Medieval History Notes Semester #1

8/3/2019 Medieval History Notes Semester #1

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Perceptions of the Middle Ages

What are the Middle Ages?

y Time period 476 AD 1500 ADy Controversy when it begins and endsy 476 AD Medium Aevum Middle Agesy Time periods: Ancient/Medieval/Moderny History = written recordsy Prehistory = before written recordsy Middle Ages were complicated

Theories

Rip Van Winkle Theory

y Man fell asleep then woke up at the beginning of Renaissance end of Middle AgesRomantic View overly positive

y Knights, castles, chivalry code of conduct: men treating women with manners in the hope ofromance

Very low view

y Dark Agesy Trade levels lowy High level of illiteracyy Isolated

Why is it so important?

y Affects us today modern era is the product of the middle agesPetrarch: 1374

y Italian scholary Sonnety Believed he lived in time of gloom

1. Latin corrupt2. Art and literature disgusting3. All true study dedicated to Rome


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Diocletian and Constantine

y 235 AD 284 AD : 20-25 different Roman emperorsy Average ruling period 2 yearsy 96 180 AD: 5 Roman emperorsy Instabilityy Diocletian

a. 244 AD 311 ADb. Emperor 284 305c. Former general affected leadership styled. Autocratic one man rulinge. Referred to as Dominus et deu lord and godf. Julius Caesar = first citizeng. Made people crawl into roomh. Staunch pagan worshipping the Roman godsi. Pagan sacrifice: to please gods if done wrong, gods may get angry and do bad stuffj. Circa. 303: Diocletian requires all Roman citizens to do pagan sacrifice

1) Martyr: anyone that dies for their faith2) Roman officials loved to kill Christians3) Misconception4) Misconception5) Persecution6) Nero: 54 BC7) 260-302: peace for Christians

Who is Christian in the 4th

century AD?

y Not Roman senatorsy Womeny Urban dwellersy Slaves and freed slavesy Immigrants

WHY?

a. accessibleb. little regard for social statusc. equal

Constantine 1st

Christian Roman Emperor

Before:

y Mom Christiany Dad junior emperor in the Westy East emperor holds Constantine hostage


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y Father dies, Constantine escapes to West to raise army and becomes emperor.Conversion:

y Eve of battle he dreams phrase in hoc vini in this sign you will conquery Before battle, sees cross with circle in the skyy Becomes Christian, wins battle

After:

a. Build churchesb. Give money to churchesc. Gives power to bishopsd. Withdraw support of gladiatorse. *May have outlawed sacrifice. Later emperors definitely did.

330: moves capital from Rome to Byzantium and names it Constantinople

Julian the Apostate last pagan emperor 355-363

The Council of Nicea

y Gathering of approx. 300 bishops who had endured the persecution under Diocletian to resolvethe issue of Arianism

y 325 ADy Called by Constantiney Constantine writes a letter to Arius and Alexander

Arius:

y Elder in Alexandria, Egypty Arianism

1. Christ had a beginning2. Christ is inferior to God3. Jesus is an important leader

Heresy deviate from the core beliefs of faith

Alexander of Alexandria:

y Jesus is eternally diviney John 10:30 17:21

Constantine wants uniformity

y Doesnt care about the issuey Probably didnt understand the theologyy Asks for creed to be establishedy Nicene creed


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y Arianism is voted as heresy1. Only 2 bishops support Arianism

y Other issues dealt with at the Council of Nicea1. Calculate day to celebrate Easter

Significance of council

1. Constantine calls councila. 1st church and state issue

2. First time so many Bishops come in agreementConstantine converts to Arianism and demands Arius to be let back into church

Confessor a person who tells Roman officials that they are Christian with the goal of being put to

death.

