POST CLASSICAL WESTERN EUROPE FROM 476 TO 1453 C.E.

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POST CLASSICAL WESTERN EUROPE FROM 476 TO 1453
C.E.

• FROM PERIPHERAL REGION TO NASCENT GREAT POWER

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QUEST FOR POLITICAL ORDER AFTER 476 CE

• Germanic kingdoms
• Visigoths dominated Spain, from 470's to early
  8th century
• Ostrogoths dominated Italy, the 5th century to
  530's
• Lombards invaded, ruled Italy, 550's to the
  mid-8th century
• Franks, Burgundians controlled Gaul, Netherlands
• Angles, Saxons, Jutes established kingdoms in
  Britain
• Political Culture
• Germans organized around tribes, families
• Personal loyalty to king, local noble not state
• Warrior aristocracy assisted royalty
• Masses of Germans were free peasants with duties
  to king
• Center of Europe shifted from Italy to northern
  area
• Area in Northern France, Western Germany,
  Netherlands
• Towns declined, only non-German structure was the
  church
• Most Germans were Arian Christians but tolerated
  Catholics

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EUROPE c. 526 600 C.E.
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RISE OF THE FRANKS

• The Franks
• Settled in Belgium, Northern France, Western
  Germany
• Developed group identity during the 3rd century
  C.E.
• Politically inexperienced, little exposure to
  Roman society
• Clovis
• A strong military and political leader
• Eliminated last vestiges of Roman authority in
  Gaul
• Launched military campaigns against other
  Germanic peoples
• Built the most powerful and dynamic state in
  western Europe
• Clovis's conversion
• Most Germans were Arian Christians
• Converted to Arianism by St. Ulfias before
  migration
• Hostile to Catholics but generally tolerant if
  taxes paid
• The Franks converted to Roman Christianity
• In Hoc Signet Vince in this sign conquer
• Alliance with Catholics greatly strengthened the
  Franks

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CHARLEMAGNE

• The Carolingians
• Merovingian leaders lost control after Clovis's
  death
• Carolingians asserted authority, the early 8th
  century
• Charles Martel
• Mayor of the Palace, chief official under
  Merovingian kings
• Stops Muslim invasion of Europe, 732 at Battle of
  Tours
• Pepin becomes king, 751
• Pope appointed Pepin as King of the Franks
• Invaded Italy to save Pope from the Lombards
• Pope allows Franks to reign as King of Italy
• Pepin grants the area in Italy around Rome to
  Pope
• Charlemagne (reigned 768-814 C.E.)
• Charles Martel's grandson, founder of Carolingian
  empire
• Control extended to northeast Spain, Bavaria,
  north Italy
• Rulers of eastern Europe, southern Italy paid
  tribute
• Administration
• Capital city at Aachen (in modern Germany)
• Relied on aristocratic deputies, known as counts
• Used missi dominici to oversee local authorities

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THE RISE OF THE FRANKISH EMPIRE
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BREAKUP OF THE FRANKISH EMPIRE

• Louis the Pious (re. 814-840)
• Charlemagne's only surviving son, lost control of
  the counts
• His three sons divided the empire into three
  kingdoms, 843
• Invasions
• Muslims raided Mediterranean coasts
• Conquered Spain, Sicily, Sardinia
• Raided coasts of S. France, S. Italy
• Magyars invaded from the east
• Vikings invaded from the north
• The Vikings
• Scandinavian homelands - Norway, Denmark, and
  Sweden
• Raided regions from Russia to Spain
• Established colonies in Iceland, Greenland,
  Canada
• Conquered parts of England, Ireland, Scotland,
  France
• Outstanding seafarers
• Fleets could go to interior regions via rivers
• Attacked towns and villages favorite targets
  were Christian

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VIKINGS, MAGYARS, AND ARABS
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NEW REGIONAL STATES

• England
• Small Keltic, German kingdoms merged into larger
  realm
• Fought Scandinavian raids
• King Alfred (reigned 871-899) expanded to the
  north
• Alfred's successors controlled England c.
  mid-10th century
• Germany and Italy
• After Carolingian empire, local lords took
  control
• King Otto I (reigned 936-73) defeated Magyars in
  955
• Imposed authority in Central Europe
• Ruled Germany, Netherlands, Burgundy, Austria,
  Switzerland
• Suzerain lords over Northern Italy, Slovenia,
  Czech lands
• Led armies to support the papacy in Italy
• Otto's crowned emperor by pope in 962
• France
• Counts and other local authorities became local
  lords
• Vikings settled in northern France
• Nobles elect Counts of Paris as King to replace
  Carolingians
• Spain and Southern Italy
• Spanish Christian states in North warred against
  Muslim caliphs

