Chapter 9
Emerging Europe and
the Byzantine Empire
400 A.D. – 1300 A.D.
Key Events
• The new European civilization was formed by
the coming together of three major elements:
the Germanic tribes, the Roman legacy, and
the Christian church
• The collapse of a central authority in the
Carolingian Empire led to feudalism
• In the 1100’s, European monarchs began to
build strong states
• While a new civilization arose in Europe, the
Byzantine Empire created its own unique
civilization in the eastern Mediterranean
The Impact Today
• Ancient Roman literacy works exist
today because they were copied by
monks
• The influence of English common law is
seen in our American legal system
• Byzantine architecture inspired building
styles in Eastern Europe and Southwest
Asia
Chapter Preview
“The Crowning
of
Charlemagne”
Section 1
Transforming
the Roman
World
The New Germanic Kingdoms
• 3rd Century – 5th Century (Visigoths
occupied Spain and Italy)
• Ostrogoths took control of Italy in the
5th Century
• By 500 A.D. the Western Roman Empire
was replaced by various states with
German kings as rulers
• Roman structure of government
remained, but eventually Romans were
excluded from holding power
The Kingdom of the Franks
• Longest lasting of the German states
• Established by Clovis, a strong military
leader who became the 1st Germanic ruler
to convert to Christianity (500 A.D.)
• Occupied modern day France and western
Germany
• After his death his sons divided the
kingdom among themselves
Germanic Society
• Over time, Germans and Romans
intermarried and began to create a
new society
• The crucial social bond among the
Germanic peoples was the family
(Worked the land together and
provided protection for one another)
German Law
• Germanic law was personal. To avoid
bloodshed a new system developed
based on a fine called wergild.
• One means of determining guilt was
the ordeal. It was based on the idea
of divine intervention: if the accused
person was unharmed after a physical
trial, he or she was presumed
innocent.
Roman Catholic Church Organization
• Local parishes were led by priests
• A group of parishes was headed by a
bishop
– Their area of authority was known as a
bishopric, or diocese
• The bishoprics were joined together
under the direction of an archbishop
• Peter was the first bishop of Rome. The
bishops of Rome became the leaders of
the Roman Catholic Church (Later known
as popes)
•
•
•
•
The Monks and Their Missions
A monk is a man who separates
himself from ordinary human society
in order to pursue a life of total
dedication to God.
The practice of living the life of a
monk is known as monasticism.
In the 6th century, Saint Benedict
founded a community of monks for
which he wrote a set of rules.
Many monks were missionaries
Charlemagne and the Carolingians
• Charles the Great (Charlemagne) took
over the Frankish kingdom in 768
• Ruled from 768 – 814 and expanded
the Frankish kingdom and created the
Carolingian Empire
• In 800 he acquired the title of
“emperor of the Romans” (A German
king had been crowned emperor of
the Romans by the pope – A new
civilization had emerged)
Charlemagne’s Empire
Section 2
Feudalism
The Invaders
• After Charlemagne’s death in 814
the Carolingian empire was divided
into thirds among his grandsons.
• Invasions of western Europe in the
ninth and tenth century:
– Muslims
– Magyars
– Vikings
• Invasion Map on page 292.
Vikings
• Great love of adventure and search for
treasures of war led them to Europe
• 9th century – Sacked villages, destroyed
churches, and easily defeated small
local armies.
• They were given a section of France
that became known as Normandy in 911
A.D.
• Converted to Christianity and soon
became a part of European civilization
The Development of Feudalism
• With the many invasions it became
difficult for centralized governments
to defend the people
• A new political social system called
feudalism developed
• Warriors swore loyalty to leaders and
the leaders took care of the warriors
needs.
• A man who served a lord in a military
capacity was known as a vassal.
Knights
• For hundreds of years warfare in
Europe was dominated by heavily
armored cavalry, or knights, as they
came to be known.
• Land was the most important gift a
lord could give to a vassal - became
known as a fief.
• Feudal contract between a lord and
vassal – Quote on page 293.
Medieval Knights
Feudal System
**Kings**
****Lords****
******Knights******
********Serfs********
Nobility of Middle Ages
• Young Knights had little to do but
fight…
• Tournaments (Contests where knights
showed their fighting skills) began in
the 12th Century
• Tournaments were used as a training
ground for war
• Chivalry began in the 11th/12th
centuries
Jousting
Aristocratic Women
• Most women remained under the
control of men (Their fathers until
marriage, and then their husbands)
• Since the lord was often away at war
the lady of the castle had to manage
the estate:
– Managed the household officials and servants
– Took care of the financial accounts
– Oversaw the food supply
– Maintained all other household supplies
Section 3
The Growth of
European
Kingdoms
England in the High Middle
Ages
• Since the late 9th century, England
had been ruled by Anglo-Saxon Kings
• In 1066 an army of Knights under
William of Normandy soundly
defeated England and King Harold
• An Anglo-Saxon and French newly
merged culture developed as Normans
married the Anglo-Saxon
Henry II
• King Henry II ruled England from
1154 – 1189.
