Key Periods of the Middle Ages Middle Ages (500 1400 CE) A period in European history between the Fall of Rome and the or Medieval Period Renaissance dominated by the influences of the Catholic Church, Growing Feudalistic Nation-States, and Gothic art & architecture. Viking Age (800 1100 CE) A period in European history when Scandinavian Vikings explored the regions from Northern and Central Europe to the Mediterranean Sea and British Islands and settled in the areas of Brittany, Normandy, and the land of the Rus (Russia). Feudal Period in Europe (1000 1300 CE) A period in European history during the Middle Ages when the economic and political systems were dominated by the reciprocal ideals of land, labor and service between the Noble Aristocracy and their vassals. Locations of the Middle Ages Middle Age Europe (500 C.E. 1500 C.E.) 1. France (Kingdom in Western Europe established by the Germanic tribe known as the Franks) 2. Tours (Battle location in France where Charles Martel stopped the invasion of the Moors) 3. Normandy (Coastal region of Western France granted to the Vikings, or Normans, under King Rollo by France s King Charles the Simple) 4. Christendom (Christian Kingdom established by Charlemagne covering most of Western Europe) 5. England (Southern portion of the British Isles unified by the Norman Invasion of 1066) 6. Scandinavia (Region of Northern Europe along the North Sea where the Vikings originated) 7. Holy Roman Empire (Area of Central Europe ranging from modern Germany to Northern Italy established as a Christian Empire by Otto the Great) 8. Worms (German City where Pope Gregory VII and King Henry IV signed agreement known as the Concordat of Worms intended to end Lay Investiture) 9. Orleans (French City rescued from English attack by French troops led by Joan of Arc) Crusades (1096 C.E. 1299 C.E.) 1. Jerusalem (Holy City of the Jews, Christians, and Muslims, which became the center of the Crusades) 2. Constantinople (Byzantine Capital used as the rallying point of the First Crusade and sacked by Western Christians during the Fourth Crusade) 3. Spain (Center of the Spanish Crusade known as the Reconquista and the Catholic Inquisitions) Movement of Ideas in the Medieval Period Major Social, Political & Economic Movements in the Medieval Word (800 C.E. 1500 C.E.) 1. Commercial Revolution (The changes in Economics during the Medieval Period that caused the Growth of Towns as Trade Centers, Creation of Guilds, and the Development of Banking and Businesses throughout Europe beginning in the 1300 s) 2. Bubonic Plague (Also known as the Black Death, the Plague was a killer disease that swept repeatedly across the known world from Mongolia, through Asia, to Western Europe and Northern Africa between 1345 1360 s, killing approximately 4 million people)
Movement of Ideas in the Medieval Period 3. Spread of Islam (Spread of the World s 2 nd largest Religion between 632 1500 C.E. from the Middle East to Africa [Mali, Ghana, Songhai, and the Swahili States], Asia [India, China and Indonesia], and parts of Europe [Spain and the Balkan States] due to trade and military Conquests under the Ummayad, Abassid, Safavid, Mughal and Ottoman Rulers) 4. Crusades (Invasions by European Christian Nobles and Clergy into the Middle East areas of Palestine in an effort to secure the Holy Lands between 1096 1290 s C.E., resulting in the cultural diffusion of classical ideas preserved by the Muslim World) Important Groups of the Medieval Period Early Western Europe (300 C.E. 500 C.E.) 1. Christians (Religious followers of Jesus Disciples who established a new monotheistic religion in Rome during the 300 years following Christ s Crucifixion) 2. Visigoths (Germanic tribe from the Balkan region along the Danube River who invaded Greece, The Italian Peninsula, parts of Gaul and eventually settled on the northern Iberian Peninsula between 339 415 C.E.) 3. Ostrogoths (The First Germanic tribe from the Balkan Region