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EUROPE c. 1000 C.E.
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FEUDAL SYSTEM

• Lords and vassals
• Lord owned land, needs soldiers
• Trades land for service
• Grants of land called fiefs
• Vassal provided defense
• Received livelihood from land
• Vassals provided military equipment
• Vassals owed lord
• Loyalty, obedience, respect, counsel
• Military service when called into service
• Lords often made smaller grant to others
• Called sub-division of fief
• Lowest, service owning noble was a knight
• Church often made vassals of soldiers for defense
• Church could hold land as a vassal to a lord
• Church often held land in own right
• Women could be vassals, own fiefs but not fight
• Feudal politics
• Multi-layered network of lord-vassal
  relationships

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TWO FEUDAL STATES
FRANCE
HOLY ROMAN EMPIRE
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MANORALISM ECONOMIC FEUDALISM

• Serfdom
• Difference between peasants, serfs
• Peasants were free, owned their own land
• Serfs not free, could not own land
• Serfs, peasants lived similar lives
• Serfs as an intermediate category
• Began under Romans
• Diocletian bound people to occupations
• Serfdom arose during invasions, marauders
• Slaves, peasants frequently intermarried
• Free peasants became serfs for protection
• Serfs' obligations
• Labor service and rents in kind
• Could not move without permission
• Serfs had right to work on land, pass job to
  heirs
• Serfs often drafted as foot soldiers in feudal
  armies
• Manors
• Principal form of agricultural organization
• Manor was a large estate controlled by lord

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ECONOMY OF MEDIEVAL EUROPE

• Agriculture
• Agricultural production suffered from repeated
  invasions
• Small wooden plows of Mediterranean farmers did
  not work well in the north
• Heavy plows
• Heavy plows appeared in 6th century, could turn
  soils
• Common from 8th century, production increased
• Cultivation of new lands, watermills, and
  rotating crops
• A rural society
• Agricultural surplus not enough to support large
  cities
• Towns were few and sparsely populated
• Trade
• Trade, urban centers began to develop, 10th
  century
• Trade arose in Mediterranean, North Sea, Black
  Sea
• Population
• In 200 C.E., European population stood at 36
  million
• In 400 C.E., 31 million
• In 600 C.E., 26 million
• In 800 C.E., edged up to 29 million
• In 900 C.E., 30 million

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THE AGE OF FAITH

• Post-Classical Western Europe as An Age of Faith
• Every aspect of life was dominated by the Church
• Rulers were crowned by the Grace of God
• Political rule viewed as divinely sanctioned
• All Christians were expected to tithe to the
  church
• Education, art dictated by Church ideals
• Calendar organized by faith holidays
• Fair prices, economic practices dictated by
  church
• All answers to questions were dictated largely by
  faith
• Law was largely dictated by religion
• Serious matters submitted to Church for
  arbitration, resolution
• Popes, clergy held enormous power
• Church held lands independent of many rulers
• Church lands could not be taxed
• Church lands were often enormously wealthy
• Bishops could not be installed by secular rulers
• Secular rulers appealed to Rome for mediation
• Clergy could not be tried in secular courts
• Popes could deprive kings of their thrones

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CONVERSION TO CHRISTIANITY

• The Franks and the Church
• Franks viewed as protectors of the papacy
• Charlemagne worked to spread Christianity
• Reconquered parts of Spain from Muslims
• Charlemagne forced Saxons to convert
• Built churches, schools, monasteries
• The spread of Christianity
• Popes took an active roll in sending out
  missionaries
• Pagan ways did not disappear immediately
• Scandinavia, Baltic lands were last to convert
• Pagan rituals often blended into Christianity
• Cities, towns largely Christian but countryside
  weakly so
• By 1000 C.E., western Europe was Roman
  Christianity
• Irish, Mozarabic rites of Christianity accepted
  by Pope
• Arian Christianity eliminated by Franks

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THE PAPACY

• Pope Gregory I (590-604 C.E.)
• Organized defense of Rome against Lombards'
  menace
• Reasserted papal primacy over other bishops
• Strongly emphasized the sacrament of penance
• The conversion of England
• Gregory's missionary campaigns in western Europe
• First converted English kings
• By 800 C.E., England securely in the Roman church
• Rise of Church as a Temporal Power
• Popes claimed that the spiritual powers were
  superior to temporal
• Italy lacked any great power city-states
  constantly quarreled
• German emperors at war with nobles French kings
  too weak
• Pope played one side off another, acquired lands
  in Italy
• Many European bishops acquired lands, became part
  of feudalism
• In Germany, owned 10 of the best lands
• In Spain, Baltic spiritual military orders led
  wars on pagans
• Papal Powers
• Spiritual head of all Christians including
  aristocrats, royalty
• Weapons included excommunication, interdict,
  canon law

