1HVT H4

• Geschiedenis
• Middelbare school
• havo, vwo
• Leerjaar 1

4.1 Life in the countryside

Learning objectives

• You can describe how the economy changed in the Early Middle Ages in western Europe and give the reasons for those changes.
  
• You can describe what a medieval manor looked like.
  
• You can explain how the manorial system worked and the place serfs had in that system.
  

4.1 Life in the countryside

An agrarian economy

• The Western Roman Empire split into several separate kingdoms
• Early Middle Ages (500-1000) and Late Middle Ages (1000-1500)
• One important change was 'economic' --> the urban life (life in cities) disappeared almost completely 
• Again, an agrarian society developed. Almost everyone was a farmer (except for the elite, soldiers and priests) 

4.1 Life in the countryside

Farmers, lords and monks

4.1 Life in the countryside

The manor

• Farmers were often in danger because of the wars (plundering) --> they would look for protection --> they would go to a powerful farmer with a small army 
• In exchange for protection the small farmers had to give him their land 
• The area that is controlled by this powerful (lord) farmer = manor

4.1 Life in the countryside

Serfdom

• Big difference between the lord and farmers (military defence - working on the land)
  
• Many farmers were serfs. Serf gave their land to the land and gave up their freedom.
  
• They gave a part of the produce in exchange (rent) for protection
  
  

4.1 Life in the countryside

An agrarian economy

• Because the area was no longer unified there were often wars and trade was difficult
• Trade an industry had always given a lot of people work, now that was gone: people moved to the countryside where they would be farmers 

4.1 Life in the countryside

The manor

• A manor consisted of 3 parts

1) demesne (land where the lord lived)

2) farm holdings (where the farmers farmed, this land belonged to the lord)

3) wasteland (forests, marshes, rivers) 

• Life was quite simple: no trade, using your own materials, people didn't need money (they swapped goods)

4.1 Life in the countryside

Serfdom

•  Serfs had to do servile duties for the lord (cutting wood). Looked after the land.
  
• Serfs weren't allowed to leave the manor without permission
  
• But, there were free farmers. They had their own land but had to fight for the lord
  
• We call this economic system: manorial system
  
  
  

4.2 Emperors, kings and lords

Learning objectives

• You can describe how the Frankish Empire started
  
• You can explain how the feudal system worked
• You can explain what consequences the feudal system had for how Europe was governed
  

  
 

4.1 Life in the countryside

Serfdom

•  Serfs had to do servile duties for the lord (cutting wood). Looked after the land.
  
• Serfs weren't allowed to leave the manor without permission
  
• But, there were free farmers. They had their own land but had to fight for the lord
  
• We call this economic system: manorial system
  
  
  

4.2 Emperors, kings and lords

New rulers in Europe

• Around 500 AD, the Romans didn't control western Europe --> separate kingdoms appeared, including the Frankish Empire
  
• They were Germanic people (southern Netherlands and Belgium)
• The Franks had several leaders, but one of them, Clovis manged to unite all the Franks = Frankish Empire
  

4.2 Emperors, kings and lords

4.2 Emperors, kings and lords

New rulers in Europe

• How did Clovis become powerful?

1) He was a good army leader

2) He was Christian and collaborated with the Church (the Church helped him to govern). The Church increased its power

4.2 Emperors, kings and lords

New rulers in Europe

• The high point was 800.
  
• Charlemagne made sure the Pope could return to Rome (he had been driven out). Charlemagne was crowned emperor
  
• Charlemagne was seen as the successor to the Roman emperors
  
• 'Charlemagne'  means Charles the Great
  

4.2 Emperors, kings and lords

New rulers in Europe

4.2 Emperors, kings and lords

The feudal system

• Charlemagne needed a strong and trustworthy army (large empire)
• The king wasn't able to pay his soldiers (couldn't get a permanent army)
  
• The king asked men (vassals) in his kingdom for support --> he gave them land (fief) in return
  
• The vassals governed the people who lived on the land
  

4.2 Emperors, kings and lords

The feudal system

• The vassals and rear vassals together formed the nobility (counts, dukes, barons)
  
• We call this the feudal system
  
  

4.2 Emperors, kings and lords

4.2 Emperors, kings and lords

The feudal system

• The vassals had to swear absolute loyalty to their feudal lord (the man who gave them the land in fief).
  
