Christian Europe and the Middle Ages :Christian Europe and the Middle Ages 600 AD-1200 AD


Christian Europe and the Middle Ages :Christian Europe and the Middle Ages Global/Historical Context The Classical Age of European civilization, with its values on learning, ended and Germanic barbarian culture swept through Europe. SOCIAL Islamic Empire rises in the east maintaining trade, commerce, and learning. ECONOMIC Time of religious power and conflict: Christianity in Europe and Islam in Middle East and North Africa. RELIGIOUS Time of warring Islamic dynasties/ warring Germanic kingdoms. POLITICAL


Christian Europe and the Middle Ages :Christian Europe and the Middle Ages Global/Historical Context Islamic merchants have economic contact with Asia. Commerce brought wealth and political influence. ECONOMIC


Christian Europe and the Middle Ages :Christian Europe and the Middle Ages The European continent would develop under the influence of the Christian religion. Christianity enters the continent through Greece and Rome by Paul of Tarsus, a Jewish missionary.


Christian Europe and the Middle Ages :Christian Europe and the Middle Ages After the fall of the western half of the Roman Empire in 476 AD, the eastern half becomes known as Byzantium. It’s capital was Constantinople. Eastern and western Europe contrasted in both the stability of society and economy. Western Europe struggled with political unity and economic decline due to barbarian conquests.


Christian Europe and the Middle Ages :Christian Europe and the Middle Ages


Christian Europe and the Middle Ages :Christian Europe and the Middle Ages Byzantium, or the Byzantine Empire, was the economic and political powerhouse of the postclassical era. It dominated the wealthy eastern Mediterranean. It sustained interactions between Slavic, Arab, European and Asian peoples. Its location offered sea and overland access to Asia, Europe , and Africa and overlooked the strategic Bosporus Strait. It struggled though against pressure from the Sassanid Empire of Persia.


Christian Europe and the Middle Ages :Christian Europe and the Middle Ages Byzantium had preserved Roman traditions and Rome’s most important contribution to civilization: Roman Civil Law. Civil Law: law that deals with the rights people have in their society. Roman civil law was re-codified to fit the demands of the Byzantine world. It also influenced western European law as well. Byzantine political decline came with conquest of its territories by the Arab armies


Christian Europe and the Middle Ages :Christian Europe and the Middle Ages Justinian I had Roman law recorded and placed himself under the law: This created political unity. Faith in his leadership. Made sure that both men and women were educated. His wife Theodora was the model for educated women, although mostly noblewomen would receive education.


Christian Europe and the Middle Ages :Christian Europe and the Middle Ages Byzantine emperors continued the traditions of Roman imperial rule with a single ruler. Political administration based also on the theme system. Divided into provinces called “themes” under the jurisdiction of generals. Peasants recruited for military defense and given land allotments. It created a large class of free peasants and a strong agricultural base.


Christian Europe and the Middle Ages :Christian Europe and the Middle Ages Economically, Constantinople drew merchants and trade flowed from it. Unlike in Western Europe where trade was disrupted by invasions. Christianity in the Byzantine Empire developed differently from Christianity in Rome and Western Europe.


Christian Europe and the Middle Ages :Christian Europe and the Middle Ages It was based on Greek language and traditions and was known as Orthodox Christianity, the one originally founded by Paul of Tarsus. The Orthodox Church claimed a more educated clergy. 962 AD: The rise of the Holy Roman Empire under Charlemagne brought religious antagonism. Eventually a schism would develop between the Latin Church in Rome and the Orthodox Church in 1054.


Christian Europe and the Middle Ages :Christian Europe and the Middle Ages Schism: separation or division Byzantines did not accept the authority of the Roman Pope.


Christian Europe and the Middle Ages :Christian Europe and the Middle Ages 9th century AD: Cyril was a missionary bringing Orthodox (Byzantine) Christianity to eastern Europe and the Slavic peoples. Slavs: a branch Indo-European peoples making up 1/3 of all Europeans today.


Slide 18:Slavic language distribution


Christian Europe and the Middle Ages :Christian Europe and the Middle Ages Introduces the Cyrillic alphabet to spread religious teachings, while using the local language, or vernacular. It spread throughout eastern Europe. This also marked the beginning of competition between Greek and Latin forms of Christianity. Effects: Cyrillic used today among Russians and other Slavs. Roman alphabet among Poles, Czechs, and Croatians.


