The Rise of Europe and the Middle Ages

Early Middle Ages

Importance

The Concept of a common European civilization evolved during this time which integrated Christian, Greco-Roman, and Germanic traditions

Christianity was at the center of all institutions, with Rome as the spiritual capital.

Latin became the dominant language among the intellectual elite.

New Civilizations

Latin Christendom

Byzantium

Islam

The Fall of the Western Roman Empire

By 395 AD, the Roman Empire was formally divided into two empires: East and West. With the invasion of Germanic forces from the north, the Western Roman Empire was conquered and further divided. This left the eastern part of the Roman empire to carry on the Greco-Roman tradition.

Byzantine Empire

The Byzantine Empire was both Christian and Greek.

Greek became the empire’s official language, but the empire was built on the Eastern Orthodox Church.

A great deal of artistic talent went into church building, church ceremonies, and church decoration to honor this Christian faith.

Reign of Justinian (527-565)

Justinian became emperor of the Eastern Roman Empire in 527.

He wanted to restore the full Roman Empire.

The Byzantine Empire Under Justinian

map depicts the Empire at the death of Justinian I, as sole Emperor, sometimes in concert, and sometimes in conflict, with his powerful wife Theodora.

Justinian and TheodoraJustinian ruled as an

autocrat with the help of Theodora. Created a huge Christian empire

Empire reached its greatest size

Created Justinian’s Code – which organized all the laws of ancient Rome.

Byzantine Empire

The emperor’s power was absolute

chosen by God and crowned in sacred ceremonies.

Byzantines believed that God had commanded their state to preserve the true Christian faith.

Justinian

He exercised political control over the Eastern Orthodox Church by appointing the head of the Church, the patriarch.

Justinian’s most important contribution was his codification of Roman law in The Body of Civil Law.

It was the basis of imperial law until the Eastern Roman Empire

Justinian’s Code of LawsLaws were fairer to women. They could

own property and raise their own children after their husbands died.

Children allowed to choose their own marriage partners.

Slavery was legal and slaves must obey their masters.

Punishments were detailed and fit the crime

His work inspired the modern concept and, indeed, the very spelling of "justice".

Life in Constantinople

Justinian rebuilt Constantinople in 532 after riots had destroyed much of the city.

the largest city in Europe during the Middle Ages

ConstantinoplePopulation

estimated in the hundreds of thousands.

Up to the twelfth century Constantinople was Europe’s chief center for trading goods

The New Rome-Constantinople

The Byzantine Empire was wealthy and produced: gold, silk, grain, olives and wine.

It traded these for spices, ivory and precious stones from countries as far away as China and India along the Silk Road trade routes.

Constantinople

Justinian built an immense palace, hundreds of churches,

A Hippodrome (horse racing track)

extensive public works, including immense underground reservoirs for the city’s water supply.

Hagia Sophia

His greatest building was the Hagia Sophia—Church of the Holy Wisdom—completed

in 537. An enormous dome crowns four large piers. The dome seems to float in space.

Forty-two windows ring the base, which creates an incredible play of light in the church. The light symbolizes the presence of God in the world.

Hagia SophiaBefore the attack of the

Ottomans in 1453

Hagia Sophia Today

Inside Hagia Sophia

http://www.sacred-destinations.com/turkey/istanbul-hagia-sophia

Trouble

The Byzantine Empire was troubled by a growing split between the Eastern Orthodox Church and the Roman Catholic Church.

The Eastern Church would not accept the pope as the head of the Christian faith.

In 1054 Pope Leo IX and Patriarch Michael Cerularius excommunicated each other.

This created a schism, or separation, between these two branches of Christianity.

The schism has not completely healed even today.

Byzantine Empire

ended in 1453. It also became the basis for much of the legal system of Europe.

By the beginning of the eighth century, the much-reduced Eastern Roman Empire consisted only of the eastern Balkans and Asia Minor.

Historians call this smaller Eastern Roman empire the Byzantine Empire.

It was its own distinctive civilization and lasted until 1453.

