Christian Europe Emerges, 300-1200 CE Chapter 10 Christian Europe Emerges, 300-1200 CE

I. Early Medieval Europe, 300-1000 CE From Roman Empire to Germanic Kingdoms A Self-Sufficient Economy Early Medieval Society

A. From Roman Empire to Germanic Kingdoms Rome breaks down in 5th century with several Germanic kingdoms in its place Western Europe continues to be attacked by Muslim Arabs Frankish kingdoms unite into collective empire under Charlemagne (Holy Roman Empire?) Frankish empire eventually divided up by Charlemagne’s grandsons Vikings attack Western Europe and sign a treaty to get Normandy and Iceland, then invade England under William the Conqueror

B. A Self-Sufficient Economy The fall of Rome leads to de-urbanization and decline in trade leading to small, local, self-sufficient estates (manors) Manors were centers of agriculture and grew from increasing needs of self-sufficiency and self-defense The lord of the manor had power over all agricultural workers (serfs) and was considered the government

C. Early Medieval Society Nobles/knights are granted land (fief) in return for military service (feudalism) Knights needed land to afford expensive military technology (armor/weapons for knights) Kings were weak-ish because they then depended on the vassals (nobles granted land) who may have more than one king that they serve Noble women could not own land and were pawns in marriage politics. Commoner women worked alongside the men

II. The Western Church The Structure of Christian Faith Politics and the Church Monasticism Shaping European Society

A. The Structure of Christian Faith The Pope leads and unites the Catholic church and Christian faith The church develops hierarchy of patriarchs, bishops, and priests and also rituals like baptism, Mass, and marriage. Church hierarchy often disagreed on doctrine of “correct practices” (orthopraxy) and “correct beliefs” (Orthodoxy) A. The Structure of Christian Faith

B. Politics and the Church Popes sought to combine their religious powers with political power by allying with the German Kings and crowning a “Holy Roman Emperor” Henry II of England tries to undermine the church for secular (non-religious) rulers, and is shut down Western Europe was now subject to three legal traditions: Germanic Feudal law, Canon (Church law), and Roman law

C. Monasticism (monks) Christian Monasticism originated in 4th century Egypt Benedict of Nursia in Western Europe organized monasteries that governed all aspects of monastic life for people to devote themselves Monasteries were centers of learning, literacy, orphanages, and their own agricultural.

D. Shaping European Society Christianity rejected slavery, religious pluralism (other religions), and overt sexuality Fate of Jewish people subject to Christian rulers Social life and culture of Western Europe transformed to meet the demands of Christianity

III. The Byzantine Empire Church and State Society and Urban Life Cultural Achievements

A. Church and State Roman culture (sort of) continues in the east (Byzantium) under the capital, Constantinople In Byzantium, the emperor intervened in religious (Christian) doctrine Polytheistic Paganism is driven out Continued to face foreign threats (Goths and Huns from north) and Sassanids from the East for 300 years After the Sasanids, Muslim Arabs take Syria, Egypt, and Tunisia from Byzantium, permanently reducing Byzantium’s power Schism develops between Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Christianity

B. Society and Urban Life Byzantium also saw a decline in urbanization, but not as bad. The middle class disappeared, leading to only wealthy aristocrats and peasants Women were confined to the house and had to wear veils if they went out, but could rule alongside their husbands Emperors of Byzantium directly set prices and monopolized trade, leading to struggles in wealth and technology

C. Cultural Achievements Scholars collected laws and called it Body of Civil Law, which became the basis of Western European law Byzantium architects developed domed buildings Cyril and Methodius teach the Slavs of Moravia to write in Cyrillic script

IV. Kievan Russia, 900-1200 Geography and Background Rise of the Kievan State Society and Culture

A. Geography and Background Russian territory Extends form Black sea to Baltics and White sea in the North Russia was inhabited by different groups of people that merged into the Slavs in the west, Finns in the north, and Turkic in the south They all traded with each other and also into the Silk Road

B. Rise of the Kievan State The Rus were Slav farmers ruled by Varangian (Viking) nobles in Kiev and Novogrod In 980, Vladimir I adopts Orthodox Christianity and imitates culture of Byzantium in Kiev

C. Society and Culture Kievan Russia depended on trade since they could not cultivate their land well The move to Christianity was slow, so Paganism and Polygamy persists until the 12th century

V. Western Europe Revives The Role of Technology Cities and the Rebirth of Trade The Crusades

A. The Role of Technology New technology like the heavy moldboard plow and horse collar improve agriculture and spur the development of Western Europe

B. Cities and the Rebirth of Trade Self-governing cities emerge in Italy and Flanders that depend on trade and manufacturing Venice in Italy emerges as dominant sea trade power by trading with Muslim ports for spices and other goods Recovery of trade leads to increase of silver, then gold coins

C. The Crusades The Crusades were a series of Christian military campaigns between 1100 and 1200 Factors causing Pope Urban II to call for the crusades included: religious zeal, knights’ willingness to engage in church sanctioned warfare, a desire for land, an interest in trade, Muslim control of Christian holy lands, and continuous pressure on Byzantium from Muslim threats The Crusades had limited impact on the Muslim world Largest effect of the Crusades was the end of Europe’s intellectual isolation from the rest of the world