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Explore the Celtic migrations, Hallstatt influences, and rise of Celtic Christianity in the Medieval European synthesis. Learn about key figures like St. Patrick and the syncretism with ancient Celtic deities.
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Fusion of the Early Middle Ages5th-11th centuries • Fall of Rome • Celtic Influences • Norse-Germanic Influences • Spread of Christianity throughout Europe • Islamic Influences • Feudalism • Empires and Kingdoms
The Celts • Called Galatai or Keltoi by Greeks, Galli (Gauls) by Romans • “Omnia Galli tres partes divisus est” Julius Caesar • Migrated throughout Europe from 1st millenium bce-1st c. bce • Fierce warriors: • went naked, painted blue, into battle • known for wild challenges Furor: battle fury • used war chariots, javelins and lancia: battle lances • head-hunters • believed in re-incarnation
Celtic Migrations Hallstatt
Celtic Influences • Decorative • Animal motifs • Arabesques • Religious • Scholarship • Monasticism • Literary • Epics and folklore • Sovranty: Love-Political Triangle • King-Queen-Suitor/Challenger • Arthur-Guinevere-Lancelot
Gundestrup Cauldron1st c. bcesilver overlaid with gold Cernunnos: God of the Beasts
Celtic Christianity • Christianity was introduced into the British Isles in late 1st century or early 2nd c. with Roman soldiers • Cultic religion existing alongside other cults; both indigenous and brought in by the Romans, such as the cult of Mithras. • The new faith rapidly gained adherents
St. Patrick (389?-461?) • Apostle of Ireland, Christian prelate. • Born in Scotland -- kidnapped at 16 by Irish pirates and sold in Ireland as a slave. He passed his captivity as a herdsman • Saw visions in which he was urged to escape, and after six years of slavery he did so, • Ordained as a deacon, then priest and finally as a bishop. • Pope Celestine then sent him back to Ireland to preach the gospel.
Syncretism: St. Bridgit • Patrick carried Christianity to the Irish by transforming their sacred groves, wells, and mounds into centers of worship for the new faith. • He also adopted the ancient Celtic deities into the new faith, demoting them to saints • Brigit,the goddess of healing and fertility became St. Bridgit in the new faith.
The Irish Church • Elements of Eastern Christianity: • emphasis on monasticism • organizational structure of abbots and monasteries versus bishops and parish churches • ascetic holiness and pilgrimage • The abbeys' and monasteries' success in teaching: • Generations of scholars who not only copied Christian material but also transcribed the myths of the Ulster and Finian cycles, the Brehon laws, and other Celtic documents • Survival of Christianity in the British Isles despite conquest by the pagan Angles and Saxons. • Sent missionaries to England and scholars to courts, such as Charlemagne’s, throughout Europe
Fall of Rome:Rise of Germanic Tribes • 330: Constantine moved the capitol of the Roman Empire to Constantinople • 402: Honorius moved capitol of the Western Empire from Rome to Ravenna • 410: Visigoths sacked Rome • 455: Vandals sacked Rome and took control of N. Africa and Spain • 5th c.: Waves of Angles, Saxons and Jutes invaded Britain and Burgundians controlled much of France • 476: Goths seized Rome: Odoacer became Emperor
Germanic Comitatus or Kinship Groups • König, eorlas und thanes: kings, nobles and warriors • Mutual loyalty -- warriors fight for king, king is generous to warriors • Originally a socially egalitarian setup, during the third and fourth centuries AD, became socially stratified • Basis for feudal loyalty • Ideal and philosophy expressed in oral epics like Beowulf and The Song of Roland
Charlemagne 768-814 Otherwise known as Charles the Great, or Charles the First Eldest son born of Pepin the Short and his wife Bertrada Possessed many qualities of greatness: imposing physical stature, warrior prowess, piety, generosity, intelligence, devotion to family and friends, and joy for life. A hero in his own time who became a legendary figure
CAROLINGIAN RENAISSANCE • Charlemagne was a strong supporter of education • Assembled scholars and learned men at court in Aachen • Most noted was Alcuin (c. 735-804) who was Charlemagne's chief advisor on religious and educational matters; prepared official documents and exempla • The scholars copied books and built up libraries; used "Carolingian minuscule;" saved the thoughts and writings of the ancients • Worked on educating priests • Limited illiteracy • Preserved Latin culture in West Carolingian MS.
Illuminated Manuscripts • . The word `illuminated' comes from a usage of the Latin word illuminare-- `adorn'. • The decorations are of three main types: • miniaturesor small pictures, into the text or occupying the whole page or part of the border; • initial letters either containing scenes (historiated initials) or with elaborate decoration; • Books written by hand, decorated with paintings • borders, which may consist of miniatures, occasionally illustrative, or more often are composed of decorative motifs. Sacramentary--Use of Saint-Denis,9thc.
Coronation Ordinal of 1250 Paris • The oldest known iconographic cycle showing the coronation of a French king in the cathedral of Rheims, virtually as it would be staged until 1825. • The archbishop of Rheims, assisted by the abbots of Saint-Remi of Rheims and of Saint-Denis, officiated in the presence of the peers of the realm.
