THE MIDDLE AGES

Chapter 10 (Emerging Western Europe)

Europe After the FallMiddle Ages / Medieval Period

410-1400Continent in disorderItaly was in social, political, economic decline– Center shifts to Northern Europe (France, Low

Countries, Germany)Conversion from paganism to Christianity.– Catholic church – central authority

Muslims controlled SpainContinual raids by Scandinavian Vikings and Germanic tribesIntellectual life at a stand still (Dark Ages)

The VikingsThe Northmen, Norsemen, Normans

From 800CE-1100CE The Vikings, using advanced ship technology, raided England, France (think Normandy), Russia and even Italy and the Byzantine Empire

They influenced language development (England and France) and assimilated by accepting Christianity

Germanic KingdomsVisigoths and Ostrogoths– Spain and Italy– Roman structure of

government– Warrior class showing

increasing dominanceAngles and Saxons– Emigrated from Denmark

to BritainFranks– France, Belgium, and

Holland– Clovis – first Germanic

ruler to convert to Christianity

Germanic kingdoms were a mixture of German and Roman. The family and extended family were at the center of life. Crimes were considered personal and often resulted in bloody feuds. In order to end this two procedures were implemented

1. The wiergild: “money for a man” paid by the wrongdoer

2. The ordeal: a physical trial to determine guilt or innocence. They believed divine forces would not allow an innocent person to suffer.

Ordeal

Manorialism

Until the 10th century, most secular political organization was local. Manorialism - system of reciprocal economic and political obligations between landlords and peasants.Most individuals were serfs living on self-sufficient agricultural estates (manors). In return for protection (from Vikings, rival lords, bandits) they gave lords part of their crops and provided labor services.System favored land lords

Limits to ManorialismLess of a necessity as central gov’ts emerged and Viking raids decreasedInferior technology limited agricultural output until the 9th-century. – Moldboard plow – Horse collars– The three-field cultivation system

Serfs were not slaves. – Hereditary status– Villages provided community life and limited self-

government

FeudalismIncreased need for protection as internal political instabilities increased– Centralized government inefficient– Commoners going to powerful warlords for protection in return

for serviceVassalage– Warriors (military elite) swore an oath to a lord to serve them

militarily– Lords took care of warriors needs (food, shelter, clothing, etc.)

by granting a fief.– Warrior became a vassal of the Lord

As years passed, became increasingly bureaucratic and specializedThough it inhibited centralization, some kings were successful in using to create strong states France – gradually by 13th c., England – abruptly with Norman conquest in 1066 (11th c.)

The Role of ChurchChristianity supreme religion of Europe after the 5th cent.Single example of organization within Europe after the fall of Rome Rise of the Pope– Bishop of Rome– Claimed to have control over all other clergy– Hierarchy based on old Roman imperial model– Regulated all doctrine– Oversaw missionaries– Interdict: Denial of sacraments to effect

change– Excommunication

Conversion of Germanic kings (ex. Clovis 496) shows political power…needed alliances with Rome to legitimatize monarchies

The Franks & CharlemagneCharles Martel of the Franks

– Defeats Muslims at Battle of Tours, 732

Grandson, Charlemagne (Charles the Great), expands Frankish kingdom,

Revived imperial traditions –”Emperor of the Romans”

Revived imperial traditions –”Emperor of the Romans”

Charlemagne encouraged learning Colleges and universities

were set up to educate workers in his kingdom

 Sometimes his rule is referred to as the Carolingian Renaissance (“rebirth”) because learning and the growth of knowledge were reborn.

The Holy Roman Empire

Arose after the split of Charlemagne’s empireSwore to protect the pope, Church and ChristendomRevolved around Germany and ItalyConfederation of smaller kingdomsRelatively weak office, as the areas were never consolidated into a single monarchy

Why are Charlemagne and the HRE important?

Charlemagne began a power struggle between the Church and secular leaders that lasted for centuries

Magna Carta & ParliamentMagna Carta– Runnymede, 1215– King John forced to recognize

that power of the monarch was limited

The Rise of Parliament– Edward I – House of Commons - 2 knights

from every county, 2 people from every town

– House of LordsAll nobles and bishops

The Crusades

Motivations: Results

The church tried to eliminate heresy (heretics) whose teachings disagreed with the church’s. 

