A Land of Great Potential

1. Rome linked it's territory with fine roads.

2. Europe was a small area of land.

3. There location by the sea helped them get food, and the waters served as a routes for exploration and for trade.

1. Germanics who went acroos Europe were farmers and herders.

2. They lived in small communities governed by customs.

3. Their strongest kingdom was the Franks, it was also their most successful.

1. Emerged shortly after Franks and Germanic peoples split up Western Europe.

2. Muslim armies won many victories around the Mediterranian.

3. European Christians believed that Muslim presence was a place of anxiety and anger.

1. Founded an empire that stretched across France, Germany, and some of Italy.

2. Charlemagne meant Charles the Great.

3. Charlemagne towered over many people because he was over 6 feet tall.

1. Charlemagne could not read or write.

2. Kept a tablet by his bed so he could practice if he had time before he went to sleep.

3. Had officials who kept accurate records and reports.

1. After he died his empire fell apart.

2. Extended Christian civilization into northern Europe.

3. Set up a strong government.

1. Muslim forces kept pressure on Europe after the defeat at Tours.

2. In 896 the Magyars settled in present-day Hungary.

3. Vikings were the most destructive raiders.

1. Vassels pledged service and loyalty to greater lords in exchange for land.

2. A lord granted the Vassels a fief.

3. The vassal agreed to provide the lord with 40 days of military service each year.

1. Everyone had a place in Feudal society.

2. The monarch was the highest.

3. Feudal relationships were very complex.

1. Many nobles trained as boys to become knights.

2. The boy started training at the age of 7.

3. Training would usually finish at the age of 21.

1. The manor was the heart of the medieval economy.

2. Most peasants on a manor were serfs.

3. The medieval manor was small, but self-sufficient.

1. Peasants worked long, hard hours.

2. Peasant families ate a diet of black bread with vegetables.

3. Europeans farmed in seasons.

1. The Christian Church split into the eastern and western churches.

2. The Roman Catholic Church was the most secular of all in Western Europe.

3. Believed the only way to avoid hell was to participate in the sacraments.

1. Most Christians had no contact with the pope.

2. Religion was part of daily life for peasants.

3. The Church required all citizens to pay a tithe to support itself.

1. Men and Women went away from worldly life to be Monks and Nuns.

2. Benedict founded the Monte Cassino in Italy.

3. Monks and Nuns tended to the sick.

1. The clergy were usually wealthy and lived in luxury.

2. Some Monks and Nuns ignored their vows.

3. Friars tried to reform the problems.

1. Medieval Europe had many Jewish communities.

2. Sephardic Jews flourished in Spain.

3. Jews also spread into Northern Europe.

1. New farming technology led to an agricultural revolution.

2. Peasants used iron plows.

3. There was a large increase in food production.

1. When foriegn invasions declined more traders appeared.

2. Some traders started merchant companies that traveled.

3. Traders and customers sometimes met at local trade fairs.

1. Merchants borrowed money from moneylenders so that they could buy goods.

2. Europeans came up with new ways of doing business so they could get used to the changing economy.

3. The use of money undermined serfdom.

1. Guilds dominated life in medieval towns.

2. Artisans created craft guilds.

3. To become a guild member meant that they had to be an apprentice for many years.

1. Medieval towns and cities were surrounded by protective walls.

2. The cities were a bunch of narrow streets with tall houses.

3. Towns had no garbage collection or sewer system.

1. Trade put money and ideas into circulation.

2. New riches changed tge social structure.

3. Europe got into contact with other civilizations.