Study Guide: W. Civilization - Unit 5 Key Terms

Yo, what it is! You know what it is, it’s your man Kingmusa— and welcome to The Study Guide! Today we are going over Unit 5 Key Terms Let's dive into our next unit on the Early and Late Middle Ages! This is a big chunk of history, so let's break down the key things you need to know."

Key Concept of the Day: 

In this session, we'll explore the major shifts from the decline of Charlemagne's empire to the beginnings of the Renaissance. We'll look at how power structures changed, the impact of invasions and new ideas, and the crises that reshaped society. Charlemagne's Carolingian Empire fragmented after his strong rule ended, with Louis the Pious and the Treaty of Verdun (843) dividing it among his grandsons into West Francia (France), East Francia (Holy Roman Empire/Germany), and Middle Francia. This weakened central authority, making Europe vulnerable to Viking raids, settlements (Danelaw in England), and the eventual granting of Normandy to Rollo. Amidst this, feudalism rose with powerful local lords (castellans) and knights, alongside serfdom and manorialism. 

The Church attempted to enforce peace (Peace & Truce of God), and chivalry emerged as a knightly code. Religious changes included the Eleventh-Century Church Reform (Pope Leo IX), the Great Schism (1054) splitting East Orthodox and West Catholic Churches, and the Crusades (Council of Clermont, First Crusade/Kingdom of Jerusalem) against the Seljuk Turks. The Late Middle Ages saw crises like the Great Famine (1315-1317) and the devastating Black Death (1348-1350), leading to social unrest (Peasant Revolts) and religious fervor (Flagellants). The Papacy faced the Avignon Papacy and the Papal Schism, with Conciliarism seeking reform. New religious movements (Mystics, Wycliffe/Lollards, Hus/Hussites, Cathars/Albigensian Crusade/Inquisition) emerged. Political shifts included the Hundred Years' War (English Longbow), the rise of the Ottoman Empire, the Reconquista forming Spain (Treaty of Tordesillas), and the Italian Renaissance/Humanism marking a break from medieval thought.

Understanding the Middle Ages is crucial for grasping the roots of modern European countries, social systems, and even some of our cultural values.

Here are the main points:

1. Charlemagne's empire fell apart, leading to Viking invasions and the formation of new kingdoms like England and France.
2. Feudalism and manorialism became the dominant social and economic systems, with the Church trying to limit warfare and a code of chivalry developing for knights.
3. The Church underwent reforms and experienced a major split (Great Schism), while the Crusades aimed to reclaim the Holy Land.
4. The Late Middle Ages were marked by famine, plague (Black Death), and religious and political upheaval, including the rise of new religious ideas and the reshaping of European powers.
5. The Italian Renaissance and Humanism began to shift intellectual focus away from purely religious concerns.

After Charlemagne, his empire fragmented (Treaty of Verdun), weakening central power and leading to Viking raids and settlements (Danelaw, Normandy). Feudalism emerged with powerful local lords (castellans) and knights, alongside serfdom and manorialism. The Church attempted to enforce peace (Peace & Truce of God), and chivalry developed. The Eleventh-Century Church Reform (Pope Leo IX) aimed to address corruption, but theological differences led to the Great Schism (1054). The Crusades (starting with the First Crusade after the Council of Clermont in 1095) aimed to reclaim the Holy Land from the Seljuk Turks. 

The Late Middle Ages saw the Great Famine (1315-1317) and the Black Death (1348-1350), causing massive death and social upheaval (Peasant Revolts). The Papacy faced internal struggles (Avignon Papacy, Papal Schism), and new religious movements (Mystics, Wycliffe, Hus, Cathars/Inquisition) emerged. Political shifts included the Hundred Years' War (English Longbow), the rise of the Ottoman Empire, the Reconquista forming Spain (Treaty of Tordesillas dividing the New World with Portugal), and the beginning of the Italian Renaissance and Humanism.

The Middle Ages were a transformative period, witnessing the collapse of a major empire, the rise of new political and social systems, significant religious developments and conflicts, and devastating crises that ultimately paved the way for the Renaissance and the modern era. Understanding this era is key to grasping the historical roots of Europe's political map, social structures, and cultural values.

That wraps up today’s episode of The Study Guide on Unit 5 Key Terms. Remember, we teach to learn, and I hope this has helped you understand this period better. Keep studying, keep learning, and keep pushing toward your academic goals. Don’t forget to follow me on all platforms @Kingmusa428 and check out more episodes at kingmusa428.com. See y’all next time!