Christian Europe and the Middle Ages :Christian Europe and the Middle Ages The Byzantine emperors battled Muslim invaders for centuries until 1453 when Constantinople was conquered. These battles in Byzantium caused a decline in urbanism, which caused a decline in the middle class. Free peasants lost land to invaders which weakened the economy and caused a major gap between wealthy aristocrats and poor peasants. The same scenario occurs in western Europe: the middle class would be lost and peasants could not be free.


Christian Europe and the Middle Ages :Christian Europe and the Middle Ages The Byzantine empire kept knowledge of Roman dome construction. Example: Hagia Sophia. A church built by Constantine and later expanded by Justinian.


Christian Europe and the Middle Ages :Christian Europe and the Middle Ages In the western half of Europe, invasions by Germanic tribes devastated the continent: Goths (Visigoths and Ostrogoths) Vandals Saxons Franks Lombards Angles Vikings Jutes


Christian Europe and the Middle Ages :Christian Europe and the Middle Ages These tribes would mark the beginning of a period known as the Middle Ages or “Medieval period” which would last from 500 AD to 1500 AD. It was a time when western Europe would develop and agricultural economy. The region also had a decentralized political order comprising local and regional governments. The Roman Catholic Church would emerge as the dominant power in politics and culture, as it was the only source of organized and educated authority.


Christian Europe and the Middle Ages :Christian Europe and the Middle Ages Each tribe carved out kingdoms: Visigoths in Spain; Ostrogoths and Lombards in Italy; Franks in Gaul (France). Europe was also pounded by other tribes: Muslims and Berbers in Spain; Huns from Asia. 793 AD: Viking invasions from Scandinavia. Attacked England; France; Spain and Normandy in France. Normans from France attacked England in 1066 under William the Conqueror and defeated the Saxon population.


Christian Europe and the Middle Ages :Christian Europe and the Middle Ages Western Europe experienced a new Germanic political order, but of small decentralized political units. Arabs had only recently been stopped in France by Charles Martel in 732 AD at the Battle of Tours. Europe was politically fragmented. This was a time of extreme turmoil as no powerful political kingdom or empire existed to bring order.


Slide 33:Beginning in the 5th century, the Franks, under Clovis, and continuing through the 9th century under Charlemagne, secured their authority by building ties with the Catholic Church. 8th century: The Carolingian Dynasty under Charles the Great (Charlemagne) tries to unite Germany, Italy, and France (Gaul) in one empire called the Holy Roman Empire. It was sanctioned by the Catholic Church during his coronation ceremony. His recognition of the Roman Catholic Church caused tensions with the Byzantine Empire. Christian Europe and the Middle Ages


Slide 35:This ceremony also set the historical precedent in Europe of monarchs being crowned by the Church. This created tension over who exercised the most authority. Christian Europe and the Middle Ages


Christian Europe and the Middle Ages :Christian Europe and the Middle Ages Charlemagne worked to reestablish centralized rule. He emphasized: Education as primary. One religion: Roman Catholicism, for unity. The Church provided an educated workforce for his bureaucracy. Political unity under himself as the Holy Roman Emperor. The Holy Roman Empire broke apart after his death and his sons divided it into 3 parts, based upon the Germanic tradition of splitting property.


Christian Europe and the Middle Ages :Christian Europe and the Middle Ages Invasions from Muslims from the Mediterranean; the Magyars of Hungary; and the Vikings of northern Europe. Vikings were “Norse” mariners invaded European coasts of northern and southern Europe from the 9th to 11th centuries due to population pressures in Scandinavia. They settled in northern France and attacked Britain.


Christian Europe and the Middle Ages :Christian Europe and the Middle Ages Economic Aspects in Medieval Europe: Muslim conquests did not stop trade to western Europe via the Mediterranean. Muslims (from the Abbasid empire) wanted furs, honey and fish from Europe. Post-Roman western Europe was in a time of danger and lawlessness due to decentralization. Territories and kingdoms were forced to set up political and military relationships within themselves. As a result, kingdoms became self-sufficient farming units with individual “manors.”


Christian Europe and the Middle Ages :Christian Europe and the Middle Ages Manor: a self-sufficient district over which a noble or king had authority. Manors consisted of a castle (fortress) and agricultural lands with a village. Designed to be self-sufficient in all things. The manor was the principle form of agricultural organization. The manor was designed to be agricultural and based upon the 3-field system of crop rotation. Villages, on the manors, produced other needed crafts and goods.


Christian Europe and the Middle Ages :Christian Europe and the Middle Ages Social and Political Aspects: Society was divided into rigid system: King Nobles (knights) Church Peasants Title, though, was not a reflection of actual power


Christian Europe and the Middle Ages :Christian Europe and the Middle Ages Nobles were the most powerful segment of society. They exercised almost unlimited power in their domains. Each differed in his governance and justice. From one of the noble families would come the king. Nobles were the landowners. Knights were young nobles who fought to create landholdings for themselves. Everyone was under a system of “feudalism.”


