Chapter 10Chapter 10

A New Civilization Emerges A New Civilization Emerges in in

Western EuropeWestern Europe

IntroductionIntroduction

Middle Ages (medieval)Middle Ages (medieval) Spread of civilization to rest of Spread of civilization to rest of

EuropeEurope Spread of new religious beliefsSpread of new religious beliefs Participation in international Participation in international

communitycommunity

““inferiority and vitality”inferiority and vitality” Two perspectives:Two perspectives:

Compare with other borrowing civilizationsCompare with other borrowing civilizations Distinctive features that continue onDistinctive features that continue on

West was “backward”West was “backward” Anxiety toward MuslimsAnxiety toward Muslims

CrusadesCrusades Explorations to seek Muslim-free trade routesExplorations to seek Muslim-free trade routes Europeans learned from Muslims but didn’t like it!!Europeans learned from Muslims but didn’t like it!!

Long-lasting themesLong-lasting themes Politics, social structures, religions, intellectual lifePolitics, social structures, religions, intellectual life Universities, Gothic architecture, limited Universities, Gothic architecture, limited

government, etc.government, etc.

Stages of developmentStages of development 66thth-10-10thth centuries – chaos (Dark Ages?) centuries – chaos (Dark Ages?)

Politically fragmentedPolitically fragmented Frequent invasionsFrequent invasions Weak rulersWeak rulers Subsistence agricultureSubsistence agriculture Importance of churchImportance of church

1010thth – 15 – 15thth century century Improvements in trade and agricultureImprovements in trade and agriculture Stronger political forms (monarchy)Stronger political forms (monarchy) ExpansionismExpansionism

ManorialismManorialism

System of economic and political System of economic and political relations between landlords/peasant relations between landlords/peasant laborerslaborers

Hierarchy of reciprocal obligationsHierarchy of reciprocal obligations Moldboard and three-field systemMoldboard and three-field system Serfs were not slaves!!Serfs were not slaves!!

Role of the churchRole of the church Catholic church only example of solid Catholic church only example of solid

organization at that timeorganization at that time Structured like gov’t of old Roman EmpireStructured like gov’t of old Roman Empire Pope was at top of structurePope was at top of structure Missionary activityMissionary activity Clovis converts to gain more powerClovis converts to gain more power Pope thought they had separate (superior) Pope thought they had separate (superior)

power to the statepower to the state Monasteries: Benedict of Nursia, option of Monasteries: Benedict of Nursia, option of

holy life, contributed to agriculture, holy life, contributed to agriculture, education, literacy, etceducation, literacy, etc

CharlemagneCharlemagne

Franks: CarolingiansFranks: Carolingians Defeat Muslims, confine them to SpainDefeat Muslims, confine them to Spain

Build substantial empireBuild substantial empire Charlemagne crowned by pope (idea that Charlemagne crowned by pope (idea that

approval of church was necessary)approval of church was necessary) Charlemagne dies, empire split among sonsCharlemagne dies, empire split among sons Later “Holy Roman Empire”Later “Holy Roman Empire” Gradual growth of regional monarchiesGradual growth of regional monarchies Strong cultural unity but no single Strong cultural unity but no single

language or gov’tlanguage or gov’t

New economic and urban New economic and urban vigorvigor

New agricultural techniquesNew agricultural techniques Moldboard, horse collar, three-field Moldboard, horse collar, three-field

system, stirrupssystem, stirrups Greater political stability (fewer raids)Greater political stability (fewer raids) Population growthPopulation growth New marketsNew markets Growth of townsGrowth of towns Literacy/education growLiteracy/education grow Art/architectureArt/architecture