260-302

y Still laws that can get you killed

y Ancestors were put to death

Barbarians on the borders

Barbarians Tribes that are not part of the Roman Empire

y Called barbarian because their language sounds like bar, bar, bar to the Romansy Saxons, Franks, Huns, Ostrogoths, Visigoths, Vandals

Goths

y Fleeing from the Hunso Huns are nomads from Asia

Droughts in Asia caused them to flee westy Approach Emperor Valens and ask permission to settle on Roman landy Foederatus: Make a deal with Rome by offering military support in exchange for land, food,

and/or money

y some are Arian ChristianDifferences between Romans and Goths (first is Roman, second is Goth)

toga vs. fur

wine vs. corn beer Latin vs. Germanic languages Literate vs. illiterate Emotion vs. unreliable Baths with oils vs. dirty and smelly

Roman officials do not keep deal with Goths:


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Goths attack cities Strong feelings against barbarians Massacre Rome in 400 AD Massacre Constantinople in 408 AD Barbarians are killed Stilicho is a barbarian commander of Roman army and is killed Romans cuts deal with Alaric, King of the Goths

o 410 AD Alaric sacks RomeOstrogoths - stay on the Balkan Peninsula area (East)

Visigoths head west and attack Rome. Eventually settle in south Gaul

Gaul France, Belgium, Luxemburg, Switzerland, North Italy, and Netherlands

Balkan Peninsula -

The Scourge of Europe (or God)

Attila the Hun:

o Born in 406 ADo 434 AD inherits Hun kingdom with his brother, Bledao 445 AD murders Bleda to become sole rulero Regularly attack Roman Empireo Demand Tribute request payment in exchange for NOT ATTACKINGo Physical Features:

o Shorto Statureo Broad chesto Large heado Small eyeso Thin beardo Tan skin (Asian)

o Huns come to Europe from central Asia, fleeing from droughto Attila crosses Rhine river

o Ravages Gaul


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451 AD The Battle of the Catalaunian Plainsy Visigoths led by Theodoric I, ally with General Aetius of Roman

Army

y AKA the battle ofChalonsy Hun army may have been as large as 700,000y B

oth sides have Germanic alliesy Rome/Visigoths/Salian Franksy Rivers of bloody Theodoric is killed (his son leads battle)y Attila Retreats

1. Attila 1 yr. later returns to Rome and ravages Italya. General Aetius tries to slow down Hunsb. Pope Leo requests a meeting with Attilac. No written records of the meetingd. ATILLA LEAVES

Theories of what happened

1. Pope appeared holy to Attila2. Supernatural warrior appeared behind Pope3. Plague4. Weighted down with loot5. Soldiers too beaten down6. Bribe

y Attila gets married to Gothic princessy Attila drinks too much on wedding nighty Passes out and diesy Fell on backy Has nosebleedy Drowns in blood from nosebleed

Hun empire divides and collapses

Augustine

354 AD Born in Thagaste, North Africa

371 goes to Carthage

375 studies and teaches rhetoric for 10 years and has child with mistress

383 Goes to Rome

y Converts to Manichaeismo Believes that there is constant conflict between the good spiritual light and evil world of

material

o Religion ofPersia


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o Oddy Inspired by Ambroses sermon

o Ambrose is Bishop of Milan386 AD- converted to Christianity by a divine voice in the garden, take and read

Penance payment for sin

387 Baptized

y Writes spiritual autobiography Confessions391 Ordained goes into priesthood

396 becomes bishop ofHippo

Saw himself as a defender against heresy

Plelagianism Humanity has full control. It is the belief that we can attain the same perfection that

Adam and Eve experienced in the garden.

Willpower

Denies Original Sin the sins of Adam and Eve are inside us when we are born

The Apparent Fall of Rome

y Debate as to when Rome felly Someplaces it fell much earlier (England)y

Visigothic kingdom continued the Roman way of lifey East stays for another 1000 years

y 476 AD Historic year that Rome felly 475 AD

y Patrian high ranking Roman officialy Patrian of Rome, Orestes, uses foederati to kick out Julius Nepos, Emperor of the Westy Puts his son, Romulus Augustulus Little Caesar, as emperory 10 years oldy Romany Orestes 100% barbarian

Foederati army start revolt and select Odoacer

y Take Rome and out Romulus Augustulusy Sent to live with relatives with 6000 gold coiny Kill Orestesy Sends message to Eastern Roman Emperor, Zenoy Why should there be two kingdomsy Offers loyaltyy Zeno restore Nepos as emperor to prove your loyalty


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y Odoacer refuses and takes title as kingo Title isnt used until Charlemagne

Odoacer First barbaric king ofItalian peninsula

y Decisive Kingy Kills Count Bracilay Supports churches despite being Ariany Takes Sicily from Vandalsy Executes Nepos killersy Uses Roman Senate

Zeno sends Ostrogoths to fight Odoacer (Theodoric)

