ROME WAS A STRONG, UNIFIED CIVILIZATION – Pax Romana 27BC –
180 AD but still a force in AD 400
• Controlled all land around the Mediterranean
• Latin was the common language
• Urbanized (20% of population lived in cities of greater than
100,000 people, Rome had 1 million residents)
• High standard of living for the rich, (much of the population
was poor but had access to government-subsidized food,
apartments, entertainment)
• Centrally administered - the government and army reported to
Rome.
• Legal system based on rational rules, though it favored the
government over individual rights and men over women
• Emphasis on serving the empire, emperor was “worshipped”
(until Constantine AD 313). The high and mighty received all
the accolades, the poor were downtrodden.
MAJOR CULTURAL CHANGE WITH THE INSTITUTION OF CHRISTIANITY
• Big change formalized in 391 when Christianity becomes the
official religion (Constantine first accepted Christianity,
Theodosius made it official)
• Emphasis was placed on the importance of the soul which puts
all souls on an equal footing (this appeals to those
dispossessed by traditional Roman culture)
• Emphasized the importance of taking care of the less
fortunate
AS ROME LOST ITS POLITICAL POWER, IT RETAINS RELIGIOUS
IMPORTANCE
• Western center of Roman Christianity after the Western half
of the empire falls in 476, overrun by barbarians
• For centuries the popes, as leaders of the Roman Catholic
Church, will also try to control the politics of Western Europe
LOSS OF POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC POWER
• Army’s ties to the state weakened. Soldiers fought for money,
not honor. Barbarians were recruited into the Roman army.
• Politics became overrun by army influence and increasing
economic strain on provincial rulers.
• Capital moved away from Rome to Constantinople in 330
• Invading barbarians advanced from several different
directions, driven out of their land by the even more ferocious
Huns. AD 410-476
• These invasions interrupted trade. Rome responded by
minting more money, causing inflation. Overworked soil
caused poor harvests.
BY 800, THERE WERE THREE DISTINCT ‘EMPIRES’ IN WHAT HAD BEEN
THE ROMAN EMPIRE
GREEK CHRISTENDOM in Byzantium – Asia Minor, Balkan Peninsula
Greek in culture and language, Christian in religion
Emperor is the supreme ruler of both church and state
Not as flexible and creative as the original Greeks
Slowly but surely shrinking.
MUSLIM/ARAB/ISLAMIC EMPIRE – Spain, North Africa, Arabia,
Middle East from Syria to Pakistan/Northwest India
Incredibly rapid expansion, only started in 622
Arab in culture and language, Muslim in religion
Ruled by a Caliphate
Took Greek knowledge to a higher level (ex. Algebra, Arabic #s)
LATIN CHRISTENDOM (or “the West”) – Italian peninsula, Western
Europe, British Isles
Little culture, little trade, no common language – dominated by
barbarian tribes who had no written language but a strong oral
culture which esteemed fighting and heroic valor
Barbarian (mostly Germanic) kings ruled small kingdoms,
commanded the loyalty of their subjects
Laws originated in customs, legal system based on “trial by ordeal”
Cities depopulated
OF THESE THREE CIVILIZATIONS, LATIN CHRISTENDOM WAS LEAST
PREDICTED TO SUCCEED
CHURCH WAS A UNIFYING FORCE
Network of bishoprics and monasteries w/ Rome at center
BUT THE CHURCH DEVELOPED SOME BAD HABITS
• Pope often controlled by the Roman mob
• Many clergy illiterate
• Pagan superstition mixed in with religious thought
• Many priests married and had children
THERE WAS A TEMPORARY REVIVAL DURING THE CAROLINGIAN ERA
The Carolingian Era (733-843) saw the emergence of a new European
society, especially under Charlemagne or “Charles the Great”
FEUDALISM BEGAN TO DEVELOP
Majordomo Charles “the hammer” Martel was able to defeat the
Muslims at Tours in 733 using the help of hired vassals
(Charlemagne’s grandfather)
GROWTH IN CHRISTIANITY
• Frankish kings cooperated with the Pope – the Pope received
protection, Frankish kings were allowed to exert more control
over their Bishops
• In 800 the pope named Charlemagne “emperor”, combining
Christianity and Frankish practices
• Missionary work brought Christianity to German tribes
UNITED WESTERN EUROPE
• Charlemagne (r. 768-814) fought in more than 50 campaigns
• Subdued northern France, took over northwestern Germany,
added portions of northern Italy to his kingdom, advanced as
far as the Balkan Peninsula
REVIVED LEARNING
• Carolingian Renaissance led by the English scholar Alcuin who
developed legal documents and set moral standards.