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MONASTICISM

• Origin
• Christians practiced asceticism in deserts of
  Egypt, 2nd and 3rd century
• Monastic lifestyle became popular when
  Christianity became legal
• Monastic rules
• St. Benedict (480-547 C.E.) provided a set of
  regulations
• Virtues of Benedictine monks poverty, chastity,
  and obedience
• Western monastic rites differed from Eastern
  rites
• Western rites emphasized work, prayer, service to
  the poor
• Eastern rites were relatively isolated, dedicated
  to prayer but not outside contacts
• St. Scholastica (482-543 C.E.)
• St. Benedict's sister, a nun
• Adapted the Rule, and provided guidance for
  religious life of women
• The roles of monasteries
• Became dominant feature in social and cultural
  life of western Europe
• Accumulated large landholdings but spread
  knowledge
• Wealthy patrons donated land to monks for
  monasteries
• Taught peasants, serfs techniques of farming
• Cleared forested lands, planted them
• Organized much of rural labor for agriculture

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RISE OF REGIONAL STATES

• The Holy Roman Empire
• New Emperors
• Otto of Saxony rose in northern Germany by the
  mid-10th century Pope John XII proclaimed him
  emperor in 962
• Later emperors warred alternately with powerful
  dukes, popes for influence in empire
• Eventually emperorship becomes elected by seven
  most powerful imperial dukes, bishops
• Smaller territorial states emerged, weakened
  centralizing efforts of the emperors
• Investiture Contest
• Formerly, important church officials were
  appointed by imperial authorities
• Pope Gregory VII ordered an end to the practice
• Emperor Henry IV was excommunicated because of
  his disobedience
• France
• The Capetians
• Hugh Capet, a minor and weak noble, was elected
  king in 987
• In the next three centuries, Capetian kings
  gained power and wealth gradually
• Spend most of energy asserting their power over
  regional powerful nobles
• The Normans
• Descendants of Vikings who carved out a state in
  Normandy of France
• Nominally subject to Carolingian and Capetian
  rulers, but acted independently
• The British Isles

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EUROPE, C. EARLY 13TH CENTURY
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GROWTH OF THE AGRICULTURAL ECONOMY

• Expansion of arable land
• Population rises
• Cleared forests, swamps
• Lords encouraged such efforts
• Improved farming techniques
• Crop rotation methods
• Use of fertilizer
• Cultivation of beans increased
• More domestic animals
• Books on economy, agriculture
• New tools and technology
• Extensive use of watermills and heavy plows
• Use of horseshoe and horse collar, increased land
  under cultivation
• 3-plot rotation of planted land
• New food supplies
• Before 1000, European diet - grains
• After 1000, more meat, dairy products, fish,
  vegetables, legumes
• Population growth
• From 29 to 79 million between 800 C.E. and 1300
  C.E.

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REVIVAL OF TOWNS AND TRADE

• Urbanization
• Peasants, serfs, tradesmen flocked to cities and
  towns
• Towns allowed serfs to acquire freedom if they
  stayed 1 year, 1 day
• Local nobles allowed towns charters, rights for
  direct taxes
• Towns ruled by urban elite usually from guilds,
  wealthy
• Textile production
• Northern Italian cities and Flanders became
  centers of wool textiles
• Trade in wool products fueled economic
  development of Europe
• Mediterranean trade
• Trading City-States
• Venice, Genoa were the most prominent but others
  such as Pisa, Amalfi
• Wealth based on sea-power, luxury trade
• Italians established colonies in Mediterranean,
  Black Sea
• Conquered, settled cities, built factories and
  trade centers
• Established trading alliances, signed treaties
  with many including Muslims
• The Hanseatic League
• Hansa - association of trading cities, controlled
  trade of N. Europe
• German trading city-states made alliance
  established factories in North, Baltic Seas
• Concluded treaties with many states admitted key
  foreign cities to alliance

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EUROPEAN CITIES
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MEDIEVAL TRADE ROUTES
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TRADING CITIES
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SOCIAL CHANGES

• The three estates
• "Those who pray" clergy, spiritual estate
• Ruling hierarchy Popes, bishops, abbots
• Common clergy Monks, priests
• "Those who fight" - feudal nobles, military
  estate
• Royalty who ran a state
• Land owning lords such as dukes, counts, princes
• Lowest nobility with no land were knights
• "Those who work" - mostly peasants and serfs
• Peasants and Serfs
• Those who lived in Towns (Burg Burghers)
• Not an estate in most countries
• Grew to become middle class
• Guilds
• Established standards of quality for manufactured
  goods
• Determined prices and regulated entry of new
  workers
• Ran free cities as urban aristocracy
• Independent cities
• Expansion of cities did not fit into feudal
  framework

