1 / 58

Medieval Europe

Medieval Europe. a thousand years without a bath ? collapse of classical civilization descent into dirt and superstition ?. The Middle Ages. beginning? 180 death of Marcus Aurelius 284 accession of Diocletian 325 foundation of Constantinople 395 death of Theodosius the Great

betty_james
Download Presentation

Medieval Europe

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. Medieval Europe • a thousand years without a bath ? • collapse of classical civilization • descent into dirt and superstition ?

  2. The Middle Ages • beginning? • 180 death of Marcus Aurelius • 284 accession of Diocletian • 325 foundation of Constantinople • 395 death of Theodosius the Great • 476 abdication of Romulus Augustulus • 800 coronation of Charlemange

  3. Three Elements • Graeco-Roman civilization and culture • the oldest and most important • Christianity • the newest • Germanic culture • the “plastic element “ of the Middle Ages

  4. Contest Between • Universality • formerly represented by the empire • claimed by the church • particularism • kingdoms and feudal society

  5. The Crisis of the Third Century • End of the practice of adoption • The Severian Emperors • the army as a social class • abandonment of the Augustan constitution • collapse of the senate and other organs of state • collapse of the civil adminstration

  6. Crisis, con’t • collapse of society • breakdown of social classes • collapse of the economy • collapse of trade and coinage • barbarian invasions • civil wars • Thirty emperors • The Danubian emperors (soldiers)

  7. Crisis, con’t • Aurelian - restituor orbis • Decius - persecutions of those who corrupt traditional family values • Diocletian

  8. Diocletian

  9. Diocletian and Reform • The Tetrarchy • The Annona • The Edict of Maximum Prices • The “new provinces” • The “eastern frontiers” • The “new capitals” • The “persecutions” • Edict of Toleration, 311

  10. Tetrarchy

  11. Constantine • The divided empire, united • The Battle of the Milvian Bridge • The “conversion of Constantine” • The Edict of Milan - 314 • The First Ecumenical Council • The New Capital • Constantinople

  12. Constantine the Great

  13. Collapse in the West, 476 • Germanic invasions • foundation of Germanic kingdoms • breakdown of infastructure and the economy • simplification of society

  14. Competing Kingdoms • Visigoths: Spain • destroyed by Islam, 720 A.D. • Ostrogoths: Italy • reconquered by Romans, early 500’s • Franks: France • various minor players • conquered by Franks, mostly

  15. Feudal System • the political system of medieval Europe • the military system of medieval Europe • the method of government and the military power to enforce it

  16. Feudal System: Characteristics • restraints on royal power • possession of public power by private persons • “public power in private hands” • particular rules about the use and transfer of real property

  17. Definition of Feudalism • fragmentation of political power • the county is the largest viable political unit • fragmented power treated as a private possession • managed by private contracts • military force: “knights” • secured by private contracts between individuals • no “national armies”

  18. Origins • Roman empire: private retainers and soldiers • Germanic society: the comitatus • a warrior band • gifts of land for service or surrendering control of your land or talents to a superior for his protection

  19. Feudalism Organization • ascending and descending relationships: • secured by contracts • like buying a used car, each is different • fiefs • vassals • subinfuedation

  20. Obligations of the Vassal • Concilium and auxilium • military service • 40 days a year • Aids and incidents • hospitality

  21. Obligations of the Lord • treat vassals as social equals • leave them undisturbed on their fiefs • protect them • judgment by their peers

  22. Feudal Warfare • not as bloody as imagined or as dangerous • private warfare • relatively restricted until the late Middle Ages • The Peace of God : 900’s • The Truce of God: 1000’s

  23. Manorialism • the economic system of medieval Europe • the social system of medieval Europe • develops prior to feudalism • collapses prior to feudalism

  24. The Manor • based on the fief • one or more manors to a fief • each manor had a village • freemen and serfs • provided the economic support for the lord

  25. The Manor • non-capitalistic • self-sufficient • as much a social as an economic institution • will decline when towns reappear • after 1000 A.D.

  26. Origins of Serfdom • Slaves, free peasants in both Roman and Germanic societies • Heavy intermarriage • Appeals to lords, special relationships • Mid-7th century: recognition of serf class • Midway between slave and free peasant

  27. Serfs’ Rights and Obligations • Right to pass on land to heirs • Obligation to provide labor, payments in kind to lord • Unable to move from land • Fees charged for marrying serfs of another lord

  28. The Economy of Early Medieval Europe • Agricultural center moves north from Mediterranean • 8th century iron-tipped plow introduced in Europe • Draft animals breeded • Water mill technology • Agricultural output insufficient to support growth of cities • Strong Mediterranean trade despite Muslim domination of sea

  29. Population Growth of Europe, 200-1000 CE

  30. Merovingian Franks • control much of France • 480’s to mid-700’s • precocious debauchery • the Salic Principle of Inheritance • collapse of trade and industry • growth of the power of the nobility

  31. Clovis (ruled 481-511) • Major Frankish leader • Destroyed last vestiges of Roman rule in Gaul • Dominated other Germanic peoples • Franks establish themselves as preeminent Germanic people

  32. The Mayors of the Palace • powerful royal officials • de facto rulers of the kingdoms • military leaders • ex. Charles Martel • supervised the nobility and royal officials

  33. The Carolingian dynasty • Pepin III : king in 752 • with papal support • expansion of the Frankish kingdom • the Donation of Pepin • the Donation of Constantine

  34. Charlemagne • Charles the Great • king of the Franks and Lombards • destruction of the Avars • forced conversions of non-Christians • the Saxons • coexistence with non-Christians not possible

  35. Charlemagne

  36. Charlemagne, con’t • doubled the size of the kingdom • buffer between Eastern Europe and the Slavs • buffer state against the Vikings • destruction of the Lombards • end of Germanic paganism • beginning of the Reconquista in Spain

  37. The Carolingian Empire

  38. Charlemagne, con’t • reversal of Slavic westward movement • beginnings of the ideas which will become • lebensraum, ost front, and Drang nach Osten • beginning of continued attempts at Germanic expansion to the East

  39. Charlemagne as Emperor • 800 A.D. Christmas • crowned Emperor of the Romans by the Pope • did he know ? • Pope’s motives ?

  40. Charlemagne and Government • personal government • responsibilities • advancement of the Church • defense of the Empire • establishment of law and order • failure to create a civil service • finances: personal

  41. The Carolingian Renaissance • did not emphasize creativity • devoted to recovering the past • looked to the past for standards and ideas • looked to the past for art and knowledge • preservation of manuscripts • Carolingian minuscule

  42. Carolingian Renaissance, con’t • revival of learning • Alcuin of York • University as Aachen • Church did not control learning • schools in communities

  43. The Seven Liberal Arts • Trivium • grammar, rhetoric, dialectic (logic) • Quadrivium • arithmetic, geometry, astronomy, music • the foundations of learning in the West

  44. Disintegration of the Empire • Louis the Pious • the Salic principle of inheritance • Lothiar, Pepin, Louis, Charles • the Treaty of Verdun: 843 • arranged by the Church • future impact on Europe

More Related