Christian Europe
600-1200
1. Describe the political development of Europe after
the fall of Rome. What factors led to the
development of feudalism?
2. Who were the Vikings and what effect did they
have on Europe?
3. Describe the political and religious significance of
the Carolingian Empire and the Holy Roman
Empire.
4. What are the root causes of the split between the
Western (Latin) and Eastern (Greek) churches?
5. What were the causes and impact of the
Crusades?
I. Fall of Rome
1. 476 CE Rome falls
to Visigoth invaders
2. Centralized
government
disappears
3. Loss of Greek and
Roman learning and
common language
4. Transportation, trade
and communication
halts
II. Long Term Effects
1. Constant
warfare/invasions
2. Cities abandoned as
economic/political
centers
3. Population becomes
rural: Political,
economic, cultural
change in W. Europe
4. Feudalism develops
III. Stages of Middle Ages
1. (476-750): No unity. Several small kingdoms
form: Franks, Visigoths, Saxons
– Viking raids begin
• William the Conqueror invades England 1066
2. (750-814)- Holy Roman Empire under
Charlemagne (747-814) prevents Muslims from
invading W. Europe.
–
Some strength/unity but still quite fragmented
3. (815-1050)- Carolingian Empire falls apart and
feudalism becomes dominant social and political
system
KINGS
• Divides and
distributes land
(feifdoms)
• Pledges loyalty
• Sends military
when requested
NOBLES(LORDS)
•Pledges loyalty
•Serves in noble’s
military
• Provides shelter,
protection and
means to produce
food (serfs)
KNIGHTS
•Provides shelter,
protection and land
•Farms the land
•Pays rent and taxes
PESANTS/SERFS
Social Structure
• Nobles- wealthy ruling class that
owned all the land: kings, lords,
knights
• Serfs- largest but poorest part of
population. Did most of labor.
• Freemen- lived in town; craftsmen
who made/sold goods. Not naturally
part of feudal system.
Manorial System
• Large estates that were
able to meet all of their
own needs
• Smaller farmers ceded
land to nobles for
protection
• Made up of fields,
small town w/ a mill
and workshops, a
church, and castle
4. (1050-1300)- Rise of national monarchs brings some
stability
– Agricultural revolution allows for population increase
– Commercial revival: Trade starts up again, cities are repopulated
IV. Western Church
1. Headed by pope
2. Crowned Holy Roman Emperor
(962) in attempt to combine
religious/political power
3. Investiture Controversy:
rulers/popes disagreed over
appointing bishops
4. Monasticism•
•
Celibacy, devotion to prayer,
isolation
Monasteries were centers of
learning, inns, refuge for widows
V. Byzantine Empire
1. Emperor was head of
church: Patriarch
2. Foreign threats:
–
–
Sassanids (Iran)
Muslim Arabs take Syria,
Egypt, and Tunisia
3. Schism 1054- split w/
Western Church
4. Constantinople: wellsupplied but rural areas
suffered
5. Body of Civil Law (Corpus
Juris Civilis)- later became
basis for W. European civil
law
VI. Kievan Russia
1. Poor land- wealth
depended on trade
2. Major cities: Kiev
and Novgorod
3. Vladimir I (980)
adopted Orthodox
Christianity
VII. Crusades (1100-1250)
1. Causes:
•
•
•
•
Religious zeal- wanted to liberate
Holy Land
Knights willing to fight for church
Desire for land by Euro. Nobility
Trade interests
2. Impact:
•
Ended Europe’s intellectual
isolation! Examples?