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The Early and High Middle Ages. Roman Catholic Church. Most powerful institution in medieval western Europe Modeled after Rome’s government Pope--supreme leader Cardinals--chief advisors Bishops--head religious districts Priests--direct local communities. RCC’s Religious Role. Taught:
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Roman Catholic Church • Most powerful institution in medieval western Europe • Modeled after Rome’s government • Pope--supreme leader • Cardinals--chief advisors • Bishops--head religious districts • Priests--direct local communities
RCC’s Religious Role • Taught: • Importance of sacraments • Faith, good works, and church membership for salvation • Used excommunication against those who violated Church laws • Held inquisitions to uncover heretics
RCC’s Economic Role • Monks farmed • Considerable income from its: • Lands (30% of western Europe) • Gifts (especially through oblation) • Taxes (10% tithe) • Prohibited usury
RCC’s Cultural Role • Promoted learning by maintaining schools • Copied ancient books and manuscripts, preserving classical culture
RCC’s Political Role • Governed Papal States in Italy • Developed canon law based on Roman law • Had its own courts • Claimed supremacy over civil government
Frankish Kingdom • Clovis created powerful kingdom (5th century) • Subdued other Germanic tribes in Gaul • Converted Franks to Catholic Christianity, gaining support of: • Pope • Gaul’s large Christian population
Frankish Kingdom • Merovingian dynasty • His incompetent descendants ruled for more than 200 years • “Do-Nothing” Kings • Power passed to powerful noble, “Mayor of the Palace”
Frankish Kingdom • Carolingian dynasty • Charles Martel • Defeated Moors at Tours (732) • Pepin • At father’s death, became Mayor of the Palace • Removed last Do-Nothing King • Charlemagne got throne in 768
Charlemagne • 768-814 • Increased power of Catholic Church • Ended Lombard threat to Papal States • Converted pagan peoples to Catholicism
Charlemagne • Empire= most of western Europe
Charlemagne • Emperor of the Romans (800) • Crowned by Pope Leo III in Rome • Government • Empire divided into provinces • Each ruled by noble • Monitored by missi dominici • Temporarily halted shift of power from central government to nobles
Education under Charlemagne • Charlemagne valued education • Established schools in monasteries and cathedrals • Encouraged collecting and copying of Latin manuscripts
Education under Charlemagne • Created Carolingian miniscule (small letters)
Breakup of Charlemagne’s Empire • Treaty of Verdun divided empire among 3 grandsons • Louis • Eastern/modern Germany • Charles • Western/modern France • Lothar • Central/modern Italy
Rome Centered around Mediterranean Endured many centuries Charlemagne Encompassed mainly central and western Europe Crumbled at Charlemagne’s death Differed from Roman Empire
New Invasions (9th-11th centuries) • Vikings to coastal/ river cities
New Invasions (9th-11th centuries) • Magyars from Asia to Hungary to Western Europe • Normans invaded Britain from France
New Invasions (9th-11th centuries) • Arabs to Southern France/Italy • Led to development of new relationship ... feudalism
Why Feudalism? • Attacks from outsiders • Weakness of central governments • German rulers gave landed estates to important nobles in return for military assistance
Feudalism Defined • Social system • Rigid class distinctions • Static (unchanging) way of life • Political system • Local government • Local military defense • Economic system • Self-sufficient agricultural manors
Feudal Society • Determined by birth, not work • Feudal social pyramid • King • Nominally owned all land • Controlled only his estates • Powerful lords • Got fiefs from king • Pledged military service
Feudal Society • Feudal social pyramid (cont’d) • Lesser lords • Got fiefs from powerful lord • Pledged military service • Knights • Most numerous nobles • Serfs--peasants
Feudal Society • Lords could receive lands from several lords leading to questions of primary allegiance • Obligations between lord/vassal or noble/serf were hereditary • Noble’s title and property could only be inherited by first-born son (primogeniture)
Feudal Government • Weak Central Government • King theoretically administered entire kingdom • Actually did not have authority beyond his own lands • He was only one of several powerful lords
Feudal Government • Vigorous local government • Nobles controlled their lands • They: • Made laws • Levied taxes • Dispensed justice • Waged war
Feudal Economy • Self-sufficient agricultural manor • Serfs bound to land • Low agricultural output • Serfs given scattered strips of land • Wooden plows and crude sickles • Three-field system
Revival of Trade/Towns • End of barbarian invasions • Crusades increased European demand for Eastern luxuries • Growth of well-located towns • Towns provided facilities for: • Storage • Marketing • Production of goods
Revival of Trade/Towns • Medieval towns gained their freedom from feudal lords by: • Purchasing charters from lord/monarch • Successful armed uprisings
Revival of Trade/Towns • Rise of bourgeoisie (middle class) • New economic class grew with: • Increased trade • Growth of towns • Consisted of professional people: • Merchants • Shopkeepers • Bankers
Leading Medieval Centers • In Italy • Cities on Italian seacoast • Venice • Genoa • Pisa • Naples • Advantages • Mediterranean location • Commercial tradition
Leading Medieval Centers • In Belgium • Cities in province of Flanders • Bruges • Ghent • Flemish cities at crossroads of trade routes from northern Europe to Italy
Leading Medieval Centers • In Northern Germany • Cities: • Bremen • Hamburg • Lubeck • Controlled trade in Baltic and North seas • In 1200s became Hanseatic League
Merchant Guilds • Regulated trade by: • Taxing non-members to discourage competition • Encouraging fair business practices • Participating actively in town government • Functioning as social clubs
Craft Guilds • Associations of skilled craftsmen organized by craft
Medieval Towns’ Advantages • Freedom from feudal restrictions • Richer, more varied life • Cultural and educational facilities • Opportunities for economic advancement
Medieval Towns’ Disadvantages • Streets were dangerous: • Narrow • Unpaved • Unlighted • Unguarded • Wooden buildings close together, allowed fires to spread rapidly
Medieval Towns’ Disadvantages • Town walls, though protective, thwarted town growth • Poor sanitation • Led to epidemics and plagues • Black Death
Crusades (1095-1291) • Byzantine emperor appealed to RCC for aid against Moslem Turks
Political Effects of Crusades • Strengthened kings/central governments by: • Weakening nobility • Stimulating trade • Trade needs central authority offering law and order • Rising merchant class supported kings • Eventually Magna Carta – John I - limited power of king
Socio-Economic Effects of Crusades • Weakened serfdom • Some paid for use of lord’s land in money by selling crops • Evolved into modern tenant-landlord relationship • Some freed • Joined Crusades • Fled to cities for year + 1 day
Social Effects of Crusades • Broadened peoples’ outlook • Crusaders saw advanced Moslem and Byzantine civilizations • Gained better geographic knowledge • Encouraged learning
Economic Effects of Crusades • Stimulated trade and towns • Increased European demand for Eastern products • Throughout Europe, especially in Italy: • Money replaced barter • Bourgeoisie gained wealth and influence
Higher Education • 1000-1100s--scholars founded many important universities • Wide variety of subjects • Theology • Philosophy • Law • Medicine