early middle ages
TRANSCRIPT
Objectives: Early Objectives: Early Middle Ages 13.1Middle Ages 13.1• Define “Dark Ages” and explain why this label for
the Early Middle Ages is misleading. • Describe the impact that the collapse of the
Roman Empire and the Germanic invasions had on western Europe
• Explain the rise of the Franks and Charlemagne’s importance within the history of the Franks
• Describe the significance of the Carolingian Renaissance
• Identify the three major influences on the development of medieval Europe
**Also see pages 56-57 in the historical atlas
PeriodizationPeriodizationPeriodizationPeriodizationEarly Middle Ages: 500 – 1000
High Middle Ages: 1000 – 1250
Late Middle Ages: 1250 - 1500
Europe in the Europe in the 6c6c
Europe in the Europe in the 6c6c
Medieval Period in a Historical Medieval Period in a Historical NutshellNutshell• Rome attacked in 476 C.E.
• The beginning of the Middle Ages is often called the "Dark Ages”– Fall of Greece and Rome– Life in Europe during the Middle Ages was very hard.– Very few people could read or write and nobody expected conditions to
improve.– Only hope: strong belief in Christianity; heaven would be better than life
on earth. • In contrast:
– The Muslims in the Middle East and North Africa studied and improved on the works of the ancient Greeks
– Civilization flourished in sub-Saharan Africa, China, India, and the Americas.
• Great change by about 1450– Columbus & America– literacy spread– scientists made great discoveries– The Renaissance is the beginning of modern history.
The Renaissance
Middle Ages: General Middle Ages: General TimelineTimeline
476 C.E.Fall of Rome
1066 C.E.Norman
invasion of Britain
1095-1291C.E. Crusades
1306-1321 Dante’s Divine
Comedy
1386 C.E.Chaucer begins writing
Canterbury Tales
1455 C.E.Printing
Press
Beowulf Composed sometimebetween
850 C.E. 900 C.E. 1453Fall of
Byzantine Empire with invasion of
Ottoman Turks
306 C.E.Constantine comes to power in Eastern Roman Empire; beginning of Byzantine Empire
1347 Bubonic Plague
450 C.E.Anglo-Saxons invade
England
Main Influences on Main Influences on the Middle Ages the Middle Ages
1. Classical heritage of Rome
2. The beliefs and growing power of the Roman Catholic Church
3. Customs of various Germanic tribes
Key Concepts of the Middle Key Concepts of the Middle AgesAgesWar
ReligionTURMOIL
Crusades
Feudalism: The Middle Ages’ social order
• Church became deeply involved in government• Christianity provided the basis for a first European
"identity," unified in a religion common to most of the continent
• Crusades: Popes, kings, and emperors unite and defend Christendom from the perceived aggression of Islam
• From the 7th century onward, Islam had been gaining ground along Europe's southern and eastern borders.
Germanic PeoplesGermanic PeoplesRoman empire overran by Germanic groups with repeated invasions and constant warfare
• Breakdown of trade: money became scarce.
• Cities abandoned – no longer center of economy or administration
• Population became rural.
• Decline of literacy – priests and other church officials were the few that were literate.
• Breakup of unified empire – language began to change. Latin branches off into Romance languages
• End of Democracy
Rome
• Unified by common language, loyalty to public government, and written law
• Orderly governmentGermanic
• Family ties and personal loyalty unified the Germanic tribes
• People lived in small communities governed by unwritten rules and traditions
• Ruled by a Chief who led a band or warriors loyal only to him – not some emperor they’d never seen
The Franks The Franks
European Empire European Empire EvolvesEvolvesAfter the decline of the Roman Empire small
kingdoms sprang up all over Europe.
The largest and the strongest was controlled by the Franks
• Lead by Clovis – first Christian king
• Area that is now France & Switzerland
• Greatest king was Charlemagne
• most powerful king in Western Europe
• encouraged learning & helped strengthen the power of the Church
The Rise of the FranksThe Rise of the Franks• Clovis—first Christian king of the Franks—brought
Christianity to the Germanic tribes living in the former Roman province of Gaul
• By 511 Clovis had extended Frankish rule over most of what is today France
• Charles Martel: “mayor of the palace” and eventually took on military status—major victory at Tours in 732 against Muslims
• Pipin the Short: fought the Lombards in Italy on behalf of the pope—in exchange the pope anointed him “king by the grace of god”—beginning of the Carolingian Dynasty (751-987)
Battle of Tours: 732 CEBattle of Tours: 732 CE• October 10, 732 CE October 10, 732 CE
marks the conclusion marks the conclusion of the Battle of of the Battle of Tours, arguably one Tours, arguably one of the most decisive of the most decisive battles in all of battles in all of history. (history. (Charles Martel Charles Martel in 732 defeated the in 732 defeated the Moors at the Battle of Moors at the Battle of Tours) Tours)
• Martel became a Martel became a Christian hero by Christian hero by saving western saving western Europe from Muslim Europe from Muslim control control Charles
Martel
Charlemagne: 742 to Charlemagne: 742 to 814814
Charlemagne: 742 to Charlemagne: 742 to 814814
Charlemagne’s Charlemagne’s EmpireEmpire
Charlemagne’s Charlemagne’s EmpireEmpire
Charlemagne’s RuleCharlemagne’s Rule• First emperor since the fall of Rome First emperor since the fall of Rome • Established reforms to rule efficiently Established reforms to rule efficiently • Set up a bureaucracy in AachenSet up a bureaucracy in Aachen• Gave power to counts who ruled the counties—Gave power to counts who ruled the counties—
they were members of the warrior aristocracy they were members of the warrior aristocracy • Sent important officials out to check on the Sent important officials out to check on the
behavior of the counts and the collection of taxes behavior of the counts and the collection of taxes (usually a aristocrat and a high-ranking church (usually a aristocrat and a high-ranking church official) official)
• Passed laws effective for whole empirePassed laws effective for whole empire• Required the leaders of the empire to meet once Required the leaders of the empire to meet once
a year at a general assembly a year at a general assembly
Pope Crowned CharlemagnePope Crowned CharlemagneHoly Roman Emperor: Dec. Holy Roman Emperor: Dec.
