Chapter 17:

1. Chapter 17: The Foundations of Christian Society in Western Europe

2. The Germanic Successor States, c. 500 CE • Last Roman emperor deposed by Germanic Odoacer, 476 CE • Administrative apparatus still in place, but cities lose population • Germanic successor states: • Spain: Visigoths • Italy: Ostrogoths • Gaul: Burgundians, Franks • Britian: Angles, Saxons

3. Successor States to the Roman Empire c. 500

4. The Frankish Empire • In the territory known as Gaul, and what is currently the country of France, the Franks emerged as the dominant tribe in the area. • In the late 400’s, Clovis was the first king of the Franks to unite all the Frankish tribes under one ruler. His conversion to Christianity gained him a great ally in the Roman Catholic Church.

5. The Franks • Heavy influence on European development • Strong agricultural base • Shifts center of economic gravity to Europe • Firm alliance with western Christian church

6. 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

7. Clovis’ Conversion to Christianity • Paganism, Arian Christianity popular among Franks • Clovis and army chooses Roman Catholicism • Influence of wife Clotilda • Political implications: • Alliance with western church

8. The Carolingians • Charles “The Hammer” Martel begins Carolingian dynasty • Defeats Spanish Muslims at Battle of Tours (732) • Halts Islamic advance into western Europe

9. Charles de Steuben's Bataille de Poitiers en Octobre 732 depicts a triumphant Charles Martel (mounted) facing ‘Abdul Rahman Al Ghafiqi (right) at the Battle of Tours.

11. The Carolingian Empire

12. Charlemagne (r. 768-814) • Grandson of Charles Martel • Centralized imperial rule • Functional illiterate, but sponsored extensive scholarship • Major military achievements

13. Charlemagne’s Empire

14. Charlemagne’s Administration • Capital at Aachen, Germany • Yet constant travel throughout empire • Spread Christianity • Set Up Education System • Increased Scriptoriums • Alcuin, the leading scholar and educator under Charlemagne introduced the 7 liberal arts • Begins Romanesque Architecture • Expansion of Territory • Imperial officials: missi dominici (“envoys of the lord ruler) • Continued yearly circuit travel

15. Romanesque church in Poland Romanesque church in Normandy

16. Charlemagne as Emperor • Hesitated to challenge Byzantines by taking title “emperor” • Yet ruled in fact • Pope Leo III crowns him as emperor in 800 • Planned in advance? • Challenge to Byzantium

17. Pope Crowned CharlemagneHoly Roman Emperor: Dec. 25, 800

18. The Carolingian Renaissance

19. Carolingian Miniscule

20. Louis the Pious (r. 814-840) • Son of Charlemagne • Lost control of courts, local authorities • Civil war erupts between three sons • Empire divided in 843 Charlemagne crowns Louis the Pious

21. Charlemagne’s Empire Collapses:Treaty of Verdun, 843

22. Invasions • South: Muslims • East: Magyars • North: Vikings • Norse expansion begins c. 800 CE • Driven by population pressure, hostility to spread of Christianity • Superior seafaring technology • Sailed to eastern Canada, northeastern US

23. The dissolution of the Carolingian Empire (843 CE – divided amongst Charlemagne’s grandchildren) and the invasions of early medieval Europe in the ninth and tenth centuries

24. The Vikings • From village of Vik, Norway (hence “Viking”) • Boats with shallow drafts, capable of river travel as well as open seas • Attacked villages, cities from 9th century • Constantinople sacked three times • Carolingians had no navy, dependent on local defenses

25. England • Viking invasions force consolidation of Angles, Saxons and other Germanic peoples under King Alfred (r. 871-899) • Built navy • Fortified cities against attack

26. Germany and France • King Otto of Saxony (r. 936-973) defeats Magyars, 955 • Proclaimed emperor by Pope in 962 • Establishment of Holy Roman Empire • France endures heavy Viking settlement • Loss of local autonomy

27. Early Medieval Society • Concept of Feudalism • Lords and vassals • Increasingly inadequate model for describing complex society • Ad hoc arrangements in absence of strong central authorities

28. Feudalism A political, economic, and social system based on loyalty and military service.

29. Organizing in a Decentralized Society • Local nobles take over administration from weak central government • Nominal allegiances, esp. to Carolingian kings • But increasing independence

30. Lords and Retainers • Formation of small private armies • Incentives: land grants, income from mills, cash payments • Formation of hereditary class of military retainers • Development of other functions • Justice, social welfare

31. Potential for Instability • Complex interrelationship of lord-retainer relations • Rebellion always a possibility • Nevertheless, viable large states developed (Germany, France, England)

32. 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

33. 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

34. Manors • Large, diverse estates • Lord provides governance, police, justice services • Serfs provide labor, income

35. The Medieval Manor

36. Life on the Medieval Manor Serfs at work

37. Women in the Middle Ages • Noblewomen were responsible for the entire running of an estate while her husband was in battle. • All women had very limited inheritance rights, as all possessions went to the oldest son. • In the Middle Ages, the Church portrayed women as weak and easily tempted into sin. Yet, women were also portrayed as modest and pure in spirit. • Learning was generally discouraged for women.

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

39. Norse Merchant Mariners • Commerce or plunder as convenient • Link with the Islamic world for trade

40. Population Growth of Europe, 200-1000 CE

41. The Formation of Christian Europe • Clovis’ conversion forms strong alliance with Roman Christianity • Church supplies Clovis with class of literate information workers: • Scribes • secretaries

42. The Franks and the Church • Protectors of the Papacy • Charlemagne destroys Lombards, who threatened Pope, Rome • Spreads Christianity in northern areas • Support of scholarship, scribal activity

43. The Spread of Christianity • Charlemagne fights pagan Saxons (772-804) • Saxons later adopt Christianity • Scandinavia, other pockets of paganism until c. 1000 CE

44. Pope Gregory I (590-604 CE) • “Gregory the Great” • Asserted papal primacy • Prominent theologian • Sacrament of penance • Major missionary activity, especially in England

45. Monasticism • Egyptian origins, 2nd-3rd centuries • Monastic lifestyle expands 4th century • Large variety of monastic rules • Range from extremely ascetic to very lax

46. St. Benedict (480-547) • Established consistent rule for monasteries • Poverty • Chastity • Obedience • St. Scholastica (482-543) • Sister of St. Benedict • Adapts Benedictine Rule for convents

47. A late 15th-century Scriptorium by of Jean Miélot In the strictest definition of illuminated manuscript, only manuscripts with gold or silver would be considered illuminated. St. Benedict by Fra Angelico, c. 1437-1446 Pope Gregory I, by Francisco de Zurbarán

48. Monasticism and Society • Accumulation of large landholdings, serfs • Social welfare projects • Esp. labor contributions • Expansion of literacy • Inns, orphanages, hospitals

49. The Power of the Medieval Church • The church controlled about 1/3 of the land in Western Europe. • Tithe  1/10 tax on your assets given to the church. • Threat of excommunication and an inderdict gave the church tremendous control over European peasants and nobles. • The selling of indulgences, canon law and simony also fortified the church’s power, but led many to recognize these acts as corrupt.

50. Church Secular Influence & Pope Innocent III • The Church claimed authority over all secular rulers, many of whom did not recognize this authority, often resulting in power struggles between monarchs and popes. • When King John of England challenged Pope Innocent III over the appointment of an archbishop, he was excommunicated in 1209.