Christian Europe and the Middle Ages :Christian Europe and the Middle Ages Feudalism was a system of loyalty and allegiance in return for a payment. Loyalty was based upon a binding contract whereby vassals defended their lord’s land and safety and owed him fealty (loyalty). A payment, or fief (usually land), was given in return.


Christian Europe and the Middle Ages :Christian Europe and the Middle Ages Knights were typically the sons of noble lords. They were bound by a code of military, social, and political honor called chivalry. They utilized the stirrup borrowed from central Asia in 1st century AD, and could stand in the saddle and absorb lance impact. Large horses for armored knights were bred from grain agriculture unlike grass in central Asia.


Christian Europe and the Middle Ages :Christian Europe and the Middle Ages Sometimes fiefs were hereditary. Peasants were made serfs: peasants tied to land labor by contract that was usually life-long. In return they would receive protection. Peasants were usually loyal to their manor and not the kings. Peasants were not slaves: could not be bought and sold and could pass on their property ( if they had any) to their heirs.


Christian Europe and the Middle Ages :Christian Europe and the Middle Ages Land could be owned by both men and women and both worked in the fields. Marriages were often arranged for both men and women. Feudalism in Western Europe was a political, economic, and social system. Depending upon circumstances, sometimes townspeople would band together to form a “commune” whereby the town would form its own protective unit.


Christian Europe and the Middle Ages :Christian Europe and the Middle Ages Political Feudalism: system of loyalty with the king at the top. This was a reciprocal system with obligation going both ways due to a contract. Economic Feudalism: wealth was based on contract payments of land (and gold). Manorialism was for the nobles and kings. Social Feudalism: Status determined by position: King; noble; clergy; peasant.


Christian Europe and the Middle Ages :Christian Europe and the Middle Ages The Roman Catholic Church was the most stable, unified, and organized institution in Europe. It was headed by the Pope; with a Bishop in each region throughout Europe. Bishops were loyal to the Pope in Rome, but often owned land as vassals of the king and therefore owed support and service to the king.


Christian Europe and the Middle Ages :Christian Europe and the Middle Ages The Catholic Church tried to bring order and unity to Western Europe by: Religious and political unity under “Christendom.’ Christendom: term applied to the continent as a Christian political entity. Political leadership by the Pope. Civilizing the barbarians. This worked, especially with the Vikings, but it took time.


Christian Europe and the Middle Ages :Christian Europe and the Middle Ages Popes became involved in politics and the feudal system as they sought protection. Worked with knights, nobles, and kings. To stop the violence of the times the Church used various means: Excommunication banishment from Church sacraments and therefore damnation. “Peace of God”: clergy and the poor were not to be harmed. “Truce of God”: designated days of truce between knights. All these, though, depended on the Christianization process and the Church playing the “Christian card” with rulers.


Christian Europe and the Middle Ages :Christian Europe and the Middle Ages The monastic tradition develops. Was a religious tradition that called for isolation from society and the material world. It was started by the Egyptian Christian community. The Benedictine Order started by Benedict of Nursia (480-547). He is credited with establishing the Christian standard for monastic life.


Christian Europe and the Middle Ages :Christian Europe and the Middle Ages Monasteries: centers for literacy and learning for men and women. Became centers of book/ manuscript copying that preserved classical heritage of Greece and Rome. Such centers were known as scriptoria. Particularly true in Ireland which preserved much of classical knowledge through manuscript copying.


Christian Europe and the Middle Ages :Christian Europe and the Middle Ages Men became monks and women became nuns. Monasteries owned land for security and self-sufficiency in dangerous times. Monasteries contributed to agricultural expansion because they organized labor to prepare land for production. Medieval European monasteries provided social services to surrounding communities. Same was true of Buddhist monasteries in Asia. 11th Century Clunaic reforms at Cluny, France to keep the monasteries at high religious standards.


Slide 56:Book of Lindisfarne


Slide 57:Book of Kells


Slide 58:Romanesque architecture with its curved arches.


Slide 59:Rounded Arch of Romanesque Cathedral


Slide 60:Gothic Cathedral with its pointed arches.


Slide 61:Pointed Arch of Gothic cathedral


Slide 62:The concept of the “flying buttress” helped create the Gothic design, by relieving pressure on the walls and freeing them for stained glass.


