3/6 – Medieval Europe and Byzantine Empire

3/6 – Medieval Europe and Byzantine Empire

• AIM: What happened to Western Europe after the fall of the Roman Empire?

• Opener: How did the Roman Empire fall? What were the causes?

Defining the Medieval Period

The time period has also been called the “Middle Ages” and the “Dark Ages”

The Fall of the Roman Empire

• Beginning of the Middle Ages

• Invasions• End of

the Roman emperors

The Barbarian Invasions

• From Asia: Huns and Magyars

• From the Germanic north: Saxons, Angles, and Goths

Rise of the Germanic Peoples

– Ostrogoths: Italian peninsula

– Visigoths: modern-day Spain

– Angles and Saxons: modern-day Britain

– Franks: central Europe

“Invasion of the Goths into the Roman Empire,” a 19th-century painting

How did the Roman Empire fall? What were the causes?

• Nomadic invasions from Northern Europe• Farmers / lower class debt & taxes on lower

classes• Inflation• Assassinations and fighting for power– Generals with personal armies fought each other

• Disease• Corruption• Slave revolts

Medieval Europe: Stages

Timeline:• Three periods during the “middle ages” – Early,

High, and Late:• Early Middle Ages (500 – 1000 CE)– Fall of Roman Empire (476 CE)– Clovis unites Franks under Catholicism (~500 CE)– Franks defeat Muslims in France (732 CE)– Charlemagne (Carolingian family) calls himself

“Emperor” and attempts to reestablish empire over Western Europe (~800 CE) Later kings called themselves the “Holy Roman Emperors”, but did not have much power.

– Viking invasions bring more instability to Western Europe (~800 – 1000 CE)

Clovis (466–511)• Established a

Frankish kingdom in central Europe

• Conquered many competing tribes and regional Roman political leaders

• Converted to Christianity

Charlemagne (742–814)

• Powerful leader, strong Christian

• Created the Carolingian Empire

• Crowned by Pope Leo III as the first Holy Roman Emperor

The Vikings• Warrior culture from Scandinavia

• Raided Europe

• Established settlements throughout Europe and even in North America

A Viking longboat

Viking Lenses: To detect the location of the sun in cloudy weather, start fires

Did the Vikings make a telescope?http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/702478.stm

Rock Crystal Lenses from the Viking Harbor Town of Fröjel, Gotland in Sweden.

Timeline:• Three periods during the “middle ages” – Early,

High, and Late:• High Middle Ages (1000 – 1300CE):– Feudalism emerges as the dominant political system.– Population growth due to better agricultural

technology and warmer weather. (1000- 1347)– Rise of Manorialism as economic system– Crusades (1096 – 1270CE)– Nobles force King John to sign the Magna Carta,

enshrining the rights of the nobility. (1215 CE)– First English parliament (1265)

See, infer, wonder

Feudalism• A political, economic,

and social system in which land was allocated in exchange for services; roles and obligations were clearly defined for all participants

• Grew out of Roman practices of clientage/patronage

• Originally developed as a means of protection and defense

A French vassal receiving a feudal grant from the king

Feudal System Vocabulary• Lord• Vassal• Fief• Manor• Serf

Feudal serfs

The Feudal Power Relationship

Knights

• Elite military soldiers

• Usually from the noble classes

• Stages of training: page, squire, knight

• Chivalry = code of behavior Statue of a

medieval knight

The Medieval TournamentMeans of practicing military skills

Castles

• Centers of noble life

• Purposes:– Intimidation– Military

defense– Residence

Warwick Castle, England

England

• 1066: Norman Invasion• William the Conqueror

(1027–1087)– Brought feudalism to

England

• Henry II (1154–1189)– Instituted a single common

law code, unified court system

William the Conqueror

England: Magna Carta (1215)• Conflict between King John

and the English nobility• Nobles rebelled against

excessive taxation, forced King John to sign the Magna Carta in 1215

• Limited power of the monarch

• Formal recognition that the king was not above the law

A photograph of the Magna Carta

England: Development of Parliament

• Henry III (1216–1272)• Edward I (1239–1307)• Original parliament

– House of Lords: nobles and church lords

– House of Commons: knights and residents

• Approved taxes, discussed policies, worked with the monarch to make laws

Edward I

Economic System - Manorialism

See, infer, wonder

Why Crop Rotation?