25, 80025, 800
Pope Crowned CharlemagnePope Crowned CharlemagneHoly Roman Emperor: Dec. Holy Roman Emperor: Dec.
25, 80025, 800
The Carolingian The Carolingian RenaissanceRenaissance
The Carolingian The Carolingian RenaissanceRenaissance
Charlemagne on a coin—modeled after
coins from the Roman Empire
Charlemagne devoted himself to the study of
the liberal arts, set up a palace school, promoted
art & architecture
Carolingian MinisculeCarolingian MinisculeCarolingian MinisculeCarolingian Miniscule
Carolingian or Caroline minuscule is a script developed as a writing standard in Europe so that the
Roman alphabet could be easily recognized by the small literate
class from one region to another. It was
used in Charlemagne's
empire between approximately 800
and 1200.
Decline of the Decline of the Franks Franks • Charlemagne’s son Louis the Pious Charlemagne’s son Louis the Pious was was
weak and indecisiveweak and indecisive• Louis’ 3 sons were Lothair, Charles Louis’ 3 sons were Lothair, Charles
the Bald, and Louis the German –all the Bald, and Louis the German –all wanted the kingshipwanted the kingship
• Treaty of Verdun (843)—divided Treaty of Verdun (843)—divided empire up into 3 parts—end of a empire up into 3 parts—end of a large unified empire under Frankish large unified empire under Frankish control control
While the Roman Empire declined the Church remained
• Missionaries succeeded in spreading Christianity
• Adapted to rural conditions by building monasteries – religious communities of men
oFirst monks were hermits
o Rules first established by St. Benedict (ca. 500)
o Became best educated communities
o Nunneries also founded— St. Scholastica founds first order of Benedictine nuns
• Shared belief bonded the people together
• The church served as a stable force as well as social center
Power of the ChurchPower of the Church
Pope Gregory the Great (590-Pope Gregory the Great (590-604)604)
• Successful administrator and persuasive personality—greatly increased the power of the pope (successor of St. Peter)
• Wrote about religious works • Broadened the Church’s power by
becoming involved in secular affairs • Sponsored conversion efforts—sent St.
Augustine to England to convert the Anglo-Saxons
The ClergyThe ClergyReligious officials had different ranks within the
church structure
The Medieval Catholic ChurchThe Medieval Catholic ChurchThe Medieval Catholic ChurchThe Medieval Catholic Church
filled the power vacuum left from the collapse of the classical world.
Monasticism:
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]
The Power of the The Power of the Medieval ChurchMedieval ChurchThe Power of the The Power of the Medieval ChurchMedieval 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].
A Medieval Monk’s DayA Medieval Monk’s DayA Medieval Monk’s DayA Medieval Monk’s Day
A Medieval Monastery: The A Medieval Monastery: The ScriptoriumScriptorium
A Medieval Monastery: The A Medieval Monastery: The ScriptoriumScriptorium
Monks laboriously copied
manuscripts by hand—mostly
religious works but also “pagan”
works from ancient Greece
and Rome—centers of the
preservation of knowledge in the Early Middle Ages
Celtic monasteries especially devoted to
learning and to preserving classical
civilization
Early Monasticism in EnglandEarly Monasticism in England
St. Columba founded the monastery at Iona in the 8th century—island off the coast of Scotland—important center of manuscript illumination and preservation of knowledge—later moved to Kells in Ireland to escape the Vikings
Illuminated Manuscripts; Early Illuminated Manuscripts; Early Middle Ages Middle Ages
Illuminated Manuscripts; Early Illuminated Manuscripts; Early Middle Ages Middle Ages
Book of Kells: Chi-Rho page—page is vellum and the inks were made from various minerals and plants
**The Book of Kells is an Irish (Celtic) illuminated manuscript containing the 4 books of the Gospel
**Created in a monastery on the island of Iona
**Dynamic Celtic patterns—this chaos contained by the letters, which represent Christ
Book of Kells: Chi-Rho page—page is vellum and the inks were made from various minerals and plants
**The Book of Kells is an Irish (Celtic) illuminated manuscript containing the 4 books of the Gospel
**Created in a monastery on the island of Iona
**Dynamic Celtic patterns—this chaos contained by the letters, which represent Christ
Romanesque Architectural Romanesque Architectural StyleStyle
Romanesque Architectural Romanesque Architectural StyleStyle Rounded Arches & barrel vaults—based
on the Roman basilica plan (cruciform)
ca. 900s-1200—examples found all over Europe—reflects regional styles
Thick walls to support roof—aimed towards height
Darker, simplistic interiors.
Small windows, usually at the top of the wall.
TheEarly
MiddleAgeswas a
dangeroustime. The
social, political, and
economic system of feudalism
evolved out of this
turbulent world