Reform and Renewal in the Greater West 750-1258 Civ 101-03 October 14, 2015 Class 20

The Christian Church in the Early Middle Ages Although the West/East split was real, and worsening, there were more efforts at union than disunion in the early middle ages. 7 “Ecumenical” Councils between 325 and 787. Lots of fundamental questions to settle: Christ’s divinity and trinity; nature of the Creed; Mary’s role; role of “saints” and of imagery; New Testament texts and acceptable portions of the Old. Underneath it all: establishes who is in charge and who isn’t (along with what to believe and what to reject)

How Dark were the Dark Ages? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cqzq01i2O3U In some ways, not very

The World of Charlemagne Although there are other leaders and political organizations after the fall . . . The most “Western” was the Carolingian Renaissance Charles I took the Frankish throne in 768, Italy in 774, the Roman Empire in 800. Died in 814. Louis the Pious carried on the traditions until 843.

The World of Charlemagne But soon enough, it’s over The Post-Carolingian World Treaty of Verdun, 843, divides the kingdom into three parts for Louis the Pious’ 3 sons Invasions Muslims Magyars Vikings

Many of the Western Scholars were men of the Church Benedict of Nursia and Pope Gregory I Theodulf of Orléans Gregory of Tours Bede John Scottus Eriugena

But some modeled a new form: Written Statesmanship with a secular base Boethius Cassiodorus Alcuin Einhard A key feature of the West, throughout, was continued reliance on the seven liberal arts as the educational template and standard.

Beginnings of Recovery The Vernacular Achievements In Wales, Aneirin writes Y Gododdin (an epic poem about events around 600; the poem is included in collection around 1200) The Tain in Old Irish (prose epic of events around 100, included in collections around 1200) Beowulf in Old English between 800-1000 Illuminated manuscripts Modern typeface—Carolingian minuscule Modern musical scores

How to kill antibiotic-resistant super bugs How to kill antibiotic-resistant super bugs? THROW MEDIEVAL SHIT ON THEM. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mo4K51bQVs0 http://www.latimes.com/science/sciencenow/la-sci-sn-medieval-remedy-superbug-20150331-story.html

Prior to 1000… Europe sparsely populated, dotted with villages of farmers and warriors, covered with forests… Feudal system in place Life expectancy around 30-35 The templates for the, later, High Middle Ages are set Then modified in the HMA

One sure thing (well, actually two or three) With a life like this: plagues/disease, poor hygiene/sanitation, bad outcomes at childbirth, bad diet/low vitamins, hard work, wars/invaders, lack of literacy/little or no education, daylight and dark (candles), bad air as the forests are going to be denuded…. And since hell is proposed to be worse, the ONLY way to improve one’s lot is to be sure you go to HEAVEN when you die SO THE CHURCH IS EVERYTHING!!!!!!

Plus . . . The Church guys have things a little better, here, on earth, even in this life. Literacy “Protection” Generally, places to live and adequate food supplies and they are connected to the leadership (or are the leadership)—all of which might help you out a bit in this life.

Prior to 1000… and beyond http://www.slideshare.net/pcbersick/feudalism-and-life-in-the-middle-ages

Prior to 1000… and beyond http://www.slideshare.net/pcbersick/feudalism-and-life-in-the-middle-ages

population increased from 38.5M to 73.5M from 1000 to 1300 Toward the Renaissance, through the high(er) Middle Ages… things start to improve a bit population increased from 38.5M to 73.5M from 1000 to 1300 the rise of towns and cities intensifies density and birth rates life expectancy heads toward the top end of 30-35 However, the population density and filth in the cities makes the West vulnerable to disease and the plague is coming soon.

European “countries” are now more fully formed Toward the Renaissance, through the high(er) Middle Ages… back to things starting to improve European “countries” are now more fully formed The French Monarchy The English Monarchy The German Empire Papal monarchies still 9 Crusades between 1095-1272

http://www. slideshare http://www.slideshare.net/pcbersick/feudalism-and-life-in-the-middle-ages

Crusades http://explorethemed.com/Crusades.asp Really nice interactive map that I can’t use here

http://www.hsse.nie.edu.sg/maps/ancient_time%20map/DSC07843a.jpg

Advances from the Islamic world (via the Crusades, travel to Spain, and trade)

Beginnings of the balance between spiritual and secular but really, only because they interacted so much over the work of the church—which was also the work of the state. This isn’t going to change, much, until the Renaissance, the Scientific Revolution, and the Reformation.

Advances from the Islamic world (via the crusades, travel to Spain, and trade We covered these last time Hospitals Arabic numbers and mathematical reasoning (algebra, etc. is going to bring us Copernicus and others soon), Paper (and that leads to an increase in literature, copying) Calligraphy (illustrated manuscripts) The textual recoveries by the Muslims leak into the West and encourage what comes later– the West doing it Grand architecture Better water power Iron works The bard (often with a stringed instrument) Textile advances House of Learning (including analytical reasoning that leads to Descartes and modern western science)

Particularly Western Advances Magna Carta English Parliament Radically “new” form of government that hearkens back to the best of the Greek democracy and Roman Republic. Investiture Controversies (who makes a pope; who makes a king): working out Church/State relations (well, actually, “breaking down” some of the connections) Romanesque and Gothic architecture

Particularly Western Advances Christian religious orders (groups) with differing foci (they don’t know it, but portends Protestants) Scholasticism: applying rhetorical techniques and argument to controversial questions Aided by advances from the House of Learning Rise of the Universities Gregorian music/chant (at the start of the western 7 note major scale) Dante Some vernacular literature (courtly love and such— heads toward setting “manners”

Particularly Western Advances Spinning wheels (cloth) (comes from Asia via the Arabs, but becomes industrialized in the West). Hour glass Blast furnaces for smelting iron Better farming techniques Rotating fields in 3 field systems Horses instead of oxen (saddles and collars and shoes) Iron Plough

Middle Ages in 3 1/2 minutes https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6EAMqKUimr8