The Post Classical Era500 – 1000 AD

THE EARLY MIDDLE AGES

476 – 1050 AD• Germanic Kingdoms

–Rome: peace, stability, prosperity, & culture

–Gone by the 6th Century–Achievements of Rome forgotten

• Europe the Natural Setting–Great Plains in France, Germany, & Poland

–Peninsulas• Iberian, Italian, Balkan, & Scandinavian

–Dense forests–Temperate climate: harder to farm, Nomads = violence

• Europe After the Fall of Rome–300s & 400s Germanic Invasions• Anglos & Saxons vs Celts in British Isles

• Franks in Gaul• Visigoths in Spain/Iberian Peninsula

• Ostrigoths in Italy (Theodoric)

–Cities shrinking–Infrastructure in decay–Decentralized government based on tribal chiefs

AN EMERGING EUROPEAN CIVILIZATION

• The Frankish Kingdom– Clovis & the Franks

invade/conquer Gual– Converts kingdom to

Christianity– Establishes the Merovingian

line of kings• Decentralized authority

• The Unifying Role of Christendom

– The Roman Catholic Church is the only institution widespread throughout the European continent as Christianity becomes a larger part of people’s lives.

– The Bishop of Rome becomes the most powerful political leader in Europe.

– Bishop of Rome becomes the pope/papacy – leader of the Roman Catholic Church

• The Church’s Influence on European Ideas

– People begin to split their loyalty between Ruler & God• Political Loyalty vs Spiritual

Loyalty • Separation of Church &

State– Spread of Human equality

The Quest for Political Order The Franks & the Temporary Revival of Empire “And the king was the first to be baptized by the bishop… And so the king confessed all-powerful God in the Trinity were baptized in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and was anointed with the holy ointment with the sign of the cross of Christ. And of his army more than 3,000 were baptized.”

- History of the Franks

• Charlemagne’s Rise to Power –Step 1: Converted Germans to Christianity through war

–Step 2: Prevented Muslims from expanding into Europe

–Step 3: Brutally put down a Saxon revolt

• Charlemagne’s Accomplishments –Created large empire made of self-sufficient manors

–Counts kept order in his kingdom–Made Aachen a new center for learning

• Division of Frankish Kingdom–Kingdom divided into three parts after Charlemagne’s death

–Division weakened Empire’s unity and caused the collapse of the Frankish Kingdom

MEDIEVAL SOCIETY• Who were the Vikings?

– Lifestyle: based on sea: Viking = pirate– both sexes wore long hair; married

women were respected– Government: tribal units, ruled by jarl– Values: culture of war; blood feud

common– Education: not important, most illiterate,

boys = warriors, girls = wives– Religion: worshiped many gods, used

crop and animal sacrifices

• Where did they raid and why?–Raided coastal villages throughout

Europe, plundering, killing, burning, and taking prisoners

–Europe was weak after Charlemagne’s empire fell apart

–Viking longships and weaponry intimidated people of Europe

–Vikings were experienced sailors, traders, and explorers

• What was their impact on Europe?–Viking power of intimidation kept many Europeans in a state of terror

–Europeans looked to local lords to protect them

–Contributed to the development of feudalism

–Viking culture influenced some aspects of life in Europe

MANORIALISM• Monarchs

– Became weaker after Charlemagne– Remained highest authority

• The Feudal System– Political and Military System– Lords and Vassals– Importance of Land

• Lords & Nobles– Lived on Manors in castles– Included powerful clergy– Hunted, defended manor, oversaw serfs, and

settle legal disputes

• Manorialism– Administrative and Economic System

• Serfs and Manors in Feudal Europe– Serfs– Manors as local authority

• Knights or Vassals – Trained warriors who studied warfare from age

seven– Followed code of chivalry– Exchanged military service for fief

• Peasants– Freemen paid lord for use of land and could move

around– Serfs worked land for the lord– Serfs were poor and were prisoners of the manor

THE CHANGING MEDIEVAL WORLD

• Agricultural Revolution– General warming trend– No major famines– New food supplies i.e.: more meat,

dairy products, fish, vegetables, and legumes

– End of the great raids– Expansion of arable land– Three-field system

• Winter crop, summer crop, fallow

–Heavy iron plow• Seed less vulnerable to early frost, birds, and rodents

• Use of draft animals, multiple yokes; horses faster than oxen but not as strong and more susceptible to injury

• Harness did not reach Europe until 800

–Manure, Scythe• Higher yields with crop rotation• Areas of crop specialization, monoculture

• Crusades– Pope Urban II called the First

Crusade in 1095– Resulted in the creation of Christian

lordships in the Holy Land by 1099.– Later Crusades were less successful,

and the focus on recovering the Holy Land was lost.

– The Fourth Crusade actually resulted in the conquest of Christian Constantinople.

• Economic Consequences of the Crusades–Increased trade between East and West Mediterranean.

