were the “dark ages” really that dark?. periodizationperiodization early middle ages: 500 –...

Were the “Dark Ages” really that Dark?

Were the “Dark Ages” really that Dark?

PeriodizationPeriodization

Early Middle Ages: 500 – 1000

High Middle Ages: 1000 – 1300

Late Middle Ages: 1300-1450

The “Dark” Ages: Key CharacteristicsThe “Dark” Ages:

Key CharacteristicsFeudalismKnightsCastlesChivalryCanon Law

CathedralsStained Glass Windows

Monasticism

Manor/Manorialism

SerfdomHeavy PlowHorseshoeHorse CollarThree-Field System

Guilds

Crusades

ScholasticismUniversities

Commercial Revolution

Plagues/disease

Superstition

Church Hierarchy

Poor hygiene & sanitation

Widespread illiteracy

FeudalismFeudalismA political, economic, and social system based on loyalty and military service.

Parts of a Medieval CastleParts of a Medieval Castle

The Road to KnighthoodThe Road to Knighthood

KNIGHT

SQUIRE

PAGE

Chivalry: A Code of Honor and Behavior

Chivalry: A Code of Honor and Behavior

Displays of courage & valor in combat

Respect toward women

Devotion to a feudal lord & heavenly lord

The Medieval Church Hierarchy

The Medieval Church Hierarchy Pope

Cardinals (Curia)

Archbishops

Bishops

Parish Priests

filled the power vacuum left from the collapse of the classical world.

The Power of the Medieval Church

The Power of the Medieval Church

bishops and abbots played a large part in the feudal system.

the church controlled about 1/3 of the land in Western Europe.

tried to curb feudal warfare only 40 days a year for combat.

curb heresies crusades; Inquisition

tithe 1/10 tax on your assets given to the church.

Peter’s Pence 1 penny per person [paid by the peasants].

Cathedrals: Two Architectural Styles

Cathedrals: Two Architectural Styles

Gothic

Romanesque

Stained Glass Windows Stained Glass Windows

e For the Glory of God

e For Religious Instruction

Late Medieval Church Art Late Medieval Church Art

Relinquary, late 12c

Chalice, paten, and straw, mid-

13c

MonasticismMonasticism Goal: create

communities of men & women dedicated to God; serve as moral example to rest of world

St. Benedict – Benedictine Rule of poverty, chastity, and obedience.

provided schools for the children of the upper class.

inns, hospitals, refuge in times of war.

libraries & scriptoria to copy books and illuminate manuscripts.

monks missionaries to the barbarians. [St. Patrick, St. Boniface]

Illuminated ManuscriptsIlluminated Manuscripts

The Medieval Manor

The Medieval Manor

Life on the Medieval Manor

Life on the Medieval Manor

Serfs at work

An Agricultural Revolution (1000-1300)

An Agricultural Revolution (1000-1300)

The heavy plow

Horseshoe Horses could now be used to plow fields

plowed 3 times more land a day

Horse Collar transferred strain from animals neck to

withers

did not strangle animal

Three-Field System two-fields planted each season

one left fallow

Medieval GuildsMedieval Guilds

Guild Hall

Guild Hall

Commercial Monopoly:

Controlled membership apprentice journeyman master craftsman

Controlled quality of the product [masterpiece].

Controlled prices

Pope Urban II: Preaching a Crusade

Pope Urban II: Preaching a Crusade

Christian Crusades: East

and West

Christian Crusades: East

and West

Medieval UniversitiesMedieval Universities

Medieval TradeMedieval Trade

“The Medieval Mind”: William Manchester “The Medieval Mind”: William Manchester

Violent

Devoutly Christian (in name rather than deed)

Lack of Ego (no sense of self)

No awareness of time

Nothing would ever change (until death)

What caused the down fall of the three pillars of the Middle Ages? Why?What caused the down fall of the three pillars of the Middle Ages? Why?