• Also promoted the copying of books (preserving some ancient
works), development of miniscule, establishment of schools
THE CAROLINGIAN RENAISSANCE WAS SHORT LIVED
• Charlemagne passed most of his empire to his son Louis the
Pious (who in turn divided it among his three heirs in 843)
• These three heirs fought amongst themselves, weakening the
empire
• Carolingian Renaissance was a small “blip” of improved
“civilization” which ended with the Viking raids
VIKING INVASIONS RETURNED EUROPE TO A TIME OF CRISIS AND
INSTABILITY
• Vikings initially raided, killing and taking anything of value,
then left
• They were skilled seafarers who traded as far south as
Constantinople (via Russia)
• Settled Iceland, and Greenland for a while. “Discovered”
Vineland (probably Newfoundland)
• They had little contact with Rome, instead they worshipped
pagan, warlike gods
VIKINGS EVENTUALLY INTEGRATED INTO EUROPEAN SOCIETY
Eventually they settled in with the people they had originally
attacked – ex. Normandy, France named for the men from the
“North”, This occurred because:
• Europeans figured out how to respond to the Viking attacks
with feudalism
• Vikings adopted Christianity
• A warming trend made farming in Scandinavia easier and more
profitable
FEUDALISM -government based on a system of loyalty
King – gave land (fiefs) to his vassals including both counts and the
upper clergy who were considered nobility
Counts – as nobility they held local judicial, military and financial
power; hired knights (not seen as nobility) on military retainers
MANORIALISM – system of land ownership & labor
Lords (both kings and counts) received “rent” from their peasants in
the form of labor, agricultural produce, fees for marriage & baking
Serfs received protection and a place to live and work. Bound to the
land which they farmed. Paid fees to the lords and a tithe to the
Church. It is estimated that by 800, 60% of the people were serfs
Developed as a response to the barbarian invasions – a way for
people to pull together and protect themselves
RELIGIOUS REVIVAL
AFTER 500 YEARS OF MOSTLY DISORGANIZATION, EUROPE
REGROUPS, REVIVES AND RECOVERS BETWEEN 1000-1300
THE CATHOLIC CHURCH LED THE WAY WITH A RELIGIOUS REVIVAL
• Salvation became the overwhelming concern of everyone
• Duties of lords and vassals were confirmed with religious oaths
• Guilds united the people of a trade but were also religious
brotherhoods
• As towns began to regrow, they began building grander and
grander structures dedicated to worship.
FIRST CATHEDRALS WERE BUILT IN THE ROMANESQUE STYLE
Rounded Roman arch, heavy walls with only small windows, large
towers, symmetrical style
Late 10th to 12th century (picture is of Angouleme Cathedral)
ROMANESQUE DEVELOPED INTO THE MORE ORNATE GOTHIC STYLE
• Consumed much of a town or city’s resources, but also
became a source of revenue due to pilgrimages
• Built in the 12th and 13th centuries.
GOTHIC is easily recognizable by its vaulted (pointed) arches, flying
buttresses, stained glass windows
The idea behind stained glass windows was to let in as much “holy
light” as possible.
Saint Chapelle in Paris has so much stained glass that it seems
weightless. (It’s nick-name is “the jewel box”.)
It stands squarely upon a less ornate lower chapel which served as
parish church for all the inhabitants of the Louis IX’s palace.
It was Consecrated in 1248 to hold relics (articles of religious
significance like the bones of saints or wood from the cross Jesus
was crucified on – you can decide whether you believe these are the
“real thing”).
Pilgrims came to see these relics, many of them believing the relics
could perform miracles.
MONASTERIES WERE THE SPEARHEAD OF THE CHURCH REFORM
EFFORT
Monks lived austerely, usually away from urban areas and followed
the rules of the Church (no pluralism – leading more than one
congregation, no simony – the buying and selling of church offices)
This is the Abbaye Notre-Dame de Senanque founded by Cistercian
monks in 1148. It is a great example of primitive Cistercian
architecture. It is austere, nothing to distract the monks. It had only
one heated room, where monks copied the scripture.
