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Western Europe600-1450 C.E.Chapter 10
Western Europe’s Timeline
Charlemagne’s Empire and Successor States
Western Europe towards the End of the Middle Ages
Stages of Postclassical DevelopmentEurope’s Postclassical Era = Middle
(Medieval) Ages 476-1453 CE Political Fragmentation prevails
Catholic church in Rome remained strong, but Italy divided politically
Arab Muslims invaded Iberian Peninsula (Spain)
Core of postclassical West: France, Low Countries, Germany Later, England where civilization, in human
organization was new Scandinavian “Vikings”
Raids from 8th to 10th centuries Showed Europe’s weakness Disrupted life from Ireland to Sicily!
Literacy declines except among churchmen & the hierarchy
Politics, Economics, & CultureThe Manorial System Created an oppressive system that described
economic and political relations between landlords and their peasant laborers Originated: Later Roman Empire Decline
Agricultural economy Serfs- were agricultural laborers under the
jurisdiction of aristocratic landowners farm work for protection, justice from
landlords (Not Slaves, Not for Sale) Reciprocal obligations tied to the land In-kind labor for produce
800s agricultural innovation gradually improved with a technological innovation: Moldboard- better plow, curved metal plate = deeper turning of the soil
Three Field system of Crop rotation Added acres to production by leaving only a third of
the land unplanted, plants rotated to strengthen soil.
In the old two-field system half the land was sown to crop and half left unplanted each season
Religion The Church: Political and Spiritual Power
Most organized institution in western Europe Popes follow Roman organization
Regulated doctrine (heresy) Regional Appointed bishops Appointed local priests Sponsor missionaries
Established chain of monasteries Benedict of Nursia, founder of Western Christian monasticism (480-547)
Benedictine rule- help unify western Europe Spiritual functions-
Holiness, Network, Pilgrimage centers , Secular functions, Education, Large estates, Shelter travelers, & Universities from 13th century
Clovis’s conversion to Christianity in 496, helped him gain power and unified the Franks (Germanic Tribe in France)
Religion & Political Power Frankish Carolingian dynasty
Enormous empire in France & Germany 1st to use the imperial title “Holy Roman
Empire” Charles Martel (Charles the Hammer)
Defeated the Muslims, Battle of Tours, 732 Contained Muslims in Spain
Charles the Great (Charlemagne) Dec. 25, 800, crowned emperor
(Holy Roman Empire) Copied Roman central administration After his 814 death the empire does not
survive his death 843, Treaty of Verdun = Three kingdoms
Europe fragments into regional monarchies No single language or government could unify
Europe (Latin of the church) Holy Roman emperors = hollow empire
Ruled Germany, Italy, but couldn’t control local lords, which would lead later to states
Economics and Culture New Economic and Urban Vigor
after 900 Agricultural Techniques
From contact with Eastern Europe and Asian raiders into central Europe Moldboard plow & 3 field system New horse collar that allowed horses to be
yoked w/out choking Increased production Towns grow
Cultural liveliness (People are fed & settled) Literacy expands (Charlemagne 9th cent) Surplus wealth – architecture & Medieval Art
Education Cathedral schools, from 11th century
Italy, universities in medicine (Muslims & Greek Science), law, (Revival of Roman Law)
Universities, from 12th century Oxford & Cambridge follow Parisian example
Feudal Monarchies & Political AdvancesKey military & political system in the
Middle Ages was feudalism Land ownership & military power
Vassals -Military Elite, service for land Political stability & improved agriculture promoted population growth & economic innovation &
land expansion 10-13 centuries Some lords emerge more powerful
Provided protection & aid to vassals (lesser lords) Horse collar & stirrups helped military dominance who used
horses for combat End of 10th century, Viking raids tapered off regional
governments stronger Some Viking groups Christianized & Assimilated into the
culture Ex. French Normandy
Capetian kings of France Feudalism developed bureaucracies, states slowly until
kingship
Feudalism grows quickly in England William the Conqueror
(Viking descent) 1066, Norman conquest of
England Introduced feudal
monarchy abruptly Centralized government Sheriffs, standardized law,
& courts Feudal monarchy
unknowingly copied earlier centralizing societies like China
Limited GovernmentPolitical fragmentation continues throughout
West Europe Monarchs limited by church, nobles, towns
State not suppose to intrude on matters of faith
Carried out orders from the Pope, or Bishops
1215, Magna Carta King John recognizes supremacy of written law
Representative bodies/ parliaments serve as further checks on royal authority Differed from Japanese Feudal system
based on loyalty – Europe developed early checks & Balances
1st parliament England 1265 Kingdom of Catalonia from 1000
3 Estates= Church, Nobles, urban leaders
Monarchs continued to increase in power Small local conflicts became Large conflicts
Hundred Years’ War 1337-1453 English lands in France Joan of Arc 1412-1431
Expansionist Spurred by Population Growth? Germanic knights
From 11th century onward, into eastern Germany, Poland
Iberia (Spain) Northern Christian states (forces) begin
reconquista Full Expulsion occurred 1492 Spain united under the marriage of Ferdinand &
Isabella Vikings
Cross Atlantic, Iceland, Greenland, America Crusades (1095-1291) (Super Power? Nope)
Called by Pope Urban II Crusaders were promised full forgiveness sins
if they died in battle Attracted to winning spoils from rich Arab
lands Initial successes (Controlled Jerusalem about
100 years) Ended in defeat (Esp. by Saladin in 1187)
New contact with Islam, but no contact with N. Africa until after the start of Exploration (Prince Henry the Navigator)
Exposed to new culture & economics New possibilities in trade
Religious Reform and EvolutionGregory VII Gregorian reform, 11th century
Based in monasteries Investiture controversy- most significant
conflict between Church and state in medieval Europe. Stop the state or, Holy Roman Emperor