–Crusades encouraged trade between Europeans and Muslims

–Demands for silk, cotton textiles, and spices increased

–Italian merchants also sought opportunities for direct trade in Asian markets

FEUDAL MONARCHIES

• England– William, Duke of Normandy

(France)– 1066 invades England – Norman

Conquest– Scattered the land of his fiefs– Appointed Sheriffs– Exchequer is created- taxes,

royal finances– Strong Centralized government in

England

FEUDAL MONARCHIES• France

– After the last Carolingian King France was split between the English, King of France, & French Nobles

– Phillip II expands kingdom through war & alliances with nobles

• The Holy Roman Empire– The Emperor’s power comes from the

Pope– Lords, Princes, & Nobles have little

allegiance to the Emperor

Conflict between Church & State (Investiture)

The States’ Position • Henry IV, the Holy Roman Emperor,

angered by Pope Gregory’s actions because he needed church leaders to support him against powerful German lords 

The Church’s Position• In A.D. 1075 outlawed lay investiture

(church officials being chosen by kings)• Threatened to excommunicate any king

who disobeyed (thus talking away the means to gain salvation)

– Henry IV demanded that Gregory VII resign as pope

– Henry IV was excommunicated by Pope Gregory VII–Henry realized he could not defeat the Pope

–Henry begged for Gregory’s forgiveness

– Agreement that church officials could appoint leaders–Kings could give titles and land grants to church officials

Struggles Between Monarchs & The Roman Catholic Church

• Roman Catholic Church is collecting taxes, running courts, & selling church positions.

– Pope Innocent III• Believed that the Pope had supreme

authority in Christian Lands• Replaced a Holy Roman Emperor &

Excommunicated a King– Inquisition (SPAIN)

• Convert Heretics - Anyone not Roman Catholic

• Forceful persuasion - Intimidation, Torture & Death

• Grand Inquisitor -Tomas de Torquemada

Struggles Between Monarchs & Lords

• Royal armies relied on nobles to fill their cavalry

• King John vs English Nobles 1200AD– King John loses a war with France– Disputes with Pope Innocent III over church

appointments– Taxes Nobles to raise $

• Robin Hood: steal from the rich nobles

• MAGNA CARTA – 1215 AD– The Great Charter– Establishes RULE OF LAW in England– Leads to the creation of Parliament

• House of Lords & House of Commons• “That which touches all, must be approved by all”

HIGH MEDIEVAL SOCIETY• Scholars Became Interested

in Ancient Culture– Knowledge of ancient Greece

and Rome was rediscovered by scholars

– The Crusades made Europeans eager to learn about the world around them

– Scholars thought ancient Greek and Roman writings would help solve problems

HIGH MEDIEVAL SOCIETY• Schools, Universities, and

Scholastic Theology – Cathedral schools & creation of

universities• Paris(F), Cambridge(E), Oxford(E),

Bolgna (I), & Salerno (I)– St. Thomas Aquinas (scholastic

theology)• University of Paris, attempted

rationally explain God’s existence. • His work marked the high point of

scholasticism.– Eleanor of Aquitaine

• Supported romantic poets and troubadors

HIGH MEDIEVAL SOCIETY• Dominican’s & Franciscans

– Monasticism = life led by monks and nuns

– Monk = Greek for “ Living Alone”– Nun = French from nonne,

originally Egyptian for “Virgin”– Attacked materialism and allowed

no personal property– Nuns and monks wanted to avoid

war, sickness, sin, corruption, and wanted to serve God and fellow Christians

THE LATE MIDDLE AGES

• The Black Death 1347 – 1450– Infected died within 5 days,

sometimes overnight– People fled cities & farms– 1/3 died from disease– Resulting famine & wars raised

that to 50%– “We are being punished for our

sins”

Ring aroundthe rosy,

Pocketful of posy, Ashes, ashes,

We all fall down.

THE LATE MIDDLE AGES• Peasants Revolt against

Authority – As production, trade, & tax revenues

declined during the Black Death Nobles & Clergy sought to maintain their lavish lifestyles at the expense of the peasants.

– During this time the Roman Catholic Church was discredited

• Raised taxes• Popes were kidnapped & ransomed• The Church’s capitol was moved to Avignon

France• The Great Schism – Two Popes: Rome &

Avignon• Clergy lived a life of luxury

THE LATE MIDDLE AGES

• The Hundred Years War 1337 – 1453

– France vs England over land disputes

– England • Fewer troops, less money• Long Bow

– France• Joan of Arc

ARCHIV/Photo Researchers, Inc.

Microsoft ® Encarta ® Reference Library 2003. © 1993-2002 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

JOAN OF ARC“I Hear Angel Voices”

THE LATE MIDDLE AGES• Results of the Hundred Years War

– FRANCE• Nationalism

– ENGLAND• House of York (White) vs House of

Lancaster (Red)• War of the Roses

– MILITRAY• Long bow = no more knights (nobles)• Gun powder = anyone can be a soldier• Monarchs gain power, nobles lose

power

TOWN LIFE• Town life in the Middle Ages

– Wall and maze of narrow streets, crowding and absence of sanitation

– Occupations were licensed, standards of quality

– Problems of fire and disease– Citizenship– Artisans– Women’s work, more employment– Crime, civil disturbances

TOWN LIFE• Trade & Commerce Change Town

Life– The Foundations of Town Life– Towns were centers for trade and

shipping– Luxury goods such as silk, spices, ivory,

and porcelain could be bought in towns– Guilds dominated social and civic life in

towns• Guilds reflected importance of Christianity in

towns• Contributed to building of cathedrals• Adopted patron saints and sponsored

parades in their honor

Town Life during Middle Ages

Town Life After High

Middle Ages

Towns were small because society was based on agriculture and most people were rural

Society Towns grew because society began to be based on commerce and more people started to live in cities

Town Life during Middle Ages

Town Life After High

Middle Ages

Nobles had most of the power1) Lords owned the land where most towns were located 2) Towns needed protection from knights that lords could provide*status determined by birthright

Power

Middle class had most of the power 1) limited the power of feudal lords by forcing them to grant charter2) Gained control of great sums of money by organizing banks*status determined by wealth and ability