Slide 63:Notre Dame Cathedral


Christian Europe and the Middle Ages :Christian Europe and the Middle Ages Monastic tradition exists in Asia as well, in Buddhism. Kings tried to control the Church by: Taxes Appointing their own Bishops many of whom were vassals. This is called lay Investiture. The case of Heinrich IV of Germany vs Pope Gregory VII. Kings had limited power as they traded land for protection. They could not tax nobles or the Church.


Christian Europe and the Middle Ages :Christian Europe and the Middle Ages Technology: The new technology of the age called for armor; stirrups; crossbow; longbow. For agriculture, the construction of watermills and the invention of the horse collar allowed more land to be cultivated. The collar came from Asia in the 900s AD and allowed the horse to replace the slow oxen. Watermills freed human and animal labor for other work. The moldboard plow was essential for agricultural surplus. Crop rotation based upon the 3-Field system, allowed for surplus crop yields for the manor (not yet large enough to support cities).


Slide 66:Moldboard Plow


Christian Europe and the Middle Ages :Christian Europe and the Middle Ages Society: Ultimately, western Europe combined 3 cultural traditions: Germanic culture; Roman culture; Church/ Christian culture. The relationship between the three cultures would always be changing.


Christian Europe and the Middle Ages :Christian Europe and the Middle Ages Medieval Russia: Russia was a small area surrounding the settlement of Moscow (the region known as Muscovy). Mixture of Slavs, Finns, and Turkic peoples. The “Rus” were western Slavs with cities in Kiev and Nogorod which were major trade centers for the Silk Road trade. Kiev became the cultural center of east Slavic civilization.


Slide 70:Kiev


Christian Europe and the Middle Ages :Christian Europe and the Middle Ages 980 AD: Vladimir I became leader of Muscavy and chose Orthodox Christianity to help unite the various peoples. It became known as the Russian Orthodox Church. He also added Byzantine culture ( dome, iconography, art) and the Cyrillic alphabet.


Christian Europe and the Middle Ages :Christian Europe and the Middle Ages Western Europe Revives: 1000-1200 AD The population of Europe increased as the climate became warmer. This caused a trade increase as agricultural production improved. Which caused new technology: iron plow and horse collar and harness to pull the plow. Teams of horses are faster than oxen especially in heavy soil of northern Europe.


Christian Europe and the Middle Ages :Christian Europe and the Middle Ages 1095-1204 AD: The Crusades begin. Military campaigns against the Muslim Middle East. The European religious thinking was determined by the culture of Europe, which was inherently Germanic barbarian. The desire to conduct war for holy or divine causes comes from Germanic tradition and not Christian tradition.


Christian Europe and the Middle Ages :Christian Europe and the Middle Ages Causes of the Crusades: Church called on the nobles and kings to fight the Muslims instead of each other and the Church. Younger nobles’ desire for land. Desire for trade opportunities. Religious zeal to take the Holy Land back from the Muslims, who had taken it from the Christian Byzantine empire.


Christian Europe and the Middle Ages :Christian Europe and the Middle Ages 1095 AD: Pope Urban II calls for first Crusade to help the Byzantine Empire and get the Holy Land away from the Muslims. 1096 AD: Urban dies and Innocent III launches the First Crusade.


Christian Europe and the Middle Ages :Christian Europe and the Middle Ages There were 9 major Crusades in all, most unsuccessful. Jerusalem was captured but lost again. Christian fortress city of Acre was built in Holy Land. Muslims respond with a “jihad,” or holy war. Saladin led the Muslim legions and fought King Richard I (the Lion Heart).


Christian Europe and the Middle Ages :Christian Europe and the Middle Ages Effects of the Crusades: (The “Billiards” Principle) Limited overall impact on Muslims. Europe gained ideas of science, math, literature (Aristotle and Greek philosophers), medicine, and technology. Trade opportunities opened between Europe ( Venice) and the Middle East. Broke the power of the nobles for a while.


Christian Europe and the Middle Ages :Christian Europe and the Middle Ages As trade and technology improved this caused cities and towns to grow particularly in Italy and Flanders. Cities relied on manufacturing and trade for income and were independent of the manors and nobles. The middle class begins to return with trade and cities. Serfs could now leave the manors and go to cities. Venice, Italy, emerged as dominant sea power that traded with Muslims in the Mediterranean.


Christian Europe and the Middle Ages :Christian Europe and the Middle Ages In Flanders, the cities of Ghent, Bruges, and Ypres, imported wool from England and wove it into cloth. With trade coming back this caused a need for, and minting of, gold and silver coins.


End :End