The Rise of the West
The Rise of the West How can we compare/contrast the West’s emerging states? How can we begin to conceive of the Middle Ages as a time of progress, greatness, innovation?
The Rise of the West “Fall of Rome” Last western emperors (455-476) Ruled fragments of western Europe Romulus Augustulus (r. 475-76) deposed Romulus Augustulus
The Rise of the West The Germanic Kingdoms (ca. 530)
The Rise of the West The West during the Early Middle Ages Italy, British Isles, Spain, Kingdom of the Franks Traits of West Impoverished, fragmented Roman cities were shadows of antiquity Disintegrated infrastructure Yet West came to dominate the world!
The Rise of the West Kingdom of the Franks Dominant in western Europe Unified by 700 Catholic Ruled by Merovingians
The Rise of the West The Carolingians Charles Martel (d. 741) Frankish statesman Halted Muslim advance at Tours (732-33) Family deposed last Merovingian king Allied with papacy Battle of Tours
The Rise of the West Charlemagne (r. 768-814) Crowned “augustus” (800) Devoutly Christian Promoted education His government Ruled “by God’s will” Local rule: counts Missi dominici
The Rise of the West The Disintegration of the Carolingian Empire
The Rise of the West Questions?
The Rise of the West Emerging France
The Rise of the West Holy Roman Empire Many principalities, under an emperor Princes governed independent states Emperors Claimed highest authority Had to respect princes’ rights A decentralized monarchy
The Rise of the West England Initially governed by Anglo-Saxon kings Conquered by William of Normandy (1066) William the Conqueror (r. 1066-1089) First Norman king “Domesday Book” (1086) The Bayeux Tapestry (ca. 1070-80)
The Rise of the West
The Rise of the West The Hundred Years War (1337-1453): Causes Last Capetian monarch died (1328) – who succeeds? English king was a relation Philip VI elected by French nobility Neither candidate conceded claims war! English claims to French lands
The Rise of the West The War: Initial English Success Strategy: raids New technology Longbows Cannons Territorial gains! English king: new heir to throne (1420) Battle of Créçy (1346)
The Rise of the West
The Rise of the West France Strikes Back Joan of Arc (1412-1431) Teenage peasant, mystic Claimed mission from God (1428) Promised French heir France rebounded Joan captured, sold to English burned at stake (May 1431) Siege of Orléans
The Rise of the West Ultimate French Victory Northern France reconquered English driven out by 1453
The Rise of the West Christian Spain Muslim power weakened Christian princes seized opportunity Reconquista Christian reconquest of Islamic Spain Result: Christian Iberian states emerging
The Rise of the West Ferdinand and Isabella Unified Spanish crown (1469) Completed Reconquista (1492) Promoted fervent Catholicism Ferdinand and Isabella
The Rise of the West
The Rise of the West Questions?
The Rise of the West The Social Orders Oratores Bellatores Laboratores
The Rise of the West
The Rise of the West The Guilds Formed by urban merchants and artisans Nature of guilds *Economic: standards for products, additional regulations Also social, spiritual Guild hierarchy: masters, journeymen, apprentices
The Rise of the West The University Organization of master and students Specialization Students given clerical status, grouped into “nations”
The Rise of the West How can we compare/contrast the West’s emerging states? How can we begin to conceive of the Middle Ages as a time of progress, greatness, innovation?
Primary Source The Einhard Text Who was Einhard? What kind of source? Why should we trust Einhard? Why might we deem him suspect? What do we learn about Charlemagne’s ancestors? What do we learn about Charlemagne? What did Einhard choose to emphasize?
Primary Source Magna Carta Why was the Magna Carta drafted? What issues of importance to the English realm are addressed? What is stated about the privileges and responsibilities of English freemen? What is stated about the English church? According to this document, how might we define the authority of the English king? Why does this document continue to matter in the modern world?
Primary Source Magna Carta in Salisbury Cathedral, United Kingdom
Primary Source Magna Carta on display at Boston Museum of Fine Arts (2014)
Primary Source
Primary Source Royal Privileges Granted to the University of Paris by the King of France (1200) Who was the author? What kind of source? What was established here about the status of students in Paris? Do we have any modern parallels?
Primary Source Robert de Courçon Text Who was Courçon? What kind of source? To which school was it addressed? What kinds of rules did he establish for this school? What do this and the previous source reveal about medieval universities?
Primary Source Santo Stefano in Monte Celio, Rome
Primary Source Santo Stefano, interior
Primary Source Odofredus Text Who was Odofredus? What kind of source? What was Odofredus’s purpose here? How did he seek to make his lectures attractive to students?