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Chapter 17. THE FOUNDATIONS OF CHRISTIAN SOCIETY IN WESTERN EUROPE. Example Question. Which of the following achievements was not a part of the early middle ages? a. a restoration of political order through a feudal system. b. economic recovery.
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Chapter 17 THE FOUNDATIONS OF CHRISTIAN SOCIETY IN WESTERN EUROPE
Example Question • Which of the following achievements was not a part of the early middle ages? a. a restoration of political order through a feudal system. b. economic recovery. c. the reestablishment of centralized, imperial rule. d. the creation of an institutional framework for the Christian church based in Rome. e. Both c and d are true.
Overview • Political order restored out of disruption caused by the fall of the Roman Empire. • Economic recovery based first on increased agricultural production within the rural manorial system. • During this period Roman Christianity provided the impetus for cultural continuity and unity in Western Europe. • The office of the papacy and the monastic movement were two powerful institutions that developed and consolidated a uniquely European culture.
Germanic successor states • Germanic kingdoms: Visigoths, Ostrogoths, Lombards, Burgundians, Angles/Saxons. • The Franks: center of gravity shifted from Italy to northern lands.
The Franks Clovis • Led the Franks and wiped out the last vestiges of Roman authority in Gaul • The Franks converted to Roman Christianity • Alliance with the Roman church greatly strengthened the Franks
The Franks The Carolingians • Carolingians, an aristocratic clan, asserted authority in the early eighth century • Charles Martel's son claimed the throne for himself, 751
The Franks Charlemagne (reigned 768-814 C.E.) • Grandson of Charles Martel, founder of Carolingian empire • Control extended to northeast Spain, Bavaria, north Italy
Charlemagne • Capital city at Aachen (in modern Germany) • Relied on aristocratic deputies, known as counts • Used missi dominici to oversee local authorities • Pope Leo III proclaimed Charlemagne emperor, 800
Decline of the Carolingian empire • Charlemagne's only surviving son; lost control of the counts • His three sons divided the empire into three kingdoms, 843 • Muslims raided south, seized Sicily, parts of northern Italy and southern France • Magyars invaded from the east • Vikings invaded from the north
Vikings- Norsemen • Most were merchants and migrants • Mounted raids in many European regions from Russia to Spain • Outstanding seafarers; even established a colony in Canada about 1000 • Fleets could go to interior regions via rivers, attacking towns and villages
Early medieval society • After Carolingian empire dissolved, local nobles built decentralized states • Lords and retainers • Lord provided retainer • Retainers owed lord loyalty, obedience, respect, counsel, and military service • Lord/retainer relationships become stronger; retainer status became hereditary
Serfdom Serfs • Serfs as an intermediate category emerged about the mid-seventh century • Could not move to other lands without permission • Serfs had right to work on land and pass it to heirs • Manors were a principal form of agricultural organization • A manor was a large estate, controlled by the lord and his deputies (self-sufficient)
Agriculture of early medieval Europe • Heavy plows appeared in the sixth century • Agricultural production increased • Cultivation of new lands; watermills; and rotating crops • Agricultural surplus not enough to support large cities
PERSIAN Chart- The Franks (Carolingian) • Complete a PERSIAN Chart on the Franks. • Focus your study on the Carolingian empire.