The End of the Byzantine Empire

The Byzantine empire drew to a close in 1453 when forces from the Muslim Ottoman Empire surrounded and conquered Constantinople.

The ancient Christian city was renamed Istanbul and became the capital of the Ottoman Empire.

Islam570 AD-Muhammad

was born into a trader’s life.

Later, he said that Gabriel asked him to be a profit from God.

As Muhammad traveled across Arabia he gained more and more followers.

Islam

The Qur’an,according to Muslims, is the word of God as told to Muhammad

Jihadis the defense of the faith, while being tolerant of others.

Mosques are gathering places for prayer.

Profession of the Faith.

5 Daily Prayers

Paying Zakat (tax)

Fasting during Ramadan

Pilgrimage to Mecca

Spread of Islam

Islam began to spread into Asia and N. Africa.

Around 661 AD, Muslims split into Sunni and Shi’ah groups. Sunnis-Group decisions Shi’ah-Decisions by leader

Similar divisions still exist today

Western Europe in Decline

The Roman Empire

Spread of classical ideas, the Latin language, and Christianity

Collapse of Rome: Political, social, and economic decline

500-1000 A.D.

Invaders

Slowed trade

Empty towns

No new classical learning

The Rise of the Germanic Kingdoms

Goths, Vandals, Saxons, and Franks

Different culture: Farmers and herders

No written laws

Unwritten customs

Kings were elected

Warriors swore loyalty

Little kingdoms

Germanic KingdomsGermanic people began moving into Rome in the 3rd

century

Visigoths occupied Spain & Italy until the Ostrogoths took control of Italy in the 5th century

By 500 Western Roman empire had became # of states ruled by German kings

Germanic Angles & Saxons = Anglo-Saxons moved into Britain in 5th century

Clovis-Christian convert, established Frankish kingdom -500

The Franks Extend their Power

486: Clovis and Gaul

Frankish custom that preserved the Roman legacy

Converted to Christianity

Powerful allies are gained

Germanic Kingdoms

Clovis converted to Christianity after calling for Jesus help during battle – the enemy fled after the plea

Clovis gained support of the Roman Catholic Church

By 510, Clovis established Frankish kingdom from Pyrenees to present day Germany

After Clovis death, his sons divided the kingdom

Germans & Romans intermarried = German customs had an important role

Extended family was center of society

Germanic Kingdoms

Extended families in German society worked together & defended each other during violent times

Germanic law was personal, one injuring another led to a savage blood feuds

Wergild (money for a man) system was developed to avoid bloodshed after crimes such as murder/ wrongdoer paid the injured party’s family a set amount of money which varied by social status

Role of the ChurchChristianity became main religion of Roman empire by

4th century

Roman church developed a system of organization

Priests was head of parishes – local communities

Bishop was head of diocese - a group of parishes or bishopric

Archbishop – head of groups of diocese

Bishop of Rome became known as Pope – the head of what is now known as the Roman Catholic Church

Patriarch

Archdiocese/Archbishop

Bishop/Diocese

Priest/Parish

Pope

Roman Catholic ChurchPope claim was based on the belief that Jesus gave

Peter the keys to Heaven

Peter was considered to be the chief apostle & the first bishop of Rome

Bishops who succeeded Peter were called popes = Latin word for “papa” – father

Western Christians accepted the pope as the church’s leader, but could not agree on the pope’s powers

Gregory I strengthened power by taking political control of Rome & surrounding territories

Role of ChurchGregory – pope from 590-604, extended papal authority

over the Western Church & actively converted non-Christians

Monk = man who separates himself from the rest of the world to become closer to God/ Monasticism is the practice of living like a monk

Saint Benedict founded an order of Monks & wrote rules for their practice

Benedict’s rules divided the day into activities; emphasizing prayer & physical labor to keep monks busy

Role of Church

Monks meditated & read privately/ They prayed together seven times a day

All aspects of Benedict life was communal

Abbot (father) ruled each Benedictine monastery

Monks were to obey the Abbot/ took a vowel of poverty/monks dedication made then new heroes of Christian civilization/ were social workers in communities