The Inquisition (Spain) in the 15th century was a court set up to find heretics. It is known for:• Torturing people to get confessions,

which were often false• Executing heretics

• Christians begin reclaiming “The Reconquista” Spain in 10th century (not

complete until 15th)

Lay investiture - worldly (secular) leaders chose church leaders (bishops) and gave

them the symbols of their office 

Pope Gregory VII tried to end lay investiture and strengthen the pope’s power

 Concordat of Worms – 1122 Agreement where that recognized the right of the

Church to appoint its own bishops

Monastic LifeDedicate life to church, promoted Christian unityCommunal living in monastery, headed by an abbotEmphasis on labor and prayerLife of poverty and doing charityHelped further agricultural technology and methodsChurch schools were first schoolsPreserved classical world cultureConvents were also attractive to artistic and intellectual women

ScholasticismReconcile faith and reason– Harmonize works of the ancient Greeks with Christian

teachings– Abelard, “Yes and No” – questions contradictions in

doctrineOpposed by church powers, religion is faith, not logic

– Bernard, God is mystical, not explainablePopular for university debateThomas Aquinas, “Summa Theologica”– Faith was fine, but logic could be used to understand

law, natural order, and the nature of God

The Revival of TradeGradual revival of trade.– Commerce had slowed during the uncertainly of the early Middle

Ages– The more trade rebounds, the less rigid social structure

becomesCities begin to grow; become centers of trade– Venice/Mediterranean– Flanders/Northern Europe

Trade FairsEconomic revitalization proves to be a positive force– Serfs becoming increasingly “free”– Rise of Money Economy vs. Barter– Trading Companies, ex. Hanseatic League– Banks, Specialized manufacturing– Increased interest in commercial capitalism beyond Med.

Venice

Major trade hub linking Europe to Africa, the Byzantine Empire, and AsiaStrong economy allowed it to exist as a city-state

Industry and GuildsCraftspeople organized in guilds– Organizations for individual trades– Political voice for artisan class

Guilds regulated the production process– Standards– Prices– Methods of production– Joining procedure

ApprenticeshipJourneymanMaster

The Growth of CitiesTowns had greatly declined during the early Middle Ages. – Most urbanized areas – Italy and Low Countries (will become

most economically powerful)

Resettlement by merchants, artisans, craftspeople – centers of commerce.Many founded as trade and meeting centers outside castle walls. Government– Most towns tied to land– 1100, power in towns shifting from lord to people; people bought

powers from lord– Councilmen, judges/re-emergence of patrician class

Life in Medieval Cities

Tight living conditionsNarrow streetsDanger of firePollution– Air– Water

Unsanitary– Public Baths– No waste removal

Spreading OutThe Crusades (11/12th cs.)– Initially called in 1095 to end Muslim occupation of Holy Lands– Sidetracked to more economic reasons, ex. 4th Crusade –

backed by Venetian merchants to control Constantinople b/c Europeans feared the trade of Asian luxury goods would be cut off

– Briefly established small kingdoms– Exposed Europe to cultural exchange, intellectual exposure to

lost Greek and Roman learning laid the foundation for the Renaissance and introduced them to global economic exchange

– West to East trade increases and exposes Europeans to new products. They begin to seek new and easier trade routes. (Think Columbus at the end of the 15th century)

The Plague, 1347-1350

Spread from Asia via trade (viral infested rats)Unsanitary conditions of cities, lack of medical knowledge to combat– Killed 1/3 of Europe

Drastically affected social and economic structure…in some cases, entire towns wiped out.

Spread of Plague

Art & Architecture

Art – Religious or Historic– One – dimensional

TapestryIlluminated ScriptExplosion of building– Gothic– Utilized Flying Buttresses– Pointed Arches

Medieval Art

Illuminated Manuscripts

Bayeaux Tapestry, Depicting Battle of Hastings

Gothic Architecture

Gothic Architecture

Middle Ages can’t last forever…Technology was rapidly outpacing manorialism’s effectiveness– less people needed need to work in agriculture

Growing dissatisfaction with church– becoming less powerful than state– Artistic and intellectual life less syncretic with religion

PlagueFeudalism dying– Parliaments checking power of kings– Kings building armies – less need for feudal armies (HYW)– Society was stratifying as economic diversity increased