Western Europe

Problems 550-900 CE

Rome’s decline left Italy fragmented but Rome Rome’s decline left Italy fragmented but Rome still the center of the growing Catholic churchstill the center of the growing Catholic church

Spain in the hands of MuslimsSpain in the hands of Muslims Center of the postclassical west (France, Low Center of the postclassical west (France, Low

countries, and southern/western Germany) had countries, and southern/western Germany) had new civilizationnew civilization

Frequent invasions by the VikingsFrequent invasions by the Vikings No intellectual life (only Catholic church No intellectual life (only Catholic church

monasteries kept some scholarship alive)monasteries kept some scholarship alive)

Vikings

The Manorial System: Obligations and Allegiances Political organization largely localPolitical organization largely local Manorialism- system of economic and political Manorialism- system of economic and political

relations between landlords and their peasant relations between landlords and their peasant laborers where most people were serfs laborers where most people were serfs (agricultural workers who received some (agricultural workers who received some protection from landlords)protection from landlords)

Life of serfs not easyLife of serfs not easy Serfs were not slaves; they could not be bought or Serfs were not slaves; they could not be bought or

sold and they retained ownership of their lands as sold and they retained ownership of their lands as long as they kept up with their obligationslong as they kept up with their obligations

Feudal Monarchies

Feudal relationships linked military elites, mostly Feudal relationships linked military elites, mostly landlords, who could afford the horses and iron landlords, who could afford the horses and iron weaponry to fight. Greater lords provided protection to weaponry to fight. Greater lords provided protection to the lesser lords called vassalsthe lesser lords called vassals

Early feudalism local, while Charlemagne’s feudalism Early feudalism local, while Charlemagne’s feudalism more stable- he paid his bureaucrats with estates- this more stable- he paid his bureaucrats with estates- this inhibited the development of strong central states inhibited the development of strong central states

FranceFrance England- 1066- William the Conqueror- Duke of England- 1066- William the Conqueror- Duke of

Normandy- invaded England and extended his tight Normandy- invaded England and extended his tight feudal system to Englandfeudal system to England

Limited Government

Strong monarchies didn’t develop evenly Strong monarchies didn’t develop evenly throughout Europe- west divided and diversethroughout Europe- west divided and diverse

Growth of monarchy cut into aristocratic power Growth of monarchy cut into aristocratic power but this led to new statements on the limits of but this led to new statements on the limits of kingskings

1215 – Magna Carta- confirmed feudal rights 1215 – Magna Carta- confirmed feudal rights against monarchical claimsagainst monarchical claims

Late 13Late 13thth century- creation of parliaments- century- creation of parliaments- represented nobles and churchrepresented nobles and church

Charlemagne and His Successors Royal house of the Franks grew in 8Royal house of the Franks grew in 8thth century and century and

Carolingians took over the monarchy (Charles Martel- Carolingians took over the monarchy (Charles Martel- or Charles the Hammer- defeated the Muslims in the or Charles the Hammer- defeated the Muslims in the battle of Tours in 732 and helped confine the Muslims battle of Tours in 732 and helped confine the Muslims to Spain)to Spain)

Around 800 Charles the Great, or Charlemagne,( part Around 800 Charles the Great, or Charlemagne,( part of the Carolingian line) established strong empire in of the Carolingian line) established strong empire in France and GermanyFrance and Germany

Helped restore some church-based education in Helped restore some church-based education in western Europe and there was a slow recovery of western Europe and there was a slow recovery of intellectual activityintellectual activity

Died in 814 and empire split into three portions of Died in 814 and empire split into three portions of inheritance for three grandsons (modern France, Germany, inheritance for three grandsons (modern France, Germany, and low countries of Switzerland, and northern Italy) but and low countries of Switzerland, and northern Italy) but these were weak rulers and this lead to gradual emergence these were weak rulers and this lead to gradual emergence of regional monarchies and absence of strong bureaucracyof regional monarchies and absence of strong bureaucracy