Monks spread Christianity throughout Europe/Irish & English monks were enthusiastic missionaries

A Muslim Empire Threatens Europe

The religion of Islam: 600s

Muslim armies overran Christian lands

France

Charles Martel a.k.a. “The Hammer”

Battle of Tours: 732

Abd-er Rahman & Charles Martel meet them at the Loire River

Regional States

Germanic invaders toppled Rome’s authority in the late 5th Century A.D. but no clear successor to centralized authority emerged The Franks

temporarily revived empire; the high point of which was the reign of Charlemagne from 768-814

Charlemagne

Charles “the Hammer’s” grandson

Pepin the Short’s son

Impressive king

Social attributes – loved by the people

The Franks were legendary fighters that combine with the barbarian tribes

Charlemagne600 & 700’s, Frankish kings lost their power to the chief

officers of the king’s household = mayor’s of the palace

Pepin assumed the kingship

Pepin’s son became king after his death in 768 = son was Charles the Great – Charlemagne

Charlemagne = one of history’s great kings/ curious, driven, intelligent, strong warrior, devout Christian/ was illiterate, but strongly supported learning

Ruled from 768 to 814/ Expanded the Frankish kingdom into Carolingian empire = covered much of western & central Europe

New Emperor of the Romans

799: Pope Leo III asks for help

Christmas Day 800: Charlemagne is crowned emperor

Significance: Revival of a united Christian community (Christendom) & power struggles between future popes and Germanic emperors

The real story…

Pope Leo’s true desire

Taxes to the church

Land controlled by the church

Church = absolute power

Pursuing his goals

799: uprising = Charlemagne’s help

Christmas 800 A.D.

Charlemagne

Charlemagne established missi dominci (messengers of the lord king) two men who were sent to make for sure the kings wishes were followed

800, he was crowned emperor of the Romans/ the coronation symbolized the coming together of the Roman, Christian, & Germanic elements that forged European civilization

Carolingian Renaissance was promoted by Charlemagne desire to promote learning

Benedictine monks played important role in revival of learning

Charlemagne’s Empire

Fall of Carolingian empire

Charlemagne died in 814/ by 844 Carolingian empire divided into 3 kingdoms by grandsons

Muslims invaded southern France

Magyars settled on the plains of Hungary

Vikings (Norsemen of Scandinavia) attacked the empire

Vikings were superb warriors & shipbuilders/ famed dragon ships carrying about 50 men could go shallow rivers to attack inland

9th century, Vikings settled in Europe

911, Frankish king gave Vikings land of Normandy

The Rise of Feudalism

a political and economic system based on land-holding and protective alliances, emerges in Europe.

Invaders Attack Western Europe

The Vikings Invade from the North

Warlike Vikings raid Europe from Scandinavia—Denmark, Norway, Sweden

Viking long ships sail in shallow water, allowing raids inland

Eventually, many Vikings adopt Christianity and become farmers

Magyars and Muslims Attack from the East and South

Magyars (Hungarian nomads) invade western Europe in late 800s

Muslims strike north from Africa, attacking through Italy and Spain

Viking, Magyar, Muslim invasions cause widespread

disorder, suffering

A New Social Order: Feudalism

Feudalism Structures Society

850 to 950, feudalism emerges—political system based on land control

A lord (landowner) gives fiefs (land grants) in exchange for services

Vassals—people who receive fiefs—become powerful landholders

The Feudal Pyramid

Power in feudal system much like a pyramid, with king at the top

Kings served by nobles who are served by knights; peasants at bottom

Knights—horsemen—defend their lord’s land in exchange for fiefs

Social Classes Are Well Defined

Medieval feudal system classifies people into three social groups those who fight: nobles and knights

those who pray: monks, nuns, leaders of the Church, those who work: peasants

Social class is usually inherited; majority of people are peasants

Most peasants are serfs—people lawfully bound to place of birth

Serfs aren’t slaves, but what they produce belongs to their lord