HIST 1123
History of the Late
Medieval World
Dr Niall Christie
Office Hours: Monday, 11:30 am-12:30 pm; Tuesday and
Thursday, 12:30-2:30 pm; or by appointment
Copy of outline on the web at:
<http://www3.telus.net/nchristi/HIST1123outline.html>
 Political Developments
 The Rise of Christianity
 Education and Culture
 Social History
Map Link: Reference Map of the European Provinces of the
Roman Empire:
<http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/historical/shepherd_1911/
shepherd-c-038-039.jpg>
Political Developments
3rd c. Roman Empire encountering
difficulties
284-305 Reign of Diocletian
306-37 Reign of Constantine
Constantinople
Map Link: Map of the Tetrarchy:
<http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb
/0/07/Tetrarchy_map3.jpg/789px-Tetrarchy_map3.jpg>
Political Developments
3rd c. Start of barbarian invasions of Roman
Empire
410 Visigoths sack Rome
455 Vandals sack Rome
475-76 Reign of Romulus Augustulus as last
western Roman emperor
Political Developments
Merovingians
Carolingians
Charlemagne (r. 768-814)
Capetians
Holy Roman Empire
Feudal System
Map Links:
Growth of Frankish Power, 481-814:
<http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/historical/shepherd/
frankish_power_481_814.jpg>
France about 1035:
<http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/historical/shepherd_1911/
shepherd-c-061.jpg>
Map Links:
Empire of Otto the Great:
<http://www.thenagain.info/webchron/westeurope/
OttonianEmpire.png>
Europe and the Byzantine Empire about 1000:
<http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/historical/shepherd_1911/
shepherd-c-058-059.jpg>
Rise of Christianity
303 Last great persecution of Christians under
Diocletian
306-37 Reign of Constantine
379-95 Reign of Theodosius I
Church Fathers: St Ambrose (c. 339-97), St
Jerome (c. 342-420), St Augustine of
Hippo (354-430)
590-604 Pontificate of Gregory I (the Great)
Rise of Christianity
Secular
clergy
(saeculum)
Pope
Archbishops
Patriarchs of Jerusalem,
Constantinople,
Antioch and Alexandria
Bishops
Priests
Deacons
Subdeacons, Lectors, Acolytes, Doorkeepers, Exorcists, etc.
Rise of Christianity
Holy Rule of St Benedict of Nursia
(c. 450-543)
Regular clergy (regula)
Involvement of church in individual’s life
Rise of Christianity
Other issues:
Relations of church and state
Corrupt nature of papacy in 10th c., with
attempts by German emperors
to sort this out
Simony
Clerical marriage
Rise of Christianity
Other issues:
Monastic reform movement in 10th c.
led by Cluny
Millennial expectations
Education and Culture
Mostly under church auspices
Latin and non-Latin works
Various genres of writing
Various forms of art, incl. manuscript
illuminations, architectural decoration
Education and Culture
Charlemagne (r. 768-814)
Louis the Pious (r. 814-40)
Alcuin of York (c. 735-804)
The Venerable Bede (672/73-735)
Ecclesiastical History of the English People
Map Link: The Spanish Kingdoms 1030:
<http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/historical/
spanish_kingdoms_1030.jpg>
Social History
manorial/seignorial system
9th-11th c. peasants becoming serfs
in exchange for protection
Social History
10th-11th c. Growth of towns
End 11th c. Towns obtaining privileges from
lords in exchange for rents
Women: position in mediaeval society?
Map Link: Europe and the Mediterranean Lands about 1097:
<http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/historical/shepherd/
europe_mediterranean_1097.jpg>