The European Middle Ages 500-1500 CE CONTEXT
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The European Middle Ages 500-1500 CE CONTEXT ● After the fall of Rome: ○ Western Europe fragmented into small kingdoms (never again reunited under central imperial rule) ○ The East continued on as the Byzantine Empire until 1453 THE BYZANTINE EMPIRE (330 CE-1453 CE) ● Eastern Roman Empire- carried on Rome’s legacy, traditions for another 1000 years ● Roman imperial tradition- leaders commonly called Roman emperors (why?) ● Spoke Greek (culture based around Hellenism) ● Christianity was official religion- rulers seen as ordained by God and in control of both church and state (caesaropapism)- an issue that would contribute to the split in the Church by 1054 ● Wealthier than the West- access to Eurasian trade routes ● Constantinople- capital and strategic trade location Byzantine art What does Byzantine art tell you about the empire? THE BYZANTINE EMPIRE (330 CE-1453 CE) JUSTINIAN- ruled 527-565 CE ● Updated Roman law- Justinian’s Code ● Re-conquered many former Roman lands lost in the West ● Expanded trade ● Built the Hagia Sophia (monumental church) Hagia Sophia THE BYZANTINE EMPIRE (330 CE-1453 CE) EMPRESS THEODORA- Justinian’s Wife ● Convinced Justinian to stay during the Nika Riots (massive anti-government protest) ● Worked to give women more rights THE GREAT SCHISM (1054) ● Religious issues (such as the ability of priests to marry and use of religious icons) came to a head in 1054 ● The pope in Western Europe and patriarch in Eastern Europe excommunicated each other Patriarch ● Resulted in two branches of Christianity- Pope Leo IX Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Michael I Cerularius THE GREAT SCHISM (1054) ● Another issue was in regard to icons ● Roman Catholic Church supported the use of icons (why?) ● Eastern Orthodox Church rejected use of icons, then supported them after the clergy rebelled THE BYZANTINE EMPIRE (330 CE-1453 CE) FALL OF THE EMPIRE ● After the Great Schism, about 400 years of decline ● Newly converted Turkish invaders gained influence from the Muslim caliphate. ● Turks seized important trade cities; Constantinople eventually taken by the Ottoman Turks in 1453 EARLY RUSSIA ● Two Orthodox missionaries from the Byzantine Empire- Saint Cyril and Saint Methodius- worked with the Slavs (the people that inhabited the forests north of the Black Sea) in the 9th century ● They invented an alphabet for the Slavic languages that would enable them to read the Bible- this was called the Cyrillic alphabet Cyrillic alphabet EARLY RUSSIA ● Interaction w/ Byzantine missionaries and merchants= Slavs adopted many Byzantine cultural elements ● This cultural blending (Slavic + Greek traditions) later produced Russian culture ● Slavic peoples had similar cultures but no political unity EARLY RUSSIA ● 800s: Vikings (called “Rus”) arrived- later built forts along rivers and settled with the Slavs ● Russian legends say Slavs invited Viking chief Rurik to be their king- in 862 he founded Novgorod (Russia’s first important city) ● 880: A nobleman from Novgorod moved south to Kiev, which grew into a principality (small state ruled by a prince) EARLY RUSSIA ● Kievan Rus had much contact with the Byzantine Empire through trade ● 980 CE: Prince Vladimir converted to Christianity; Orthodox Christianity became the official religion of Russia ● Kievan Rus declined from 1054-1200s (partially bc Crusades interrupted trade) ● MONGOLS took over Russia in 1240- established the Khanate of the Golden Horde- ruled Russia until 1480, isolated Russia from the Renaissance happening in Western Europe Question: What effects did the constant Germanic invasions have on the Western Roman Empire? Effects of Germanic Invasions on the Western Roman Empire: -Disruptions to trade -Destruction of cities -Depleted economy -Decline of learning -Nobles (and many people of other classes) retreated to rural areas -Loss of a common language -Changing concept of government (Germanic people were loyal to family and local lords, not emperors) Question: What aspects of the Roman Empire continued during the Middle Ages in Europe? What Aspects of the Roman Empire continued during the Middle Ages in Europe? -The Christian faith -The Latin language merged with Germanic languages in Western Europe (eventually resulting in the romance languages that we have today such as Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Romanian, and French) -The Byzantine Empire in the East continued the Roman imperial tradition (strong centralized government led by an emperor, Roman laws, etc.) THE FRANKS ● 511: King Clovis united the Franks under Christianity. ● Rulers, Church, missionaries worked together to spread Christianity ● 732: Charles Martel (Charles the Hammer) halted Muslim expansion at the Battle of Tours (significance?) ● Franks then began their own dynasty, the Carolingian Empire (ruled 751-987) CAROLINGIAN EMPIRE ● Charlemagne made the Carolingian Empire the most powerful empire since Rome ● Funded the creation of many monasteries- encouraged art and education ● Charlemagne was crowned Emperor of Rome by Pope Leo III (how is this significant?) ● ● 843: Treaty of Verdun- split the Carolingian Empire into 3 parts (significance?) EARLY MIDDLE AGES NOTES (500-1000) ● The breakdown of central rule in the Carolingian Empire as a result of the Treaty of Verdun (843), combined with new waves of attackers (the Vikings in the north, the Maygars in the east, and the Muslims in the south and southeast) resulted in a move to a political and economic system based on land ownership and personal loyalty known as feudalism THE VIKINGS ● Were a Germanic people, referred to as Northmen or Norsemen ● Brutal in combat ● Used longboats ● Raided monasteries for food and wealth ● Expert navigators ● Developed early commercial fisheries in Northern Europe ● Sailed as far away as North America (Leif Erikson, around 1000) ● Reign of Terror ended as more Vikings accepted Christianity and a warmer climate made more people turn to agriculture EARLY MIDDLE AGES NOTES (500-1000) EARLY MIDDLE AGES NOTES (500-1000) Feudalism became a dominant method of political, social, and economic organization in Western Europe during the Middle Ages. What is feudalism? Why did feudalism start in Europe during the Middle Ages? FEUDALISM Feudalism was a system based on rights and obligations, and depended on control of land. Reasons for feudalism ● Kings couldn’t effectively defend their lands from invasions ● Local rulers gained political strength if they could offer protection ● Easier to defend a small territory during this time FEUDALISM ● Lords mostly self-governed- interacted with kings only to provide service ● Serfs (peasants) tied to land (not slaves) ● Primogeniture- land went to eldest son. Manorial system (almost entirely self-sufficient) Despite their harsh lives, most peasants accepted their positions and responsibilities in feudal society. WHY? KNIGHTS ● Provided protection ● Expected to follow the code of chivalry (many didn’t) ● Saddles and stirrups from Asia, influence from Muslim cavalry European feudalism vs. Japanese feudalism EARLY MIDDLE AGES NOTES (500-1000) ● Local lords were constantly fighting one another (why?) ● Massive walls and guard towers surrounded castles ● Attacking armies utilized siege warfare with medieval tech including: battering ram, siege tower, and trebuchet EARLY MIDDLE AGES NOTES (500-1000) SOCIETY AND CULTURE DURING THE MIDDLE AGES ● Women in feudal society: ○ Mostly powerless, seen as inferior (Church supported this view) ○ Noble women had more rights, such as the ability to inherit estates from their husbands, but still restricted SOCIETY AND CULTURE DURING THE MIDDLE AGES ● Literature of the time idealized chivalry and castle life ● Lords and nobility enjoyed epic poems ● Troubadours- bands of travelling poet-musicians ROLE OF THE CHURCH IN THE MIDDLE AGES ● Stabilizing force- brought unity ● Dominant social and cultural influence ● Attempted to remove pagan practices ● Popes often sought to influence political matters as well as religious life ● Collected taxes (tithes) ● Church law (canon law)- regulated things like marriage ● People who violated canon law faced excommunication (heretic- one who is at odds with the Church) MEDIEVAL MONASTERIES ● Had wealth and resources ● Political, economic, and religious centers ● Monks would record information, create books- keepers of knowledge during this time THE HOLY ROMAN EMPIRE ● Medieval Germany- collection of feudal territories ● Why didn’t Germany unite? ○ Repeated conflicts with the pope ○ System of German princes electing the king weakened royal authority EARLY MIDDLE AGES NOTES (500-1000) THE AGE OF FAITH ● 900s: Spiritual revival in the Church clergy ● 1200s: Wandering friars spread the Church’s ideas ● This new spirit in the Church + more money from the growth of towns and trade helped construct new cathedrals ● 800-1100: Churches were built in the Romanesque style (arches, tiny windows, heavy roof) ● 1100s: Gothic architecture emerged (tall spires, pointed arches, flying buttresses) A Romanesque-style church (Examples of gothic cathedrals) TOP: Inside the Notre Dame cathedral in Paris RIGHT: Cologne Cathedral in Germany THE CRUSADES ● What were the CAUSES of the Crusades? ● What were the EFFECTS of the Crusades? THE CRUSADES CAUSES OF THE CRUSADES INCLUDE: ● Plea for help sent by the Byzantine emperor in 1093 for help against the Seljuk Turks (Muslims) who were threatening Constantinople- Pope Urban II called for them ● Desire to defend Christendom, not lose additional land to Muslims ● Desire to take holy land back (including Jerusalem)