Theodoric:

y Different than Alarics sony Grew up in Constantinople in the royal courty Returns as King ofOstrogothsy If you beat Odoacer, you can have the Italian peninsulay Defeating Odoacer

y Besieging Ravennay Truce, will both share leader ship of the Italian Peninsulay Truce banquet

Theodoric kills Odoacer

Clovis the great Frank King

Salian Franks:

y Long hairedy Claims to be leader of Franksy Merovitch or Merovech most likely the leader of the Franks in the Battle of the Catalaunian

Plains

y Clovis most likely grandsono First Christian barbaric kingo Age 20 attacks neighboring Roman kingdomo More victories meant more leadershipo Marries Clotilda and she evangelizes him

Happens commonly in Middle Ageso 496 AD calls out to Jesus in battle

converts baptized by Bishop of Raims Catholic Constantine of the Franks

y Christian leadery Converted during battle


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y Converted by a womany Moves capital to Paris

Christianity becomes glue of empire 3000 baptized in army with him Clovis expands into the Visigothic Kingdom

yGoths are pushed into

Spain

y Kills rival chiefMasochists ofGod

Masochists people who love pain and inflict it on themselves

Asceticism self denial

y Normal part of faithy St. Anthony: 250 355 AD

o born in Egypto founder ofMonasticism devoting oneself entirely to spiritual worko crosses the Nile and lives in isolationo Age 20 inherits a large amount of wealth

Sells it all because of the passage where Jesus tells the rich man to sellhis possessions.

o Emerges to provide spiritual leadership People living in area in isolation

o His main emphasis was on warfare with demonsy Pachomius

o From Egypto Regarded as the first communal monko Formed communeso Used Anthony as a referenceso Born to pagan parentso Forced into Roman army

Converts to Christianityy Baptized in 314

318 323 AD the 1st monastery setup Founds 9 other monasteries 346 died 3000 monasteries in Egypt

y Simeon the Styliteo Stood on pole for 39 yearso

Born in Turkish towno Tried to escape world vertically

y Benedicto Founded the BenedictineOrdero Made famous Rule for all Benedictine monks


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b. Used mercenaries - a professional soldier paid to fight for an army other than that of hisor her country

In the end, Justinian did more bad than good. Drained the resources

House of Islam

Geography of Arabian Peninsula (Saudi Arabia)o Dry, harsh climateo Nomadic wander from place to place shepherd people

Muhammad (or Mohammad)

o 570 632 ADo Born in Mecca to merchant family

Parents die when he is 6 Khadija wealty and attractive

1. Widow, Muhammad marries her2. 25 years old/ 40 years old

o Retreats to mountain to prayo Says he meets angel Gabriel who reveals spiritual trutho Write Quran holy book ofIslamo Begins proselytizing sharing faith, to Meccao Monotheism belief in one God, isnt popular

3 major monotheistic religions:1. Christianity2. Islam3. Judaism

625 AD flees to Medina

y Converts people to Islam622-630 conquers Mecca

632 AD - dies

Muslim

y Five pillars of Islam1. Statement of faith to Allah2. Daily prayers to Mecca3. Fasting during Ramadan4. Zagat; giving to the poor5. Pilgrimage to Mecca if physically and financially able

y 4 reasons Islam expanded rapidly1. Persia and Byzantine Empire are rundown2. Arabs surprised3. Able to handle hostile enviroments


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4. Religious zeal excitementJihad holy war or striving for something or war against self

Some harmony

y Jews and Christians referred to as the people of the Book Allowed to practice religiony No proselytizingy Heavy taxesy No public worship

Hammertime

Merovingian Dynasty

y Clovisy Problem with the Merovingians

y Divide inheritance equallyy Later kings are do-nothings- enjoy royalty while mayor of palace ran the kingdom

y 630 660 minor rulersy Charles Martel The Hammery Carolingiany Probably Catholicy Ruthlessly hammered Islamy Civil wars 715 718: consolidated powery 711 Umayyad Dynasty Islam Empirey 732 Battle ofTours Martel wins battle against Umayyad dynasty

y Invades Visigoth SpainReasons for Victory

1. Feigned retreat fake retreat to draw opponent out of their defensiveposition

2. Attack the opponent in odd places3. Attack at unusual times

y The battle of Tours is significant because it stopped Islam. If lost, western Europe would haveconverted to Islam

Is he really that short?