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GENDER ROLES IN MEDIEVAL EUROPE

• Feminine Roles of the Day
• The Virgin Mary was the ideal
• Mother to children
• Supports husband quietly, diligently
• A patriarchal society but strong feminine roles
• Public Role
• Very limited as it was a males world
• Women could own property in own right
• Feudalism did not prohibit women from fighting
  but often they named a champion
• Female rulers were not unknown
• Generally seen as regents for son, grandson
• If widowed, lost rights if remarried or when male
  came of age
• Frequently seen in Spain, Scandinavia, England,
  Italy
• Laws would not permit women to rule in France,
  Germany, Eastern Europe
• Private Role
• ALWAYS differentiate between aristocracy, poor
• Aristocratic Women
• Women were the womb to breed the heir marriage
  politics taken very seriously
• Roles public and private limited by convention
  and wealth to social roles and little else

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THE CHURCH AND LEARNING

• Cathedral schools
• Bishops, archbishops in France, Italy organized
  schools
• Cathedral schools concentrated on liberal arts
• Some offered instruction in law, medicine, and
  theology
• Universities
• Large cathedral schools developed into
  universities
• Most students trained for church, bureaucratic
  jobs
• Most students were from middle classes and not
  nobility
• Student guilds and faculty guilds
• Chief degree was theology
• The influence of Aristotle
• Increased contacts led to rediscovery of
  Aristotle
• Obtained works from Byzantines, Muslims
• Scholasticism St. Thomas Aquinas
• Scholasticism
• System learning applied to Christianity
• Intellectual and rational
• St. Thomas Aquinas
• Dominican scholar

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THE RELIGION OF THE MASSES

• Popular Religion
• Sacraments and Devotions
• The most popular was the Eucharist
• Devotion to saints for help
• The Virgin Mary the most popular saint
• Saints' relics were esteemed
• Pilgrimage to Rome, Compostela, Jerusalem
• People were superstitious
• Devoted to many pagan rituals
• Believed in witches
• Reform Movements and Popular Heresies
• Dominicans and Franciscans
• Organized movements of non-cloistered religious
• Dominicans worked primarily as teachers
• Franciscans were primarily social workers
• Worked directly with populace, needy, sick
• Championed spiritual over materialistic values
• Zealously combated heterodox movements
• Popular heresy

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COLONIZATION AND CRUSADES

• Atlantic and Baltic Colonization
• The Vikings
• Scandinavians turned to Atlantic, 9th/10th
  centuries
• Colonized Iceland and Greenland
• Leif Ericsson settled in Canada (Vinland)
• Established Dynasty of the Rus in Russia (Kiev)
• Established states in Normandy, S. Italy, Holy
  Land
• Christianity in Scandinavia
• Kings of Denmark, Norway converted, 10th c.
• St. Olaf convinced the king, nobles to convert
• Colonies in Iceland, Sweden, Finland also
  converted
• Crusading Orders and Baltic Expansion
• Germans launched mass settlement of Eastern lands
• Allowed nobles to conquer, settle lands in east
• Formed military-religious orders to assist
• Launched crusades against pagan Baltic and Slavic
  peoples
• Settled German peasants, serfs in lands
• The Teutonic Knights were most active in the
  Baltic region
• Baltic region was absorbed into Christian Europe
  by late 13th century

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THE CRUSADES

• The Turks
• Arrived in Middle East in early 11th century
  defeated Abbassids and Byzantines
• Seized much of Byzantine holdings in Anatolia,
  Muslim Holy Land
• Pope Urban II
• Byzantines asked West for help Pope called for
  knights to seize Holy Land, 1095
• Peter the Hermit traveled in Europe and organized
  a ragtag army
• The campaign was a disaster for the crusaders
• The first crusade
• French, Normans organized a respectable military
  expedition, 1096
• Jerusalem fell to the crusaders, 1099
• Muslims recaptured Jerusalem, 1187
• Later crusades
• By the mid-13th century, launched five major
  crusades which all failed
• 4th crusade (1202-1204) conquered Constantinople,
  made Schism final
• Consequences of the crusades
• Facilitated exchange of goods between Muslims,
  Europe
• Demands for silk, cotton textiles, and spices
  increased spread sugar, citrus plants
• Italian merchants sought opportunities for direct
  trade in Asian markets
• European borrowed heavily from Muslim
  intellectual knowledge

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MAP OF THE CRUSADES