Copyright © 2006 The McGraw-Hill Companies Inc. Permission Required for Reproduction or Display. 1 Chapter 17 The Foundations of Christian Society in Western Europe
Copyright © 2006 The McGraw-Hill Companies Inc. Permission Required for Reproduction or Display. 2 The Germanic Successor States, c. 500 CE Last Roman emperor deposed by Germanic Odoacer, 476 CE Roman administrative apparatus still in place, but cities lose population Germanic successor states: Spain: Visigoths Italy: Ostrogoths Gaul: Burgundians, Franks Britian: Angles, Saxons
Copyright © 2006 The McGraw-Hill Companies Inc. Permission Required for Reproduction or Display. 3 Germanic peoples gradually displace the authority and institutions of Rome Adopt Christianity and Roman Law
Copyright © 2006 The McGraw-Hill Companies Inc. Permission Required for Reproduction or Display. 4 Successor States to the Roman Empire c. 500
Copyright © 2006 The McGraw-Hill Companies Inc. Permission Required for Reproduction or Display. 5 The Franks Heavy influence on Westernh European development Strong agricultural base Shifts center of economic gravity from Italy to Central Europe Firm alliance with western Christian church forming the paradigm of Roman Christianity in Western Europe
Copyright © 2006 The McGraw-Hill Companies Inc. Permission Required for Reproduction or Display. 6 Clovis (ruled ) Franks develop group identity long after other Germanic peoples Clovis is a major Frankish leader Destroyed last vestiges of Roman rule in Gaul Dominated other Germanic peoples Franks establish themselves as preeminent Germanic people
Copyright © 2006 The McGraw-Hill Companies Inc. Permission Required for Reproduction or Display. 7 Clovis’ Conversion to Christianity Paganism, Arian Christianity(Eastern Roman Empire) popular among Franks & other Germanic groups Clovis and army chooses Roman Catholicism Influence of wife Clotilda--devout Christian Political implications: Adoption of Roman Catholicism =Alliance with Christian population of the former Roman empire Support of pope
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9 The Carolingians After Clovis’ death the Frankish kings loose much of their power Aristocratic warriors seize power The aristocratic line of the Carolingians displace the line of Clovis Charles “The Hammer” Martel begins Carolingian dynasty Defeated Spanish Muslims at Battle of Tours (732) Halts Islamic advance into western Europe
Copyright © 2006 The McGraw-Hill Companies Inc. Permission Required for Reproduction or Display. 10 Charlemagne (r ) Grandson of Charles Martel Centralized imperial rule Temporary centralized rule Functional illiterate, but sponsored extensive scholarship Major military achievements & territorial gain
Copyright © 2006 The McGraw-Hill Companies Inc. Permission Required for Reproduction or Display. 11 Charlemagne’s Administration Capital at Aachen, Germany Constant travel throughout empire No centralized bureaucracy Local rule: Counts Imperial officials: missi dominici (“envoys of the lord ruler) Yearly circuit travel to review Counts
Copyright © 2006 The McGraw-Hill Companies Inc. Permission Required for Reproduction or Display. 12 Charlemagne
Copyright © 2006 The McGraw-Hill Companies Inc. Permission Required for Reproduction or Display. 13 The Carolingian Empire
Copyright © 2006 The McGraw-Hill Companies Inc. Permission Required for Reproduction or Display. 14 Charlemagne as Emperor Built Frankish kingdom through military expeditions Hesitated to challenge Byzantines by taking title “emperor” Regarded themselves as sole successors to the Roman emperors Pope Leo III crowns him as emperor in 800 Planned in advance? Challenge to Byzantium
Copyright © 2006 The McGraw-Hill Companies Inc. Permission Required for Reproduction or Display. 15 Pope Leo III crowns Charlemagne “Emperor”
Copyright © 2006 The McGraw-Hill Companies Inc. Permission Required for Reproduction or Display. 16 Louis the Pious (r ) Son of Charlemagne Lost control of counts, local authorities Civil war erupts between his three sons Sons agreed to divide the Empire in 843 Empire falls to internal disunity & external invasions
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Copyright © 2006 The McGraw-Hill Companies Inc. Permission Required for Reproduction or Display. 18 Invasions South: Muslims East: Magyars---Central Asians settled in Hungary North: Vikings Norse expansion begins c. 800 CE Driven by population pressure, hostility to spread of Christianity Superior seafaring technology Sailed to eastern Canada, northeastern US & est. colonies in Greenland, Shetland Islands, Iceland
Copyright © 2006 The McGraw-Hill Companies Inc. Permission Required for Reproduction or Display. 19 Dissolution of the Carolingian Empire
Copyright © 2006 The McGraw-Hill Companies Inc. Permission Required for Reproduction or Display. 20 The Vikings From village of Vik, Norway (hence “Viking”) Boats with shallow drafts, capable of river travel as well as open seas Many merchants seeking trade Some take up raiding & plundering Attacked villages, cities from 9 th century Constantinople sacked three times Carolingians had no navy, dependent on local defenses Vikings besieged sizable European cities
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Copyright © 2006 The McGraw-Hill Companies Inc. Permission Required for Reproduction or Display. 25 The Establishment of Regional Authorities England: Viking invasions force consolidation of Angles, Saxons and other Germanic peoples under King Alfred (r ) Built navy Fortified cities against attack
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Copyright © 2006 The McGraw-Hill Companies Inc. Permission Required for Reproduction or Display. 27 Germany and France Responses to invasions brought end to Carolingian rule Local lords take matters into their own hands King Otto of Saxony (r ) defeats Magyars, 955 Proclaimed emperor by Pope in 962 Establishment of Holy Roman Empire--really a German kingdom France endures heavy Viking settlement Loss of local autonomy