y Sometimes called Pepin the younger1. First Carolingian king2. Father: Charles Martel3. Short

y Martel dies in 741y Leaves kingdom to:

1. Pepin Neustria (mayor)2. Carloman Austrasia (mayor)Griffo brother, 2

nd wife gets none


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y Demands inheritanceo Imprisoned in monastery

747 Carloman enters monastery

1. Motivated2. Pressured

Pepin is sole emperor

Griffo escapes and seeks ally with Duke and rebels fails

Anointed two times:

1. Arch bishop 7522. Pope Stephen II 754

a. Also anoints sonsPope Zachary Puts Pepin as King and Childeric III is put in a monastery

Was protected by Byzantine Empire

Lombards barbaric tribe that was threatening the Pope

1. First act Pepin does as kingy War against the Lombardsy Creates close relationship

Gathering of Frankish nobles approve Pepin as King

Key achievements:

1. King2. Build cavalry armor for horses3. Maintains army4. Contains Islam5. Expands Frankish Church6. Continues to build infrastructure

Pepin sandwiched will not live up to legacy of father or son

768 - dies

Charles the Great (Charlemagne)

y Born around 742 747y Son ofPepiny 768 Pepin diesy Inherits Frankland with brothery 771 brother diesy 3 major initiatives

1. Imperial title


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2. Promoted education3. Extension of boundaries

y Attack Lombardsy 774 conquersy King of Lombards

y777 Aachen begin constructing

y Modern Germanyy Enjoyed baths, swimming, and hunting in Aacheny 787 orders opening of schools and monasteries

y Clean up monasteriesy Dont follow Benedict

y 796 builds cathedral in Aacheny Einhard tutor of childreny 799 Pope Leo II

y Has enemiesy Attacked

y 800 coroneted Charlemagney Holy Roman Empire

y Charlemagne crowns his son, Louis the Pious, as KingLoves education, but does not know how to write

Moors Muslims in Spain Iberian Peninsula

Educates bishops, not priests

Lets Split

Louis the Pious

y 778-840 ADy Charlemagnes sony Co-emperory 814 sole emperory Weaker ruler than Charlemagney 817 Roof falls on him

o Writes willy Eldest son, Lothair, will be emperor and rule the capital areay Nephew, Bernard King ofItalyy Pepin King of Aquitainey Louis the youngest King ofBavariay Charles the Bald King ofWest Francia

y Bernard rebels and makes preparations to declare independencey Louis I brings army and Bernard surrenders without a fight

o Back to the capitaly Punishment: blind him

o 2 days later, he dies in agony and painy 822 Louis the Pious feels bad and confesses all sin publicly


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o Therefore get the surname. the Piousy Means holy

y 3 Civil warso Pepin dies in 838o 840 Louis dieso 843 brothers meet together and make the Treaty of Verdun

y the Treaty of Verdun split the Carolingian Empire into three kingdomso Penance payment for sin

Break it Down

Icons religious objects that serve as a window to God. Some people believe they are idols. Picture of

Christ, Moses, Mary, and other saints

Heavily popular in the Byzantine Empire

y Typically used by poor peopleEmperor Leo III banned icons

Irene empress ofByzantine

y Restores iconsSecond Council of Nicaea restores icons, but they should never be worshipped.

Iconoclasm image-breaking

King of Wha?

Dane people from Denmark/Jutland (Vikings)

Jutland physical geography of Denmark

Danes are invading England

871 Danes Great Army attacks Wessex:

y Wessex, but with huge lossesy 2 weeks later: the Danes winy More reinforcements arrivey

Ethelred,K

ing ofW

essex diesy Alfred becomes king at 22

o Loses a battleo Pays Danes to leave him aloneo Danish king = Guthram

878 Battle of Edington

y Alfred defeats the Danes


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y Historians have an overly positive view of Alfredo Danes pagan Norse godso English Christian

886 conquers London and gives it to son-in-law

890

1. Strong Navy2. Built strongholds3. Pushed education

a. Translated texts to English899 Alfred dies

Story of the cakes Alfred stays at old ladys home and she tells him to watch the cakes and dont let

them burn. He is occupied with his thoughts and lets them burn

The Vikings

-not many written records

y Illiteratey Sagas written in the 1100s

830 Viking raids start

930 raids stop

y Written records from victims830-930 pillage villages

Vikings will attack anyone

y France + Englandy Spainy Constantinopley Monasteries

Schedule of Vikings:

y Summer raidy

Fall harvesty Winter drinky Spring plant crops

Wintering begin to stay in the winter phase for as long as 2 years.

