The Medieval Ages (medium aveum) An Era of Transition

1. The Medieval Ages(medium aveum)An Era of Transition 500 – 1500 AD

2. Backwards and Broken… • By 500 AD, Germanic invasions had all but destroyed the urban world of the Roman Empire. • Trade declined. Cities, bridges and roads fell into disrepair and disuse. Law and order vanished, and education almost disappeared. • Money was no longer used. • For most people, life did not extend beyond the tiny villages where they were born. • Compared with other contemporary societies – Islamic, Byzantine, and Chinese – western Europe was so backward that scholars once called the early part of this period the Dark Ages.

3. Where are the “Romans” again? • The Western part of the Roman Empire was conquered by invading Germanic tribes, but the Eastern part continued to prosper. • Constantinople was the “New Rome’s” capital. • At its height the Byzantine Empire was ruled by Justinian, the emperor who never sleeps. • Theodora • Actress • Active in government rule • Women’s rights to own land

4. Justinian and Co. • Justinian restored the Roman Empire in 554 AD. • Although within a generation it was lost again. • Corpus of Civil Law – Justinian Code, preserved the legal heritage of Rome and later served as the basis for most European legal systems.

5. Schisms and other fun words to say… • In the 700s, a major religious dispute broke out over the use of icons. • No images because of Ten Commandments • Defenders stressed the symbolic nature and creative value of icon worship.

6. Schisms and other fun words to say… • The pope in Rome and the patriarch of Constantinople did not agree on their roles in the Christian Church. • Lombards invade Italy • Byzantine emperor says, “I am busy…” • Pope turns to Franks instead • After the Franks defeated the Lombards, the pope gave the leader, Pepin – the Short, the title of emperor • (a title which only the Byzantine ruler could grant). • By 1054 AD, doctrinal, political and geographical differences finally led to a schism, or separation, of the church into Roman Catholic Church in the West and the Eastern Orthodox Church in the East.

7. Back to the Past… • Frankish Rulers • 481 AD - Clovis: converted to Christianity to please wife, and gain support of the people he just conquered. • 719 AD - Charles Martel (The Hammer): Led in the Battle of Tours that successfully stopped the Muslim invasion. • 741 AD - Pepin (The Short): Supported the pope in his battle with the Lombards in exchange for the pope’s blessing. Gave the papacy the Lombard’s territory around Rome.

8. Frankish Kings continued… • 768 AD – Charlemagne (Chuck the Great): In Latin his name is written Carolus Magnus, which gave the name Carolingian to his dynasty. • Doubled the borders of his Frankish kingdom to include Germany, France, northern Spain, and most of Italy. • To govern successfully and convert people to Catholicism, he needed to restore literacy. • Charlemagne made his court a center for education and research. Scholars from all over Europe gathered to teach in the palace school. • These scholars helped preserve classical learning by making accurate Latin copies of ancient religious manuscripts and Roman classics. • MissiDominici– local officials to listen/fix/report issues with locals

9. Who crowns Who? • The pope needed Charlemagne again in 800 AD to help in dealing with the Roman nobles. • To show his gratitude Pope Leo III crowned Charlemagne Emperor of the Romans on Christmas day. • The official beginning of the Holy Roman Emperor and the church’s alliance.

10. Thanks for Coming in… • Why might some scholars label the period of 500 AD to 1500 AD the Dark Ages? • Who was Justinian? Where was his capital? What are some of his accomplishments? • What were the issues leading to the split of Christianity? • Who were the important Frankish leaders and what were they known for? • Why is Charlemagne’s coronation so important?

11. To go a-viking… • To fight as a pirate or warrior • long, deckless ships called Drakkars. • one sail and were designed to slide swiftly through the water propelled by long oars • Could be picked up and carried easily • Surprise attacks and speedy retreats without mercy. • These raids isolated European communities and severely weakened the central authority of monarchs. • Nobel and local officials took over the local defense.

12. Feudalism and other complicated matters… • Feudalism: • a highly decentralized form of government that stressed alliances of mutual protection between monarchs and nobles of varying degrees of power.