• Expanded the power of the royal
courts and in turn expanded the king’s
power
• In addition, because the royal courts
were now found throughout England, a
body of common law began to replace
law codes that varied from place to
place
Magna Carta
• English nobles rebelled against King
John in 1215 (Resented the growth of
the King’s power)
• King John was forced to sign the
Magna Carta at Runnymede.
• The Magna Carta limited the King’s
power and recognized that the
relationship between king and nobles
was based on mutual rights and
obligations
The French Kingdom
• The reign of King Philip II Augustus (1180
– 1223) was a turning point in the growth
of the French monarchy.
• He gained control of many territories and
increased the income of the French.
• French Parliament began under Philip IV (3
estates (classes))
– Clergy (first estate)
– Nobles (second estate)
– Townspeople and peasants (third estate)
The Holy Roman Empire
• Many years of struggle between the
popes and emperors had negative
effects on the Holy Roman Empire.
• By spending their time fighting in
Italy, the German Emperors left
Germany in the hands of powerful
German lords. These nobles created
their own independent kingdoms.
• Both Germany and Italy consisted of
many small, independent states.
Central and Eastern Europe
• The Slavic peoples were originally a
single people in central Europe.
• Gradually they divided into 3 separate
groups
– Western Slavs
– Eastern Slavs
– Southern Slavs
• Review map on page 300 regarding the
Migration of the Slavic peoples
The Development of Russia
• Swedish Vikings created the first Russian
state; “The Principality of Kiev” at the
beginning of the 10th century
• In the 13th century the Mongols conquered
Russia.
• The Mongols awarded Alexander Nevsky
(Prince of Novgorod) the title of Grand
Prince. His descendants became princes
of Moscow and eventually leaders of all
Russia.
Section 4
The Byzantine
Empire and the
Crusades
The Reign of Justinian
• Justinian became emperor of the
Eastern Roman Empire in 527
• By 552 he had restored the Roman
Empire in the Mediterranean world.
• However, 3 years after his death in
565, much of the area was soon lost
• His most important contribution
was The body of Civil law.
From Eastern Roman Empire to
Byzantine Empire
• By the beginning of the 8th century
due to military defeats, the
Eastern Roman Empire was much
smaller
• This smaller empire becomes known
as the Byzantine Empire and lasts
until 1453
• The emperor exercised control over
the church (appointed the
patriarch) as well as the state
Constantinople and Trade
• Medieval Europe’s greatest center
of trade until the 12th century
• Central location between the west
and the east
• Received products from the east
and shipped to the Mediterranean
area and northern Europe (Silk,
spices, jewelry, ivory, wheat, furs,
honey)
Hagia Sophia
New Heights and New Problems
• By 1025 Macedonian emperors
expanded the empire to its largest
size since the beginning of the 7th
century
• Power struggles led to social
disorder in the late 11th century
• Also troubled by a split between its
church which began the schism
• In 1071 Byzantine forces suffered
a devastating defeat to the Seljuk
Turks (Muslims)
The Crusades
• Crusades – (11th to 13th centuries)
European Christians carried out a
series of military expeditions to
regain the Holy Land from the
Muslims.
• Pope Urban II saw an opportunity to
provide papal leadership to a great
cause; the rallying of warriors of
Europe for the liberation of
Jerusalem and the Holy Land from the
infidels.
Early Crusades
• 1st Crusade – Mostly French Warriors;
took over Jerusalem in 1099 and
created 4 Latin crusader states
• 2nd Crusade – A total failure. Tried to
hold off Muslim forces. In 1187
Jerusalem fell to Muslim forces.
• 3rd Crusade – Led by Emperor
Frederick Barbarossa of Germany,
Richard I of England, and Philip II
(King of France). Richard I negotiates
a settlement with Saladin (Muslim).
Later Crusades
• 4th Crusade – Initiated by Pope
Innocent III. Diverted to
Constantinople, the crusaders sacked
the city in 1204. It wasn’t until 1261
that a Byzantine army recaptured
the city of Constantinople.
• Children’s Crusade – Review map and
map notes on page 307.
Chapter 9
Emerging Europe and
the Byzantine Empire
Wrap Up and Review
Key Events (Re-visited)
• The new European civilization was formed
by the coming together of three major
elements: the Germanic tribes, the Roman
legacy, and the Christian church
• The collapse of a central authority in the
Carolingian Empire led to feudalism
• In the 1100’s, European monarchs began to
build strong states
• While a new civilization arose in Europe,
the Byzantine Empire created its own
unique civilization in the eastern
Mediterranean
The Impact Today (Re-visited)
• Ancient Roman literacy works exist
today because they were copied by
monks
• The influence of English common law is
seen in our American legal system
• Byzantine architecture inspired building
styles in Eastern Europe and Southwest
Asia