I've been with sword and,spearslippery with bright bloodwhere kites wheeled. And how wellwe violent Vikings clashed!Redflames ate up men's roofs,raging we killed and killed;and skewered bodies sprawledsleepy in town gateways.
Viking Art Scene taken from the stone Smiss I, found in Stenkyrka parish. Dated 700-800 AD. 8th c. Bronze keys
Sigurd the Dragon-Slayer12th c. door carvings Sigurd slays the dragon Fafnir and grills and eats his heart
The Normans • Vikings, or Norsemen, who settled in northern France (or the Frankish kingdom), together with their descendants • A Viking named Rollo emerged as the leader among the new settlers. • 911 the Frankish king Charles III the Simple ceded Rollo the land around the mouth of the Seine and what is now the city of Rouen • The Normans founded the duchy of Normandy and sent out expeditions of conquest and colonization to southern Italy and Sicily and to England, Wales, Scotland, and Ireland.
Feudalism • Social system of rights and duties based on land tenure and personal relationships • land is held in fief by vassals who owe military services to • lords to whom they are bound by personal loyalty. • Feudalism is a form of civilization that flourishes especially in a closed agricultural economy • Those who fulfill official duties, whether civil or military, do so because of personal and freely accepted links with their overlord – not because of patriotism • Public authority becomes fragmented and decentralized.
Social Classes SECULAR KING NOBLES KNIGHTS MERCHANTSPROFESSIONALSCRAFTSMEN PEASANTS freemen serfs ECCLESIASTICAL POPE CARDINALS BISHOPS ABBOTS PRIESTS MONKS SUMMONERS FRIARS PARDONERS NUNS PEASANTS lay brothers and sisters serfs
Norman Conquest • 1066: Contest for the English crown: • Harold, Earl of Wessex: Anglo-Saxon claimant • Harald Hardrada of Norway • William Duke of Normandy • Battle of Stamford Bridge: Harold defeated Hardrada's army which invaded using over 300 ships; so many were killed that only 25 ships were needed to transport the survivors home. • Battle of Hastings: William led Norman forces against the English. Harold Killed in battle; William seized the throne • William the Conqueror
Tower of London Norman Castles Motte and Bailey Castle
Crusades: 1095-15th c. • Holy Wars"-- against various enemies of the Church • Initially non-Christians: Moslems and pagans • At first the object of the Crusades was to recover the Holy Places (in what are now Israel and Jordan) from the Moslems, who had seized them in the 7th Century. • Later Crusades were preached against Christian heretics, and even against orthodox Christians who happened to have political disputes with the current pope.
Chivalry • Chivalry was a peculiarity of the practice of war in medieval Europe. • The feudal knight was supposed to be devout, honest, selfless, just, brave, honorable, obedient, kind, charitable, generous, and kind to women. • complex rituals and rules
European Universities • Evolved from medieval schools known as studia generalia • Places of study open to students throughout Europe. • Efforts to educate clerks and monks beyond the level of the cathedral and monastic schools. • Earliest Western universities: • Salerno, Italy-- 9th c. -- famous medical school that drew students from all over Europe • Bologna, Italy-- 11thc. --a widely respected school of canon and civil law • University of Paris --mid 12th c.-- noted for its teaching of theology and as a model for other universities in N. Europe • Oxford Universityin England--end of the 12th century.
Course of Study • Core curriculum based on the seven liberal arts: • Trivium: grammar,logic,rhetoric, • Quadrivium: geometry,arithmetic,astronomy, and music. • Students then proceeded to study under one of the professional faculties of medicine, law, and theology. • Final examinations were grueling, and many students failed.
Christian Mysticism • Visionary literature • Visions • Dreams • Reflection of an individual’s intuitive and direct knowledge of God: autobiographical • Subject to review and confirmation by Church authorities • Those who did not adhere to Church doctrine were considered heretics and often prosecuted.
Discipline of Christian Mysticism • Mystics typically received visions or knowledge of God by practicing: • Prayer: oral praying, meditation, contemplation • Self denial: asceticism, fasting, etc. • Charity: almsgiving, service to others • Visions often came in times of personal crisis or illness
St. Symeon the New Theologian (949–1022) Saint Anselm (1033–1109) Hugh of Saint Victor (1096–1141) Richard of St. Victor (? –1173) Hildegard of Bingen (1098–1179) St. Francis of Assisi (1181–1226) St. Clare of Assisi (1194–1253) St. Anthony of Padua (1195–1231) Beatrice of Nazareth (1200-1268) Mechthild of Magdeburg (1210–1279) St. Bonaventure of Bagnoregio (1221–1274) Angela of Foligno (1248–1309) Gertrude the Great (1256–1301) Marguerite Porete (?–1310) Meister Eckhart (c. 1260–1327/8) John of Ruysbroeck (1293–1381) St. Gregory Palamas (1296–1359) Johannes Tauler (1300–1361) Henry Suso (1300–1366) St. Bridget of Sweden (1302–1373) St. Julian of Norwich (1342–c.1416) St. Catherine of Sienna (1347–1380) William Langland (?–1385/6) Margery Kempe (c.1373–1438) Thomas à Kempis (1380–1471) St. Ignatius of Loyola (1491–1556) Major Medieval Christian Mystics