THERE WAS FREQUENT CONFLICT BETWEEN THE CHURCH LEADERS
AND THE POLITICAL LEADERS
The strengthening of the church and the papacy upset the
church/state balance
Popes wanted to get rid of lay investiture – secular rulers picking
their own bishops. Secular rulers did not want to give up this power
This conflict evolved into the epic 1077 fight between Pope Gregory
VII (pictured above) who believed he was chosen by God to reform
the papacy and Holy Roman Emperor (HRE) Henry IV who wanted to
maintain his lay investiture rights.
The pope threatened Henry IV with excommunication, which not
only would prevent Henry IV from going to heaven, it also freed all of
his German and Northern Italian serfs (who had no obligation to
serve a heretic)
Henry IV was forced to ask for forgiveness at Canossa
As a Christian, Gregory VII had to grant that forgiveness (but only
after he made Henry IV wait out in the snow barefoot for 3 days).
STRUGGLE FOR POWER BETWEEN CHURCH AND STATE WILL
CONTINUE FOR CENTURIES
ECONOMIC REVIVAL OF TOWNS AS CENTERS OF TRADE AND PLACES
OF PROTECTION
The three-field system meant that there was more food available to
the population. This led not only to people living longer due to
better health, but also an increase in the birth rate.
Between 1000 and 1150 the population of Europe increased over
30%
This increased population began to move to towns to ply their trade
A small middle class developed – burghers (or bourgeoisie in France),
who were more interested in making money than pleasing God
Towns and cities also became centers of learning
Rothenburg was founded in 1170
TRADE BECAME INTERNATIONAL
Trade with Asia was prompted in part by European’s exposure to
Asia during the Crusades
Italy dominated trade with Asia
Silk road brought Chinese goods to Europe over land. Water routes
facilitated trade with China, India and Indonesia.
Northern Europe was also trading internationally
Flanders (the region encompassing northern France and what will
become the Netherlands and Belgium), dominated the wool trade
The Hanseatic League promoted trade in the north in the 13th and
early 14th centuries.
The League primarily traded timber, furs, resin (or tar), flax, honey,
wheat, and rye from the east to Flanders and England.
Cloth (and, increasingly, simple manufactured goods) were traded
from the west to the east.
Metal ore (principally copper and iron) and herring came southwards
from Sweden.
For most people, however, culture was very local. To go 10 miles
away from your home was a big deal.
ENGLAND ESTABLISHED A STRONG NATION QUICKLY
England united against the Vikings
Became highly centralized under William the Conqueror (1066-1087)
Developed a system of common law and jury trials
Castles were built around the kingdom to cement the king’s rule.
This is Caernarvon Castle built by Edward I around 1100 – circular,
thick walls
ENGLAND TAKES THE 1st STEP TOWARD REP. GOVT
On June 15, 1215 English barons forced King John to sign the Magna
Carta in Runnymede (if he wanted any more money to fight the
Hundred Years’ War – John’s nickname was “John Softsword”)
The Magna Carta acknowledges that kings have to follow the law,
begins the concept of no taxation w/out representation & the idea
that every person has the right to due process of law.
Kings resisted the Magna Carta for centuries, but Parliament pressed
these issues. This document led to a stronger Parliament in Britain
than other European country. Nobles asserting power over the king.
FRANCE MOVED MORE SLOWLY TOWARD UNIFICATION
France had a more difficult time uniting due to the interlocking
landholdings of England and France
This is a map of interlocking claims of England and France, during
time of Eleanor and Henry II (1154-1189) Henry II claimed all the
areas shaded purple: Normandy through his ancestor William the
Conqueror, Aquitaine through his marriage to Eleanor. The French
kings only personally controlled the area in red.
Philip II (Augustus) (1180-1223) began taking control of France. By
the end of the 13th century France had approached its modern
borders and the king was more powerful than his nobles
Louis IX (who build St. Chapelle) established a national court (the
Parlement of Paris)
GERMANY WAS UNABLE TO FORM A NATION
Germany was shattered into many little states. A vote (or war)
determined the order of succession for the Holy Roman Empire,
many German kings were weakened by trying to take over Italy.
BY 1300, THE MAP OF EUROPE IS STARTING TO LOOK FAMILIAR
England, Scotland, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France and France
Germany is still ill-defined
Kingdoms of Poland, Magyar and Austria/Hungary
LATIN CHRISTIANITY MUCH STRONGER IN 1250 THAN 800
Latin Christianity is vibrant and growing
Greek Christianity has lost much of Asia Minor to the Muslims
Muslims have lost most of Spain, but increased their influence in
Africa and the Middle East