• The vassals of the king also had their own circle (knights) who fought for them
  
• The vassals rewarded their knights by also giving them land in fief.
  

4.2 Emperors, kings and lords

4.2 Emperors, kings and lords

Changes after Charlemagne

• When Charlemgne died there were big changes:

1) The Frankish Empire split into smaller pieces (the king's land was divided among his sons)

2) The government became weak, the king lost power. The vassals started treating the land as their own land. Vassals also conquered land from one another.

3)  Viking and Hungarian attacks

4.3 The spread of Christianity

Learning objectives

•   You can explain how Christianity spread across western Europe in the early Middle Ages.
•   You can explain why Christianity was very important to people in the Middle Ages.
•   You can explain what an ‘estate’ is and you can give the three estates in medieval society.

4.3 The spread of Christianity

From nature gods to Christianity

• Some people in Europe still believed in nature gods, like Thor and Freya
  
• Christians called them 'heathens'
• The Church wanted to convert them to Christianity. The Frankish kings supported them.
  
• They built monasteries and convents where people devoted their lives to their religion

4.3 The spread of Christianity

From nature gods to Christianity

• People who wanted to spread Christianity were called missionaries. They tried to stop heaten customs but were not succesful.
  
• The Church, as a solution, linked important Christian events to heathen customs (mid-winter festival & Christmas)
• Willibrord managed to convert Northern Netherlands.
  
• By the end of the Middle Ages almost everyone in western Europe was Christian
  

4.3 The spread of Christianity

4.3 The spread of Christianity

A Christian culture

• The church had a prominent role in society (baptizing, marriage, death)
• Each church had a priest (only unmarried men) . He conducted holy tasks (Holy Communion)
• Remind you there is a heaven and a hell
• Monasteries were also important for the spread of Christianity. Monks copied books and trained new priests 
• Monasteries had different functions (education, hospital)

4.3 The spread of Christianity

The three estates

• Medieval society was divided into 3 groups (estates). An estate is a group with its own position in society with fixed tasks 
• The clergy were the first estate (highest status): Church leaders, priests, monks, nuns (task = praying)
• Second estate was the nobility: Men specialized in warfare (task = protecting)
• Third estate were the farmers. The lowest status (task = working the land)
• It was almost impossible to move to another estate

The three estates in medieval society in a woodcut from 1488. Christ is shown at the top. He says to the first estate: “You must pray for everyone”. To the second estate, he says: “You must protect everyone”. And to the third estate, he says: “You must work”.

4.4 Islam

Learning objectives

• You can describe how Islam started.

• You can name the key features of the Muslim religion.
• You can describe how Islam spread and the Islamic empire broke up.

4.4 Islam

The start of Islam

• Islam started in the Middle East. The founder was Muhammad, a merchant in Mecca
• Most people were polytheistic but there were also monotheistic religions 
• Muhammad believed there was one God: 'Allah'. He wanted to spread God's message (prophet)
  

4.4 Islam

4.4 Islam

The start of Islam

• People of Mecca were not interested in Muhammad's message
  
• In 622 (start of Islamic calander) he fled to Medina, there people started to believe in Allah (Muslims)

4.4 Islam

The Islamic religion

• The holy book of the Muslims = Koran
• Some stories are also in the Bible
• Muslims think that Allah is the creator of all things. Muhammad is the last prophet
  
• 'Everyone is born good but everyone wants to do things that are not allowed'

4.4 Islam

The Islamic religion

• Other rules:
  

-Not allowed to drink alcohol or eat pork

-Not allowed to make pictures of the prophet Muhammad

-You can't change religion

-Friday is like Sunday for Christians (but not a day of rest)

4.4 Islam

The Islamic religion

• 5 important rules/five pillars
  

1) There is only one God (Allah)

2) Pray five times a day, kneeling with your head facing Mecca

3) Give to the poor and the sick

4) During the Islamic month of Ramadan you must not eat, drink, smoke, have sex from sunrise to sunset

5) Go on a pilgrimage to Mecca once in your lifetime

4.4 Islam

The spread of Islam

• Muhammad was a political leader but also a religious one
• The empire survived and became bigger after his death
• Rulers after Muhammad conquered all of North Africa, Spain and the Middle East