13. Daily Life • Housing • Daub & wattle • Dirt floors • Animals • Holy Days • Holidays • Tournaments • Life Span (40)

14. Feudal Relationships • Charles Martel wanted to implement stirrups into the cavalry like the Muslims. • To raise such a cavalry, Martel began giving tracts of land to warriors so they would have a source of income to buy weapons and horses. • With each tract of land, called a fief, came peasant laborers to work it, (serfs)

15. Feudal Relationships cont… • Frankish kings later enlarged this system by giving fiefs to counts and local officials. • In time many of the powers usually held by government: raising armies, dispensing justice, and in some cases minting coins was done by the local official. • In return, the nobles swore an oath of loyalty and pledged military support to the king. Vassal/Noble Peasants

16. Vassals and kings of the castles • The king was at the top • In the middle were the various ranks of lords. • Each lord was a vassal, that is, a noble who served a lord of the next higher rank. • At the bottom were the knights. • In practice, however, a noble might be both a lord and a vassal, since a noble could pledge his allegiance to more than one lord.

17. Feudal Obligations • Homage – a solemn ceremony establishing a contract between a new vassal and his lord. • In return for a fief, the vassal pledged to perform certain duties. • most important obligation was military service. • provide a certain number of knights for battle during a period of 40 – 60 days a year. • provide food and lodging when the lord came visiting, and to contribute funds. • pay ransom in the event of the lord’s capture in battle.

18. A time to fight… • The lack of strong central government led to small-scale wars between feudal lords hoping to gain land or to add to their wealth. • The Church tried to limit these battles by issuing a set of decrees: • Peace of God Decree: forbade fighting on Church lands • Truce of God Decree: prohibited battles on holidays and weekends. • Eventually fighting was legal on only 80 days of each year.

19. Identifying a Knight • Once knights began to use closed helmets, it was impossible to tell one knight from another. • To identify themselves, knights had individual designs painted on the shields they carried to ward off blows. • loose tunics they wore over their armor had the same designs embroidered. • knight’s coat of arms.

20. The Medieval Castle

21. Thanks for Coming in… • How would one argue that vikings were the cause for feudalism? • How does manorialism work? • What are some of the obligations to feudal contracts?

22. You all are sinners… have a nice day! • Parish/Diocese • Sacraments • Baptism • Eucharist • Reconciliation • Confirmation • Marriage • Holy orders • Anointing of the sick (last rites)

23. The Medieval Church • Papal Supremacy • Latin • Vernacular • No education (reading or writing) • Distrust later • Everything known was from statues, windows, and oral history

24. Benedictine Order • Benedict established a monastery at Monte Cassino in Italy. • “idleness is an enemy of the soul” • “to labor is to pray” • Benedict drew up a list of rules that alternated hard work with meditation and prayer. • According to the rule: • monks could not own goods (poverty) • must never marry (chastity) • were bound to obey the laws of the monastery (abbot/abbess)

25. Monks and Nuns, GTs. • 1-2 plain meals a day • Abbot • Rule of silence • Passages of Bible read for entertainment • Laborious hand copying of manuscripts • Provided schools for the young • Hospitals • Taught peasants agriculture, and made improvements in carpentry and weaving. • Lodging for travelers

26. Powers of the Church • Heretic: speaking against the church • Canon Law • Inquisition: • finding those spreading heresy, or the denial of basic Church teachings. • Excommunication/ Interdict

27. Problems of the Church • Discipline weakens • Married priests • Simony • Lay investiture • Appointing of church positions by secular leaders • Selling of indulgences • Anti-Semitism • Diaspora to Eastern Europe

28. High Middle Ages (1000 – 1300) • Charters • Asking permission from king to establish a town/city in exchange for money • Freeing of serfs • Choosing their own leaders • Control of their own affairs

29. Commercial Revolution • Capital: money for investment • Partnership • Larger ventures • Less risk • Insurance • Bill of Exchange: checking account

30. Guilds • Association of artisans, or similar jobs designed to protect their own economic interests. • Apprentice, Journeyman Master