Copyright © 2006 The McGraw-Hill Companies Inc. Permission Required for Reproduction or Display. 28 Early Medieval Society Concept of Feudalism Lords and vassals Increasingly inadequate model for describing a complex society Local political & military elites made various ad hoc arrangements in absence of strong central authorities
Copyright © 2006 The McGraw-Hill Companies Inc. Permission Required for Reproduction or Display. 29 Organizing in a Decentralized Society Local nobles take over administration from weak central government Nominal allegiances, esp. to descendents Carolingian kings But increasing independence Military Politics
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Copyright © 2006 The McGraw-Hill Companies Inc. Permission Required for Reproduction or Display. 32 Themes for today Change from Roman urban center to rural medieval manor Social structure---personal loyalties of the manor verses citizen based Roman society Continuities Christian Church
Copyright © 2006 The McGraw-Hill Companies Inc. Permission Required for Reproduction or Display. 33 Lords and Retainers Local nobles form small private armies Incentives to fight: land grants, income from mills, cash payments In exchange for grants, retainers owed loyalty & obedience to lords Formation of hereditary class of military retainers Development of other functions Justice, social welfare
Copyright © 2006 The McGraw-Hill Companies Inc. Permission Required for Reproduction or Display. 34 Potential for Instability Complex interrelationship of lord-retainer relations Rebellion & political chaos was always a possibility Local authorities often pursued their own interests Nevertheless, viable large states developed (Germany, France, England) through keeping tabs on their retainers
Copyright © 2006 The McGraw-Hill Companies Inc. Permission Required for Reproduction or Display. 35 Origins of Serfdom Slaves, free peasants in both Roman and Germanic societies Deliver a portion of their production to superiors for protection & use of land Heavy intermarriage between slave & free classes Mid-7 th century: recognition of serf class Midway between slave and free peasant Owed obligations to lords
Copyright © 2006 The McGraw-Hill Companies Inc. Permission Required for Reproduction or Display. 36 Serfs’ Rights and Obligations Right to pass on land to heirs Obligation to provide labor, payments in kind to lord Portion of harvest, chickens, eggs, work in the fields of lords Unable to move from land Landlords provided land, tools & animals Fees charged for marrying serfs of another lord
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Copyright © 2006 The McGraw-Hill Companies Inc. Permission Required for Reproduction or Display. 38 Manors Organization of serfdom influences the creation of manors as the basis of agricultural organization Large, diverse estates--meadows, fields, forests, etc. Lord provides governance, police, justice services Serfs provide labor, income In the absence of cities, manors become self- sufficient communities
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Copyright © 2006 The McGraw-Hill Companies Inc. Permission Required for Reproduction or Display. 41 The Economy of Early Medieval Europe Agricultural center moves north from Mediterranean 8 th century iron-tipped plow introduced in Europe Draft animals Water mill technology Increase in agricultural production Agricultural output insufficient to support growth of cities Strong Mediterranean trade despite Muslim domination of sea
Copyright © 2006 The McGraw-Hill Companies Inc. Permission Required for Reproduction or Display. 42 Norse Merchant Mariners Commerce and plunder as each was convenient Like Mediterranean merchants Norse merchants like with the Islamic world for trade
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Copyright © 2006 The McGraw-Hill Companies Inc. Permission Required for Reproduction or Display. 44 The Formation of Christian Europe Inherited elements from Classical Rome: Roman Christianity & Latin language Clovis’ conversion forms strong alliance with Roman Christianity Church supplies Clovis with class of literate information workers: Scribes Secretaries It was rare to have a formal education
Copyright © 2006 The McGraw-Hill Companies Inc. Permission Required for Reproduction or Display. 45 The Franks and the Church Clovis viewed himself as a protector of the papacy Charlemagne destroys Lombards, who threatened Pope in Rome In exchange for military support Charlemagne received imperial crown Spreads Christianity in northern areas Support of scholarship, scribal activity
Copyright © 2006 The McGraw-Hill Companies Inc. Permission Required for Reproduction or Display. 46 The Spread of Christianity Charlemagne sometimes promotes Christianity by military force Charlemagne fights pagan Saxons ( ) Saxons later adopt Christianity Scandinavia, other pockets of paganism until c CE
Copyright © 2006 The McGraw-Hill Companies Inc. Permission Required for Reproduction or Display. 47 Pope Gregory I ( CE) After the collapse of the Roman Empire the papacy survived and claimed spiritual authority “Gregory the Great” Asserted papal primacy---pope ultimate authority Prominent theologian Sacrament of penance--confession Major missionary activity, especially in England Often led by monks
Copyright © 2006 The McGraw-Hill Companies Inc. Permission Required for Reproduction or Display. 48 Monasticism Egyptian origins, 2 nd -3 rd centuries Fled to desert to live ascetic lives Monastic lifestyle expands 4 th century Large variety of monastic rules Range from extremely ascetic to very lax
Copyright © 2006 The McGraw-Hill Companies Inc. Permission Required for Reproduction or Display. 49 St. Benedict of Nursia ( ) Established consistent rule for monasteries Poverty Chastity Obedience St. Scholastica ( ) Sister of St. Benedict Adapts Benedictine Rule for convents/nuns
Copyright © 2006 The McGraw-Hill Companies Inc. Permission Required for Reproduction or Display. 50 A Medieval Monk’s Day
Copyright © 2006 The McGraw-Hill Companies Inc. Permission Required for Reproduction or Display. 51 Monasticism and Society Accumulation of large landholdings, serfs Social welfare projects Expansion of literacy Inns, orphanages, hospitals Effective in spreading Christianity
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