byzantine Empire

Mongol armies

• In the 13th century Mongol armies from Asia invaded Russia. They created an empire that demanded tribute for hundreds of years

Constantinople

• Weakened by the sacking by the crusaders, Constantinople fell to the Ottoman Turks in 1453

• Constantinople became Istanbul, the capital of the Ottoman Empire

Impacts of the Black Death

• The population of Europe was reduced as 1 in 3 died from the plague

• The decline in population led to a shortage of labor

• Towns became freed from feudal obligations but trade was disrupted

• The influence of the church also declined

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