A New Civilization Emerges in Western Europe

A New Civilization Emerges in Western Europe Mrs. Mills

Postclassical Period in western Europe • The postclassical period began with the fall of the Roman Empire and lasted until the 15th century. • This period is known as the MIDDLE AGES in European history, or the medieval times. • Features of the Middle Ages • Gradual recovery from the shock of Rome’s collapse • Growing interaction with other societies • Center of postclassical west is central plains of Europe (France, southern and western Germany)

Question 1 • When one says “postclassical era” what years are they referring to? • A) 1000 BCE to 500 BCE • B) 500 BCE to 500 CE • C) 500 CE to 1450 CE • D) 1000 CE to 1500 CE • E) 500 BCE- 1500 CE

Question 2 • Why is the terminology “the fall of Rome” deceiving? • A) All of Rome fell at once but under different rulers and for a variety of reasons • B) Even as the Roman empire began to decline the eastern portion remained strong and essentially never “fell” • C) Even as the Roman empire began to decline, the western portion remained strong and essentially never fell • D) Justinian codified the laws that kept Rome from falling in the 6th century • E) The fall of Rome became religion and ultimately had nothing to do with a literal “falling” of the empire

Question 3 • What empire did the eastern portion of Rome ultimately become, and what was the location of its capital? • A) Italian, Rome • B) Byzantine, Constantinople • C) Byzantine, Rome • D) Italian, Byzantium • E) Byzantine, France

Religion in western Europe • Christian missionary efforts led most western Europeans to convert from polytheistic faiths in the initial postclassical centuries. • Became a society with a mixture of religions: • Beliefs in spirits and magic • Fervent Christianity • Religions coexisted

Stages of Postclassical development • Postclassical western Europe was hit hard by Roman collapse. • 550 CE-900, western Europe suffered from many problems such as: • Italy divided politically • Spain, another key region, lay in the hands of the Muslims for the majority of the Middle Ages • Growing intellectual and economic life, but out of “western mainstream” • Frequent invasions prolonged the weaknesses of the west • Still connected to Roman heritage, and lagging behind the times

Question 4 • How did the spread of Christianity affect polytheistic religions already existent in northern Europe? • A) All traces of the earlier religions were eradicated • B) Conversion produced a religious amalgam of Christianity and beliefs in magic and supernatural spirits • C) Many areas of Europe retained purely polytheistic religions • D) Christianity achieved few conversions, and most of western Europe retained polytheistic religions • E) In order to gain converts, Christianity allowed people to continue certain polytheistic rituals

Question 5 • After the fall of Rome, where was the center of the post classical west? • A) In the former Roman colony of Spain • B) In Italy, particularly Rome • C) In the central plain of northern Europe • D) Greece • E) Constantinople

Manorial Systems • Between Rome’s fall and the 10th century, effective political organization was largely local. • Manorialism was the system of economic and political relations between the landlords and their peasant laborers.

Manorialism continued… • Most people are serfs: agricultural workers who lived on self sufficient agricultural estates called manors. • Serfs received some protection, including the administration of justice from the landlords but in return they must turn over a part of their goods and remain on the land. • Landlords also could provide military protection for the serfs as many were also military leaders.

Serfs • Serfs were not slaves: they could not be bought or sold, and they retained essential ownership of their houses and lands as long as they kept up with their obligations. • Life was still difficult for serfs • Some escaped control of their landlords and became wanderers which added to the disorder of the early Middle Ages

Feudalism • A system of obligations that bound lords and their subjects in Europe during much of the Middle Ages. In theory, the king owned all or most of the land and gave it to his leading lords (nobles) in return for their loyalty and military service. The lords (nobles) in turn held land that peasants, including serfs, were allowed to farm in return for the peasants' labor and a portion of their produce.

Feudalism and Manor Life A complex web of duties and obligations governed relationships between people in the Middle Ages. • vassals: lesser lords (knights) who are military elite and owe protection to the greater lords in the feudal system

Difference between Manorialism and Feudalism • In simple terms, feudalism is where lords gave land to vassals in exchange for protection (GOVERNMENT SYSTEM OF MIDDLE AGES) and manorialism is where lords gave land to serfs in exchange for food (ECONOMIC SYSTEM OF THE MIDDLE AGES)

Question 6 • Manorialism was the system that • A) described economic and political relations between landlords and their peasant laborers • B) secular authorities utilized to name bishops • C) defined relationships between members of the military eilte • D) united the traditions of classical rationalism with medieval Christianity • E) provided a comfortable living for all involved

Question 7 • Which of the following statements concerning the manorial system is not true? • A) It was comprised of essentially self sufficient manors • B) It had originated in the Roman Empire • C) Its obligations bore heavily on serfs • D) Agricultural productivity was low • E) It was technologically sophisticated

Question 8 • Vassals were • A) grants of land given to the lesser members of the military elite in return for military service • B) agricultural workers • C) members of the military elite who receive land in return for military service • D) greater lords within the military elite who commanded military bands • E) special oaths made between lesser and greater lords

The Church: Both Political and Spiritual • After collapse in 6th century, Catholic church was the only solid example of organization in western Europe. • Hierarchy of Catholic church: • Pope in Rome= top authority • Bishops= head of regional group of churches • Priest= individual church authority • “Papal”- of or pertaining to the Pope or the Roman Catholic Church

The Political Sphere • The royal house of the Franks grew in strength during the 8th century • A new family comes to power and takes over monarchy : Carolingians • Charles Martel: part of Carolingian line who was responsible for a defeat of the Muslim’s in 732. Helped confine Muslims to Spain and preserve Christianity for Europe.

Charlemagne • “Charles the Great” or Charlemagne • 800 CE- establishes a substantial empire in France and Germany • Achievements of Charlemagne • Restores church based education • Attracted Scholars from around Europe • Level of intellectual activity begins to increase

Short Lived • Charlemagne dies in 814, and empire does not long survive him • It is split between his three grandsons who do not prove to be successful rulers • Beginning around 10th century term “Holy Roman Emperor” is applied to rulers of Germany and northern Italy, however, it is a hollow term. • Local lords start to go their own way, and monarchies of individual states begin to arise. These states later become nations.

Question 9 • The imperial title formerly held by the Carolingians was later claimed by: • A) France • B) Italy • C) England • D) The Byzantine Empire • E) The Holy Roman Empire

Question 10 • What Frankish monarch was able to establish a substantial empire in 800? • A) Clovis • B) Charles Martel • C) Pepin III • D) Charlemagne • E) Louis

New Economic and Urban Vigor • By 900- Western society begins to strengthen • New agricultural techniques from contacts with eastern Europe and Asia • Three field system • Even more military dominance for the landlords as they begin fighting on horseback • European nobility=land ownership and military power • Raids (Vikings) begin to taper off • Population growth that in turn encourages economic innovation to create jobs

Cultural changes in western Europe • Literacy spreads • Merchant activity and craft production expands • Schools form around cathedrals- train students for church careers • 11th century- enough interest to sustain first universities • Universities in Italy for medicine and law • Medieval art and architecture also becomes very popular spurred by this cultural movement

Prosperity promotes political change • From 6th century and collapse of Rome, there had been key political and military links within a system known as FEUDALISM.

A New Civilization Emerges in Western Europe