near the Black Sea who Invaded the Collapsing Roman Empire between 380 454 C.E.) 4. Vandals (Germanic tribe from the region of modern central Germany who invaded Gaul, the Iberian Peninsula, and eventually settled in North Africa from 400 435 C.E.) 5. Franks (Germanic tribe from the region around Saxony in modern Germany who invaded and settled the area of Gaul in modern France around 428 C.E.) 6. Saxons & (Germanic tribes from the northern European coast along the North Sea who invaded and Angles settled the British Isles around 450 C.E.) 7. Burgundians (Germanic tribe from the area along the Rhine River who invaded and settled the areas of Southeastern Gaul in what is now France) 8. Huns (Nomadic Tribal Warriors from the Asian Steppe region who invaded the Germanic Territories in the early 400 s C.E. and entered Rome in 452 C.E. under their great leader Attila the Hun) Early Eastern Europe (500 C.E. 1300 C.E.): 1. Byzantines (People of the Eastern Roman Empire who settled around the ancient Greek city of Byzantium and preserved the cultural traditions of Classical Rome by mixing them with Classical Greek and Hellenistic culture) 2. Slavs (People from the Scandinavian Regions of Northern Europe: Modern Norway & Sweden) 3. Rus (People who settled the regions of Eastern Europe along the Danube and Dnieper Rivers and developed a culture through the mixing of Slavic and Greek Traditions) The Muslim World (600 C.E. 1250 C.E.): 1. Muslims (An Arabic Term meaning One who submits to the will of Allah or God, used commonly to describe people who believe in Allah and the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad.) 2. Fatimid (A group of Shi a Muslims who claimed descent from Muhammad s daughter Fatima) 3. Seljuk (A nomadic group from the Indo-European who settled in the region of Anatolia and established an Islamic based society in the area of modern Turkey) East Asia (600 C.E. 1400 C.E.) 1. Tang (Chinese Dynasty that ruled over 300 years and expanded the empire and had the first Female ruler: Empress Wu Zhoa) 2. Song (Chinese Dynasty that ruled about 300 years through the use of a strong military and established a grand capital at Hangzhou and port city at Chang Jiang) 3. Mongols (Nomadic Warrior tribe from the Mongolian Steppe region who were unified under Genghis Khan and developed the world s largest empire up to this time in history) 4. Yamato (Japanese Clan who established themselves as the first Emperors of Japan)
History Makers during the Middle Ages Byzantine Leaders (500 C.E. 1500 C.E.) 1. Justinian (Created an Imperial Capital called Constantinople and a Uniform Code of Laws called the Justinian Code) 2. Theodora (Wife of Justinian who rose from Poverty to Great Power as Empress of the Byzantines) Russian Leaders (860 C.E. - 1500 C.E.) 1. King Rurik (Viking chief who united the Rus in Eastern Europe) 2. Princess Olga (First Russian Leader to Convert to Christianity) 3. Vladimir (Led Conversion of Russia to Eastern Orthodox Christianity) 4. Yaroslav the Wise (Increased Empire through Marriage & Trade and Established first Modern Library in Kiev) 5. Ivan III (Forced Mongols out of Russia and became first Czar/Tsar) Germanic Kings and Clergy (500 C.E. 1500 C.E.) 1. Clovis (Unified the Franks under Christianity) 2. Gregory I (Expanded the Power of the Papacy over Kings) 3. Charles Martel (Defended Christian Europe from Muslim Invasion) 4. Pepin the Short (First Germanic King to be Crowned King by the Grace of God beginning the European ideas of Divine Rights of Kings ) 5. Charlemagne (Greatest Frankish King who expanded the Frankish Kingdom and Christianity Thus creating a Christian Kingdom known as Christendom ) 6. Charles the Simple (Influenced the development of Feudalism through an agreement involving the and Rollo granting of Land in exchange for Loyalty and Service) 7. Otto I (the Great) (Greatest ruler of Medieval Germany who established The Holy Roman Empire as a Christian