The Black Death

The Culprits The Culprits

Symptoms Symptoms

Buboe

Dark Blotches on Skin

Causes of the Black Death: Causes of the Black Death: “Little Ice Age” in Europe (1300-1450)

Great Famine (1315-1322)= chronic malnutrition

Gov’ts ineffective in famine relief

Little land left in Europe for agriculture

New long-distance trade routes opened (Italians); acquire grain from abroad

1346: Plague Reaches Caffa

1346: Plague Reaches Caffa

Attempts to Stop the Plague

Attempts to Stop the Plague

A Doctor’s Robe

“Leeching”

Attempts to Stop the Plague

Attempts to Stop the Plague

Flagellanti:Self-inflicted “penance” for our

sins!

Attempts to Stop the Plague

Attempts to Stop the Plague

Pogroms against the Jews

“Golden Circle” obligatory badge

“Jew” hat

Medieval Art & the Plague

Medieval Art & the Plague

An obsession with death.

Consequences of the Black Death:

Consequences of the Black Death:

Killed 1/3 of European population (19-38 million)

Trade declined; prices rose (inflation); rise in real wages

Guilds opened up to new members

Serfdom ends in Western Europe

Nobles resist demands for higher wages (English Statute of Laborers (1351)

Peasant Revolts (English Peasants’ Revolt of 1381)

Standard of living in towns & per capita income rose

Controversy over succession to French throne (Edward III vs. Philip VI)

Dispute over Gascony

Conflict over Flanders

Struggle for National Identity in France (King vs. French nobles in a Civil War)

Causes of the Hundred Years’ War:

Causes of the Hundred Years’ War:

Controversy Over Succession

Controversy Over Succession

Edward III Philip VI of Valois

Hundred Years’ War: A Tale of Two Styles

Hundred Years’ War: A Tale of Two Styles

France 100 Years’ War

England

Pop.= 16 million

Army over 50,000

Far richer than England

Strategy = heavily-armored cavalry of knights

Much smaller than France

Army = 32,000

New Weapons Technology

Strategy = sneak attacks & guerilla raids

English Weapons Advantage #1

English Weapons Advantage #1

Battle of Crécy (1346)

English Weapons Advantage #2

English Weapons Advantage #2

Battle of Poitiers (1356)

The Turning Point for France!The Turning Point for France!

France Becomes Unified!France Becomes Unified!

France in 1337

France in 1453

Consequences of the 100 Years’ War:

Consequences of the 100 Years’ War:

Death toll was huge on both sides; Economies of both countries (+ Low Countries) devastated

Ended feudal tactics & chivalrous rules of war (knights & castles now obsolete)

Formation of national identities in England & France

People in both countries now saw king as a national leader

Fostered development of Parliament in England (Power of the Purse!)

Background: King Philip IV vs. Pope Boniface VIII

Background: King Philip IV vs. Pope Boniface VIII

Pope Boniface issues

Unam Sanctam (1302)

The Babylonian Captivity (1309-77)

The Babylonian Captivity (1309-77)

Clement V moved papacy from Rome to Avignon. Becomes powerful symbol of abuses w/in the Church.

The Great Schism (1378-1415)The Great Schism (1378-1415)

Now Europe has TWO Popes!

Clement VII (Avignon) vs. Urban VI (Rome)

Council of Pisa (1409)Council of Pisa (1409)

Cardinals hope to end Schism by electing new pope (Alexander V)

Now there are THREE popes!!!!

Council of Constance (1414-1418)

Council of Constance (1414-1418)

Ends Schism: Martin V elected as new Pope

Consequences of the Great Schism:

Consequences of the Great Schism: Badly damaged the faith of many

Christians

Weakened the power & prestige of papacy

Call to restructure Church from papal hierarchy to councils made up of clergy (conciliarism)

growth of lay piety & mysticism (ex. Thomas à Kempis, Imitation of Christ & Bridget of Sweden)

Scholars such as Wyclif & Hus began to challenge church practices