3/14 – Medieval Obligations

• AIM: What were the benefits and drawbacks of the feudal and manorial systems?

• Opener: An obligation is a duty or commitment. What obligations do you have at home (to your parents, etc.)?

The “Feudal Contract”

• Feudalism and manorialism both were based on a series of agreements between the different social classes in the middle ages.

• Although there were no formal “contracts” signed, each social class had obligations towards the other classes.

• As your read your passage, underline obligations you have towards others and star obligations others have towards you.

• Additionally, make sure to note how your basic needs – food, shelter, safety – are met.

Roles:• 1 - Lord Porter – the owner of 5,000 acres of land• 2 - George Stout – a vassal to Lord Porter• 3 - Lady Knightly – the wife of Sir Knightly, a

famous knight• 4 - Mary Cooper – a serf on Sir Knightly’s manor.

Task: You will be given a scenario. Based on your knowledge of Feudalism, you are to engage in conversation with your group, pretending to be your character. Try to remain historically accurate, but don’t be afraid to get creative and have fun!

Roles:• 1 - Lord Porter – the owner of 5,000 acres of land• 2 - George Stout – a vassal to Lord Porter• 3 - Lady Knightly – the wife of Sir Knightly, a famous

knight• 4 - Mary Cooper – a serf on Sir Knightly’s manor.

Task: Get the creative juices flowing: – What’s your character’s overall personality? (Happy,

grumpy, kind, mean, fierce, shy, intelligent, dull, etc.)– What does your character spend most of his/her day doing?– My character likes to _____________, and hates

_______________!

Roles:• Lord Porter – the owner of 5,000 acres of land• George Stout – a vassal to Lord Porter• Lady Knightly – the wife of Sir Knightly, a famous knight• Mary Cooper – a serf on Sir Knightly’s manor.

Scenario 1: It’s harvest time, but an early frost has killed off many of the crops.– Who might you owe food to? (Or expect food

from?) – How will the crop failure affect your life?– What are your concerns?


Scenario 2: There’s talk of a serious dispute between Lord Porter and Lord Mead.– How can this dispute be handled?– If fighting breaks out, who will fight, and for whom?– How will you be affected by this dispute & what

might you need from others?


Scenario 3: Sir Knightly, a vassal to Lord Highbrow, has died without a male heir. He does have two daughters.– What will happen to Sir Knightly’s manor? To his

daughters?– Can you profit from this situation?


Scenario 4: King DuBois has decided to tour his kingdom.– Where will he stay?– How will his visit affect you?

Wrap-Up!

• What were the strengths of the feudal system?

• What were its weaknesses?

Aim: How did the Catholic Church become the most powerful and unifying force in Medieval

Europe?

Church at Fulda, Germany

Google images

The Age of Faith

• Why do you think that the Middle Ages in Europe is also known as the Age of Faith?

The Hierarchy of the Roman Catholic Church

The Monastic Movement• Became popular in the 5th

century• Arose as a reaction against the

increasing “worldliness” of the Church

• Monasteries: secluded religious communities

• Benedictine monasticism: vows of chastity, poverty, obedience

• Monasteries were centers of scholarship in the early middle agesSt. Benedict

Excerpt of a letter from Pope Innocent III (1198)

“The Creator set up two great lights in the heavens; the greater light to rule the day the lesser light to rule the night. In the same way, the Church has set up two great lights on earth; the greater light, being the Pope, to rule over souls; the lesser light, being the king, to rule over bodies. Just as the moon’s light comes from the sun, does the power of the king come from the Pope. The more closely a king is willing to follow the Pope’s rule, the greater his light will be.”

Q: According to Pope Innocent III, what ought to be the relationship between Church and State?

NYC Curriculum

An Age of Faith and Superstition

Faith in the Roman Catholic Church did not erase superstitions in Medieval Europe. Below were some common superstitions:

• An evil witch could exchange a healthy child for a sickly one (the “changeling” was the substitute)

• Preparing a table with three knives pleased good fairies

• A person could change into the shape of a wolf• The croak of a raven would bring bad luck• Meeting a priest would bring good luck

Patterns of Interaction

Primary Source Document Analysis - Discussion Questions

• What can we learn about the religious practices of the Anglo-Saxons from Bede’s account?

• In what specific ways did the pope urge toleration? Why did he encourage tolerance?