Kingdom) Leaders of the Crusades (1000 C.E. 1500 C.E.) 1. Pope Urban II (Catholic Pope who called for the First Crusade) 2. Louis II (King of France & Christian Leader of the Second Crusade) 3. Saladin (Kurdish Warrior & Muslim Leader of the Third Crusade) 4. Richard I (King of England & Christian Leader of the Third Crusade) Leaders of England and France (1000 C.E. 1500 C.E.) 1. William the Conqueror (Leader of the Norman Conquest of England in 1066) 2. Henry II (King of England who established and promoted Royal Courts, Justices, Jury Trials & Common Law) 3. Eleanor of Aquitaine (Became Queen of France and went on the Second Crusade, later Queen of England & mother of both King Richard I and King John of England) 4. King John Lackland (King of England forced to sign Magna Carta in 1215) 5. Philip II (Augustus) (King of France who forced English out of Normandy and created the Third Estate of the Estates General) 6. Joan of Arc (French Peasant girl who led French Army to victory at Orleans during the Hundred Years War and was Burned at the Stake for claiming to have been commanded by God) 7. Edward (Black Prince) (Son of the King of England and Great Military Leader during the Hundred Years War) Leaders of Feudal Japan (1100 C.E. 1500 C.E.) 1. Yoritomo (First Samurai Leader to be given the title of Shogun or Supreme General Of the Emperor s Army )
Military Conflicts of the Middle Ages Conflicts during the Middle Ages or Medieval Period (500 1400 CE): Islamic Civil Wars (656-750 C.E.) Conflict between Sunni (followers of Muhammad s and his Teachings) and Shi a (followers of Muhammad and Ali by blood right) over the right of true Leadership after the end of the Four Rightly Guided Caliphs. Known for the rise and fall of the Umayyad (Sunni) and Abbasid (Shia) Dynasties. Invasion of the Moors (711-750 C.E.) Conflict the occurred when the North African Moors (Mixed Arab-African Tribal Nomads of the Islamic Faith) were asked to assist the Visigoth King in Spain in 711 C.E. Conflict continued until the Spanish Reconquista Viking Invasions (circa 800-1000 C.E.) Conflict that occurred due to the Viking Migrations and Raids into Central (Land of the Rus) and Western Europe (Brittany and Normandy) as a result of climate changes and disrupted trade with the west. Norman Conquest (1042-1066 C.E.) Conflict that occurred over control of the British isles, ending with the conquest and unification of England under William the Conqueror after his victory at the Battle of Hastings in 1066. Crusades (1093-1291 C.E.) A Series of Christian Holy Wars to re-claim the Holy Lands from the Muslims, which occurred out of an effort to re-unite the Christian Church (Roman Catholic & Eastern Orthodox), Stop Muslim Invasions of Europe, and expand European Control over land and trade routes in the Middle East. Ultimately resulting in eight failed Crusades Mongol Invasions (circa 1220-1280 C.E.) Conflicts that occurred due to the Empire Building and military raids of the Eastern Mongols under Genghis Khan (and later his Grandsons Kublai, Hulagu, Bantu and Chagatai Khan), eventually creating four Great Khanates ranging from China to Russia & India to the Middle East. Hundred Years War (1337-1453 C.E.) Conflict that erupted between two cousins over control of the French Throne and evolved into a war over Nationalism (Loyalty and Pride in one s country) between the French and English. Resulted in military developments like Professional Standing Armies and the Longbow, and serves as the historical end to the Middle Ages. Governance during the Middle Ages Middle Age Europe (700 C.E. 1500 C.E.): 1. Feudalism (Political system in which Nobles are granted use of the monarch s lands in Return for the Nobles loyalty, military service and protection of the people) 2. Kingdom (Major territory under the rule of a King or Queen) 3. Christendom (Large region of Europe unified under Charlemagne and dominated by the Christian Faith) 4. Fief (Lands granted to a Feudal Lord by a King, thereby becoming a Political Sub- Unit of a Kingdom) 5. Common Law (Unified Body of English Laws based on the case-by-case rulings of Royal Justices) 6. Magna Carta (The Great Charter signed by England s King John Lackland ensuring the Rights of English Nobles against abuse by the Monarchy) 7. Parliament (England s Legislative Assembly created from the Common Council of Knights, Barons, Counts, Dukes, Lords and Bishops) 8. Estates General (France s Legislative Assembly created from the three levels of society known as Clergy, Nobles and Bourgeoisie)
