Civilizations and Achievements Part II

Introduction to the Middle Ages

Topic Key Features and Characteristics

Feudalism, Manorialism and Religion

Feudalism – political system of the Middle Ages, kings give land away to nobles for military service in returnManorialism – people lived on manors, they are self-sufficient, serfs cannot leave the landReligion – Roman Catholic Church (Pope) was very wealthy and had a lot of power in Western Europe

Crusades Religious wars of the Middle Ages: Christians fought to regain control of the Holy Land (Jerusalem) from the Muslims

Results of the wars trade increases between Europe and the Middle East

King gives land to his lords in exchange for their loyalty and protection

Lords divided up their large land holdings among lesser lords.

Lesser lords (vassals) pledged their service and loyalty to the greater lord,

in return for a fief

Knights pledged to protect the manor and go off and fight for the lord if

necessary

Serfs were bound to the land – worked the land for the lord

Transformation of Western EuropeEvent Key Features &

Characteristics

The Black DeathBubonic Plague in EuropeKilled 25 million people in EuropeStarted in East Asia and spread along trade routesResult: depopulation, trade and production declined

The RenaissanceGolden Age of Western EuropeAmazing achievements in art, literature and scienceStudied art from Greece and RomeHumanism – focus on human lives on earth not God

The Protestant ReformationReligious revolution that questioned the Catholic ChurchIndulgences – reductions in punishment sold by the Catholic ChurchMartin Luther: 95 ThesisDivision of the Catholic Church and Popes power decreased.

NOT MARTIN LUTHER KING JR……. THE

CIVIL RIGHTS LEADER

Martin Luther……. THE GERMAN

MONK!

Think of the Ninja Turtles…

Michelangelo,

Donatello, Leonardo

and Raphael

Leonardo Da Vinci’s The Mona

Lisa

Mesoamerica: Maya, Aztec and Inca

Civilization Location Achievements & Key Features

Maya Mesoamerica (Mexico and Central America)

Developed a calendar and form of writingMath – concept of “0” in math

Aztec Mesoamerica: MexicoTenochtitlan – capital city of Aztec Empire

Calendar Form of writingChinampas – floating gardens that Aztecs built in order to farm on the lake

Inca Peru- Andes MountainsSouth AmericaMachu Picchu

RoadsBridgesTerrace Farming – farming on a mountain

MESOAMERICA “Mexico & Central America”

Incan City of Machu Picchu