Technological advantages

y Ships


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o 60 feet longo Ocean or rivero Carry a lot of people (30+)o Experts at dragging ships on land

The Walker

Normandy is named after the Norsemen

Rollo the Viking

y Walked everywhereo Two big for horse

NOT faty Birth: unknowny Origins:

1. Danish2. Norwegian

Besieging of Paris:

885 Rollo is one of the chieftains that invades Paris

700 Viking ships sail down Seine river

y Tribute is paidy Rollo stays in France

911 Rollo is offered a deal

y Devastating Normandyy King of France: Charles the Great offers Normandy and the title ofCount to Rollo

Stipulation

1. Military Servicea. Defend against the Vikings

2. Act of loyaltya. Kiss the foot of the King

3. Convert to Christianity4. Marry Charles the Simples daughter

Rollo was a Viking who became the first Duke of Normandy

Men of Rollo marry French women 100% Christian

Great-great-grandfather ofWilliam the Conqueror


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Falcon

Henry the Fowler Henry the Falcon

y Germany Born in 876y Avid hunter

912- becomes Duke ofSaxony

East Francia = Germany

918- Conrad the First dies and recommends Henry to be King

919 make Henry the Fowler King of East Francia

921 Magyars invade Germany

926 - Henry negotiates a ten year treaty (paying tribute)

932 Henry refuses to pay tribute

933 Magyars invade and Henry crushes them in the Battle of Riade

936 dies

I turned him into a Canute

Canute the Great:

y King of Denmark, England, Norway, and parts ofSweden and is from DenmarkSummer of 1015 Canute invades England

y 10,000 men and 200 shipsLands in Wessex

Works North

October 1016 Treaty with Edmund

y Canute can rule in the North2 months later Edmund dies and Canute takes over


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Tries to rule Christianly

Just ruler

No more Viking attacks

1035 Canute dies, New king Edward the Confessor was exiled to Normandy

Big Al

711 715 Ummayad dynasty takes Visigoth Spain

- Capital = Cordoba or CordovaAl-Andulus Islamic Spain

y 10thCentury is the Golden Age for Al-Andulusy Adb-al-Rahman II- 921 961

o 50 yearsSuperority of Al-Andulus

1. Cities were largera. Cordova = 100,000+ peopleb. Numerous cities over 40,000 peoplec. A city in France 4,000 people

2. Substantial commercial contactsa. India, China, and the Arab worldb. Export grain, metal, and woodc. Paper

3. Agriculturea. Canalsb. Wellsc. Rice, sugar cane, and cotton

4. Scholarshipa. 70 libraries in Cordovab. 1 library 500,000 books

i. Frankland 900 booksc. Mathematics, astronomy, and Greek philosophy

Myth of Al-Andulus

Jews, Christians, and Muslims coexisted in Al-Andulus not always harmonious

Mozarab C

hristians in Al-Andulus

1. Jizyah heavy tax2. No public expressions of faith3. No proselytizing no sharing faith

a. Death penaltySpain


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Romans to Visigoths toUmayyad to Christiandom

Pagan temple to Church ofSt. Vincent to Mosque to Cathedral

A messy mess

1017 Edwards mother marries Canute

y Edward cannot be in line for kingy Edward exiled to Normandy

o Duke of Normandy is uncle1035 Canute dies

1036 Alfred attempts to take throne, but dies

Canutes sons, Handicanute and Canutes oldest son battle (both die)

1042 Edward returns from exile to be King elected by nobles

1045 Edward marries Edith, part of the Godwin family

Earl Godwin is rival of Edwards family

1051 Designates William of Normandy as his successor

y Cousiny Has no heir

1051 exiles Godwin family

Puts his wife in nunnery

1052 Godwin returns with powerful forces and forces himself back into being earl ofWessex

1053 Godwin dies

y Harold inherits estate1063 Harold begins campaigning with nobles to be king

1066 Edward dies

3 possible heirs:

1. Harolda. Noble support

2. William of Normandy3. Harald Hadrada

a. King of NorwayEdward works on Westminster Abbey old church in London


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Medieval History Notes Semester #1