• What implication might Gregory’s policies have for the beliefs and practices of English converts?

Islam in Europe

• Islamic forces took control of Spain in the early 8th century

• Muslim innovations– Agriculture– Architecture– Math and

scienceGreat Mosque of Córdoba

The Reconquista of Spain• Muslims ruled the

Iberian Peninsula for nearly 800 years

• Reconquista: Struggle between Christians and Muslims to control Spain

• 718–1492• King Ferdinand of

Aragon and Isabella of Castile

Isabella and Ferdinand

The Crusades

• 1095–1291• Goals of the Crusades:

– Convert nonbelievers– Eliminate heretics– Regain control of the Holy Land from the Muslims

Louis IX of France leads crusaders against Damietta(port city), in Egypt

Pope Urban II• 1095: Pope

Urban II’s speech– Promised

spiritual rewards

– Thousands responded to the call for religious warriors Pope Urban

II calling for the Crusades

• 1096: Mostly French knights

• Captured Jerusalem in 1099

• Crusader states• Jerusalem taken by

Muslim forces under Saladin in 1187

The First Crusade (1096–1099)

A depiction of the capture of Jerusalem by crusaders

Other Crusades• Major and minor

crusades took place between the 12th and 14th centuries

• Christians unsuccessful at recapturing the Holy Land

• Popes invoked crusades more often and for non-spiritual purposes

• Legacy of the Crusades:– Increased trade– Religious tensions arose The Crusade on Constantinople

Crusade questions

• What problem began to emerge after the Viking raids ended?

• How did the Church attempt to solve this problem?

• What was the purpose of the Crusades?• How did the Crusades affect Europe?• What factors helped bring Europe out of the

“dark ages”?

Timeline:• Three periods during the “middle ages” –

Early, High, and Late:• Late Middle Ages (1300 – 1453CE):– Rise of university system, Gothic architecture– Increase in trade and banking– Guild system– Black Death (1348)– Hundred Years War (1337-1453)

The Plague

Spread of the Plague• Started in China• Reached Europe

in 1347 via a merchant ship on the island of Sicily

• 1347–48: southern Europe

• 1349–50: central Europe and the British Isles

Attempted Medical “Cures”for the Plague

• Doctors wore strange costumes

• Bathing in human urine• Wearing excrement• Placing dead animals in

homes • Wearing leeches• Drinking molten gold

and powdered emeralds • Burning incense to get

rid of the smell of the dead

A costume worn by

doctors to ward off the Plague

Effects of the Plague

• Killed 25–30 million Europeans

• Undermined faith in religion

• Economy• Culture

influenced

Societal Effects of Black Death• Economy destroyed– Labor shortage led to more bargaining power for serfs.

• Peasant uprisings

• Feudal / manorial system weakened• The Church:– People’s faith in church/religion was shaken– Church officials highly affected by disease, their deaths

weakened the institution of the Church• Jews persecuted, displaced• Stirred interest in medicine/science

The Hundred Years’ War: Battles

• England had early victories

• The French eventually expelled the British from mainland Europe

• English military innovation: the archer

• Archer weakened power of knights & feudal systemThe Battle of Crecy, the first major battle of the

Hundred Years’ War

Hundred Year’s War: Joan of Arc• Heroine of the

war• Had visions

that told her to free France

• Fought with the army

• Captured, burned at the stake Joan of Arc being burned at the stake

Trade and Economy (Guilds) in Late Middle Ages

Medieval Trade Routes

http://www2.coloradocollege.edu/Dept/HY/Ashley/HY104/images/MapKeys/medievalmaps.htm

Identify majorCenters of trade:Hamburg, Bruges,Florence,Venice

Hanseatic League (Trade Organization)

The League regulated taxes and had rules for fair trade among its members

The Guilds

http://medievaleurope.mrdonn.org/guilds.html

Guild Rules• Price Control: The guild decided on the price of each item. All

bakers, for example, changed the same price for a loaf of bread, the price set by the guild.

• Wage Control: All workers had to be paid the same, so that the best workers could not be enticed away with better wages somewhere else.

• Quality Control: Everyone had to satisfy the quality standards set by their respective guild. No one was allowed to sell shoddy goods.

• Advertising Control: No guild member could advertise their wares. The guilds wanted people to think that all wares offered the same quality, no matter what shop sold them.