GovernmentGovernment

FeudalismFeudalism Lords, vassals, fiefsLords, vassals, fiefs Limited strong central states/reduced local Limited strong central states/reduced local

problemsproblems France-CapetianFrance-Capetian EnglandEngland

William the Conqueror (1066)- more centralizedWilliam the Conqueror (1066)- more centralized Bureaucracy developsBureaucracy develops Germany, Italy, Low countries-regional Germany, Italy, Low countries-regional

statesstates

Limits on gov’tLimits on gov’t

Power of the churchPower of the church Magna CartaMagna Carta (1215) (1215) Creation of parliamentsCreation of parliaments Three estates: clergy, nobles, urban Three estates: clergy, nobles, urban

leadersleaders Beginnings of distinct political Beginnings of distinct political

tradition with checks on central tradition with checks on central powerpower

ExpansionismExpansionism

East central Europe – Germanic East central Europe – Germanic knightsknights

Spain – “reconquest” by ChristiansSpain – “reconquest” by Christians Vikings to North AmericaVikings to North America CrusadesCrusades

Pope Urban II (1095)Pope Urban II (1095) Fourth – attack on ConstantinopleFourth – attack on Constantinople Aggressive spiritAggressive spirit Exposure to new cultural influencesExposure to new cultural influences

ReligionReligion Reform movements: against wealthy Reform movements: against wealthy

secularismsecularism FranciscansFranciscans MonasticismMonasticism Opportunity for womenOpportunity for women Popes (Gregory VII) – investiture controversyPopes (Gregory VII) – investiture controversy

Leads to separation of church and stateLeads to separation of church and state

High Middle Ages: 12High Middle Ages: 12thth/13/13thth centuries centuries Creative tensionsCreative tensions Feudalism vs. central monarchiesFeudalism vs. central monarchies Church vs. state and intellectual lifeChurch vs. state and intellectual life Rural vs. urban lifeRural vs. urban life

CultureCulture

Fuller understanding of past thought Fuller understanding of past thought (Aristotle)(Aristotle)

Peter AbelardPeter Abelard St. Bernard of ClairvauxSt. Bernard of Clairvaux Rational philosophy + Christian faithRational philosophy + Christian faith UniversitiesUniversities St. Thomas Aquinas – scholasticismSt. Thomas Aquinas – scholasticism Scientists set stage for later scientific Scientists set stage for later scientific

revolutionrevolution

Celebration of saintsCelebration of saints Festivals, holy days, etc.Festivals, holy days, etc. Religious artReligious art

Paintings, stained glassPaintings, stained glass ArchitectureArchitecture

Gothic – tall spires, arching windowsGothic – tall spires, arching windows Churches, cathedrals, palacesChurches, cathedrals, palaces

Literature – Latin and vernacularLiterature – Latin and vernacular Beowulf, Song of Roland, Canterbury Beowulf, Song of Roland, Canterbury

TalesTales

Economic and social Economic and social formsforms

Much trade between European countriesMuch trade between European countries Changes in rural lifeChanges in rural life Tension between landlords/serfsTension between landlords/serfs Peasant’s lives improvedPeasant’s lives improved Growth of tradeGrowth of trade Banking begins/use of money spreadsBanking begins/use of money spreads Commercial alliancesCommercial alliances Merchants:Merchants:

Ability to acquire great fortunesAbility to acquire great fortunes Not as adventuresome as Muslim merchantsNot as adventuresome as Muslim merchants Rising merchant class becoming Rising merchant class becoming

powerful/independentpowerful/independent

Group protection: guildsGroup protection: guilds Manufacturing/commercial methods Manufacturing/commercial methods

improveimprove Women’s rolesWomen’s roles

New limitsNew limits Holy orders provide alternative to Holy orders provide alternative to

marriagemarriage In some areas: higher status than In some areas: higher status than

Muslim womenMuslim women Patriarchal systems become strongerPatriarchal systems become stronger

Decline (Decline (of post-classical Western of post-classical Western

worldworld)) Hundred Years’ WarHundred Years’ War

Contributes to end of feudalismContributes to end of feudalism New military methodsNew military methods

Black DeathBlack Death Social disputesSocial disputes Signs of strain:Signs of strain:

Changes for aristocracyChanges for aristocracy ChivalryChivalry Changes in balance between church/stateChanges in balance between church/state Breakdown in arts and intellectual synthesisBreakdown in arts and intellectual synthesis More realism in artsMore realism in arts