(Henry IV) from appointing bishops in Germany Separation of secular and religious spheres
Reforming monastic orders founded in Assisi in the 13th century, Mendicants St. Dominic - Dominicans = Friars
Vow poverty, chastity & obedience in service to a community
St. France - Franciscans – Poverty/Service Women’s version- St. Clare’s Order of Saint
Clare
Key tensions- Great Schism (Western) (1378-1417) Two rival popes College of Cardinals in Rome & Avignon,
France (**Note: Three Popes)
Religious Reform & EvolutionTheology: Assimilating Faith and Reason
Exploration of Greek philosophy assimilated into Catholic religious tradition: Aristotle was known as the philosopher during
Charlemagne’s time! (Aristotelian) Peter Abelard, 12th century
Wrote: “Yes and No” a rational/logical examination of church doctrine
Bernard of Clairvaux, Monk, opposed to Abelard's approach, Mysticism (Mystical union vs. rational) That rational reason was dangerous Stressed the importance of mystical union with
God, blissful glimpses & Faith Led to debates in universities (Scholasticism)
By 13th century, Philosopher-theologians emerged armed with Greek Philosophy & Science, & work from Arab Rationalists & work toward understand God
The greatest of these: Thomas Aquinas, Italian Catholic Monk who taught at the University of Paris wrote: “Summas” A careful logic to eliminate all possible
objections to truth as reveled by reason & faith
• Roger Bacon- 1220-1292
• Oxford, scientific experiments on Hellenistic (Galen) and Muslim scholars previous work
• Three hundred years before Scientific Revolution !
Popular Religion Christian devotion among lay people increased
12th Century, Veneration of Mary Merciful side of Christianity
Intermediaries, worship of saints Survival of pagan practice/ traditions/festivals
continued and blended with their version of church
Medieval architecture, literature, and art reflected religious themes
Intended to serve the Glory of God Artists painted Christ’s life/cross and the saints,
techniques improved slowly Stained glass windows for churches
Gothic cathedrals rose up around Western Europe with flying buttresses At first - Romanesque architecture 11th Century Gothic
Mix of Muslim into Western engineering
Ancient oral sagas, (Vernacular) English Beowulf & French Song of Roland
Geoffrey Chaucer, secular literature Canterbury Tales Troubadours
The High Middle Ages
Economic and Social Changes Economic Activity, Social Structure Development , &
Commercial Zone: Trade revived 10th century
Most regions produced for local consumption esp. agricultural areas
Italian merchants sought cloth made in the low countries (present day Belgium/Neth.)
Merchants in many areas traded for wool from England
Timber & Furs from Scandinavia & Baltic Lands Great ports in France and Low Countries served as a
western exchange New Strains in Rural Life
Peasants v. landlords Peasants slowly gained more freedom with
agricultural advances Peasant-Landlord battles occurred over high rent
or taxes Peasants wanted natural & traditional rights to
the land free and clear Gap between peasant and landlord was a crucial
social inequality in Europe
Economic and Social Gains in agricultural growth promoted medieval economic changes esp.
in Trade and Banking Banking was introduced to the west by Italians for long distance exchange
of money and goods Banks were not only in Italy, but Low Countries, southern Germany & France Big merchants invested in trading ships and goods carried hoping for large
profit
Commerce expands Europeans developed a need for Asian goods, Silk and spices (preserving
meat & medicine) Italian Merchants ran Mediterranean zone joined with North Sea, Baltic (see
last slide) Money replaces barter Banking, insurance merge
Urban growth allowed more specialized manufacturing & commercial activities This promoted still more trade & commercial alliances & early form of
capitalism
Best example: Hanseatic League Northern Germany, southern Scandinavia Cities working together for mutual economic benefit
Guilds: responsible for the regulation of apprenticeship, guarantee of good workmanship, and admission to various trades, Grouped people in the same business or trade in a single city, stressing security, and mutual control:
Craft associations, Protect markets, Ensure standards, & Social role The Merchants were relatively free, but relatively low status
SocialLimited Sphere for Women Men placed new limits on the
condition of women Patriarchal structure took deeper root
Literature arose stressing women’s roles, tasks, virtues in their sphere
Women generally lost ground, especially her opinion in the household
Some opportunities as nuns as a alternative to marriage Some had more higher status than Islam
Veneration of Mary and other female religious figures gave women some cultural prestige Less segregated in religious services
Cold not lead church. Counterbalanced with Eve as the
source of human sin
Decline of the Medieval WorldWidespread warfare from 1300 to 1500 Hundred Years’ War
The struggle involved several generations of English and French claimants to the crown and actually occupied a period of more than 100 years.
Weakens feudal order Kings reduced their reliance on feudal forces in favor of paid armies
Population outstrips agriculture Could not feed increasing population
Famines Bubonic Plague (Black Death) from 1348-1352
Signs of Strain Aristocracy lose military purpose Professional Armies
Foot soldiers more important Increasingly ceremonial lifestyle
Church increasingly rigid Great Schism (West Splits) Intellectual & Artistic life gradually moved out of church
influence The Postclassical West and Its Heritage
Formative period Dynamic change- Academic institutions, political ideas,
change in relationships between west and regions around it
At the end of the Middle Ages? The following issues:
Consequences of the Black Death 1347-1352
The increasing inability of agriculture to keep pace with population growth
New social disputes, involving both peasants and landlords and artisans and their employees.
Manufacturing and technology developed more quickly
Ready for Renaissance, Scientific Revolution, Exploration, Protestant Reformation, & Enlightenment?