Strong cultural unity with Christianity but no single Strong cultural unity with Christianity but no single language or governmentlanguage or government

Royal houses claimed the title of emperor around 10Royal houses claimed the title of emperor around 10 thth century and called themselves Holy Roman emperors century and called themselves Holy Roman emperors (merging Christian and classical themes)(merging Christian and classical themes)

The West’s Expansionist Impulse East central Europe-from 11East central Europe-from 11thth century- Germanic knights in century- Germanic knights in

Germany and PolandGermany and Poland Spain- small Christian states in the north slowly attacked Spain- small Christian states in the north slowly attacked

Muslim government, which ultimately was pushed out by 1492Muslim government, which ultimately was pushed out by 1492 Crusades against the Muslim control of the Holy LandCrusades against the Muslim control of the Holy Land 1095- Pope Urban II called for First Crusade1095- Pope Urban II called for First Crusade 1097- met in Constantinople- then conqueror Jerusalem, 1097- met in Constantinople- then conqueror Jerusalem,

which they held for a century, until Saladin recaptured it in the which they held for a century, until Saladin recaptured it in the 1212thth century century

Showed the aggressive spirit of the western middle ages but Showed the aggressive spirit of the western middle ages but also exposed the west to new cultural and economic influences also exposed the west to new cultural and economic influences from the middle east and a thirst for tradefrom the middle east and a thirst for trade

Medieval Europe and the Catholic Church Catholic church only example of solid Catholic church only example of solid

organization after Roman collapseorganization after Roman collapse Authority of the church and cultural Authority of the church and cultural

dominance of Christianity with the dominance of Christianity with the intellectual diversity of university lifeintellectual diversity of university life

The Decline of the Medieval Synthesis 12-1412-14thth Centuries Feudal political structures balanced by Centuries Feudal political structures balanced by

emerging central monarchiesemerging central monarchies Strong monarchies adjust state boundaries, Hundred Strong monarchies adjust state boundaries, Hundred

Year’s War between France and England in 14Year’s War between France and England in 14thth and 15 and 15thth centuries (kings eventually had to reduce dependence on centuries (kings eventually had to reduce dependence on nobility and new military methods challenged the nobility and new military methods challenged the monopoly of feudal lords)- ended with French victory monopoly of feudal lords)- ended with French victory (Joan of Arc) but showed signs of stress in French (Joan of Arc) but showed signs of stress in French monarchymonarchy

Disease- Black death 1348Disease- Black death 1348 Destroyed populationDestroyed population

Signs of Strain

1414thth century ruling class showed signs of confusion. Claim century ruling class showed signs of confusion. Claim to power always in control of land and military prowess to power always in control of land and military prowess but now open to question. Chivalry gained ground. Upper but now open to question. Chivalry gained ground. Upper class became more cultivated.class became more cultivated.

Shift in balance between church and state. French kings Shift in balance between church and state. French kings wielded great influence over papacy in early 14wielded great influence over papacy in early 14thth century. century. Pope moved to Avignon and then back to Rome. Religion Pope moved to Avignon and then back to Rome. Religion still popular but the church as an institution not popularstill popular but the church as an institution not popular

Breakdown in intellectual synthesis – church officials less Breakdown in intellectual synthesis – church officials less tolerant of intellectual daring. tolerant of intellectual daring.

The Postclassical West and Its Heritage After 900 gains in population, trade and cities, and After 900 gains in population, trade and cities, and

intellectual activity created a vigorous period in intellectual activity created a vigorous period in European historyEuropean history

Lasting impacts- universities, gothic style of Lasting impacts- universities, gothic style of architecture, new ideas about governmentarchitecture, new ideas about government

Change in the relationship between Europe and Change in the relationship between Europe and the regions around it as Europe gained strength. the regions around it as Europe gained strength. Advance by imitation.Advance by imitation.

Crusades a distinctive expansionist spiritCrusades a distinctive expansionist spirit