Social Classes of the Middle Ages (Feudalism) Middle Age Europe (700 C.E. 1500 C.E.) UPPER CLASS 1. Royalty (Kings and Queens) 2. Nobility (Nobles and Church Officials Barons, Dukes, Counts, Lords and Bishops) MIDDLE CLASS 3. Warriors (Military Commanders and Knights) 4. Cottars (Merchants, Traders, Artisans and Craftsmen) LOWER CLASS 5. Villiens (Land Managers Supervisors of the Noble Lands) 6. Serfs (Peasant Farmers tied to the land and service to their Feudal Lord) Feudal Japan (1100 C.E. 1800 C.E.) UPPER CLASS 1. Royalty (Emperor and Shogun) 2. Nobility (Daimyo and Priests - Landowning Nobles) MIDDLE CLASS 3. Warriors (Military Commanders and Samurai) 4. Peasants (Farmers Honorable because they Produced the Food for the Population) LOWER CLASS 5. Tradesmen (Artisans and Craftsmen makers of tools and weapons for the Middle & Upper Class) 6. Merchants (Least honorable because they work to make a financial gain or personal profit) Religious Beliefs during the Middle Ages Middle Age Europe (700 C.E. 1500 C.E.): 1. Christendom (Large region of Europe unified under Charlemagne & dominated by the Christian Faith) 2. Divine Rights (The idea, established by the crowning of a Monarch by a Church Official, that the ruler and his family had been ordained by God to rule over their people) 3. Monasteries (Christian communities with large libraries dedicate to the preservation and dissemination of classical and religious knowledge) 4. Secular (A trend during the Middle Ages when the focus began to turn from spiritual matters to more worldly endeavors of wealth, nature and science) 5. Clergy (All the religious officials of the Catholic Church under the control of the Pope) 6. Sacraments (Important Religious ceremonies in the Catholic Church, ie: Marriage, Baptism, etc.) 7. Canon Law (Church rules and guidelines concerning the sacraments and religious practices) 8. Excommunication (Catholic punishment in which a church member is banished or cast out) 9. Interdiction (Catholic punishment that forbids a church member from receiving the sacraments) 10. Lay Investiture (Ceremony where Nobles were appointing church officials instead of Cardinals or Popes) 11. Concordat (An agreement or compromise between the Catholic Church and the State or Monarchy) 12. Concordat of Worms (Formal agreement between the Church and Holy Roman Emperor that was designed to put an end to the issue of Lay Investiture held in the German city of Worms) 13. Simony (The practice of selling church positions or offices, or receiving bribes for church favors) 14. Heresy (Any act or practice by a Christian that went against the accepted policies or practices of the Catholic Church) 15. Crusade (Historical term used to describe the Christian Holy Wars designed to Reclaim the Holy Lands from the Muslims Known at the time as Taking up the Cross ) 16. Pope Urban II (Catholic Pope who called for Christian to Take up the Cross during the First Crusade) 17. Saladin (Muslim leader and Kurdish warrior who led the Arabs against the Christians during the Second and Third Crusades) 18. Reconquista (Crusade to drive the Muslim Moors out of Spain between the 1100 s and 1400 s C.E.) 19. Inquisition (Catholic Tribunal or Court designed to suppress Heresy) 20. Great Schism (Event during the Middle Ages when three Pope s challenged each other for control over the Catholic Church)