Jews were not allowed to join guilds

Climbing the Ladder to Success

Apprentice

Journeyman

Master

• Masters: At the top of the ladder were people called “Masters,” who owned their own shops.

• Journeyman: After he had learned something about his craft, a man could move up to the level of journeyman. He was paid a little money, along with free food and a place to sleep. He could only work under a master. To become a master, a journeyman had to submit a "masterpiece" - to a committee of masters in his guild. If they approved his work, he could become a master himself.

• Apprentice: During the period an apprentice was learning a skill, he received food, a place to sleep, and training, but was not paid.


Middle Ages Inventions

Penn State University: Medieval Technology and American History

The Cam (or Camshaft)http://www.engr.psu.edu/mtah/photos/photos_saugus.htm

The Cam or Camshaft operation

Animation: http://lrs.ed.uiuc.edu/students/hari1/ci335/3c.html

The ClockThe earliest of these is credited to Jacopo de Dondi, who designed an astronomical clock for the cathedral tower in Padua in 1344. Curiously, almost every zodiac sign surrounds the clock face except for the balanced scales of Libra. (As the story goes, it was deliberately left out of the lineup by guild workers who felt they weren't treated fairly in salary negotiations.)

http://www.newyorkcarver.com/inventions4.htm

Eyeglasses (1268)

The Cannon

Architecture• Many churches

and cathedrals built during the Middle Ages

• Church designs– Romanesque:

cross, nave– Gothic:

ribbed vault, flying buttress, stained glass

Chartres Cathedral in France, a prime example of medieval Gothic architecture

Legacy of the Medieval Era• Transitional period• New kingdoms evolved• The Church became a

dominant force• Modern institutions

originated

3/11 – Western Europe and the Byzantine Empire

• AIM: 1) How did Christianity spread to Western Europe? 2) What were the PERSIA+G features of the Byzantine Empire?

• Opener: Would you consider the Byzantine Empire to be a continuation of Rome? Explain why or why not.

Taking Notes: What to look for in the textbook

• Rough time periods / eras (think centuries)• Bolded names• Events leading to CHANGE– Note what changed – compare before and after– Notice what stayed the same

• Think connections to other civilizations we’ve studied– Look for similarities and differences

• Patterns / repeated facts

Political Features – Byzantine Empire• Military– Recruited troops in exchange for land grants– Did not rely on mercenaries– Had an army and navy

• Government Bureaucracy– Educated; recruited from a range of social classes– Gov’t regulated many aspects of life (e.g. food prices)

• Similarities to China– Strong central emperor who was ordained by God

(head of church and state)– Extensive bureaucracy

Economics – Byzantine Empire

• Trade– Center of extensive trade networks (Russia to

north; Asia to the East; grain in Italy)– Silk and luxury goods played a role

• Wars put economic pressure on the Empire• Tax system & agricultural production =

revenue for gov’t

Byzantine PERSIA+G Review• Political Characteristics:– Constantinople, founded by Roman Emperor

Constantine, was the capital. – Greek was the official language– Constantly under attack from barbarians to the

west, and Persians (and later Muslims) to the east.– Justinian (533-565 CE) was a famous emperor.

Tried to reclaim lands of the Roman Empire.– Developed “Justinian Code” based on Roman Law– Power peaked towards end of 10th century

Byzantine PERSIA+G Review• More Political Characteristics:– Emperor was infused with divine characteristics –

was considered head of state & church. There were elaborate court rituals

– Extensive bureaucracy recruited people from all social classes

– Military gained power and influence over time

Byzantine PERSIA+G Review

• Economic Characteristics– Bureaucracy regulated trade and controlled food

prices.– Peasants heavily taxed; food prices kept artificially

low– Extensive trade (located at center of many trans-

Asian trade routes). – Merchants’ influence was limited


• Religious & Social Characteristics


• Intellectual & Artistic Characteristics– Hagia Sophia church


• Geographic Characteristics– Ruled Balkans, northern Middle East,

Mediterranean coast, and North Africa

3/12 - The Spread of Christianity in Medieval Europe

• AIM: 1) How did Christianity spread in medieval Europe? 2) What were the political and economic structures of medieval Europe?

• Opener: In a short paragraph, summarize Pope Gregory’s message to the English Church (from yesterday’s reading).

3/6 – Medieval Europe and Byzantine Empire

Documents

Transcript of 3/6 – Medieval Europe and Byzantine Empire