The Middle Ages
Periodization Early Middle Ages: 500 – 1000 High Middle Ages: 1000 – 1250 Late Middle Ages: 1250 - 1500
Europe in the 6c
The Medieval Catholic Church - filled the power vacuum left from the collapse of the classical world. - monasticism: St. Benedict – Benedictine Rule of poverty, chastity, and obedience. provided schools for the children of the upper class. inns, hospitals, refuge in times of war. libraries & scriptoria to copy books and illuminate manuscripts. monks missionaries to the barbarians. [St. Patrick, St. Boniface]
The Power of the Medieval Church bishops and abbots played a large part in the feudal system. the church controlled about 1/3 of the land in Western Europe. - tried to curb feudal warfare: only 40 days a year for combat. - curb heresies: crusades; Inquisition Tithe: 1/10 tax on your assets given to the church. - Peter’s Pence: 1 penny per person [paid by the peasants].
A Medieval Monk’s Day
A Medieval Monastery: The Scriptorium
Illuminated Manuscripts
Romanesque Architectural Style Rounded Arches. Barrel vaults. Thick walls. Darker, simplistic interiors. -Small windows, usually at the top of the wall.
Charlemagne: 742 to 814
Charlemagne’s Empire
Pope Crowned Charlemagne Holy Roman Emperor: Dec. 25, 800
The Rise of European Monarchies: England
Charlemagne’s Empire Collapses: Treaty of Verdun, 843
Feudalism A political, economic, and social system based on loyalty and military service.
Carcassonne: A Medieval Castle
Parts of a Medieval Castle
The Road to Knighthood KNIGHT SQUIRE PAGE
Chivalry: A Code of Honor and Behavior
The Medieval Manor
Life on the Medieval Manor
The "Renaissance" of the 12c
William the Conqueror: Battle of Hastings, 1066 (Bayeaux Tapestry)
Evolution of England’s Political System - Henry I: William’s son. set up a court system. Exchequer dept. of royal finances. - Henry II: established the principle of common law throughout the kingdom. grand jury. trial by jury.
Magna Carta, 1215 Runnymeade “Great Charter” - King John I Runnymeade “Great Charter” monarchs were not above the law. kings had to consult a council of advisors. kings could not tax arbitrarily.
The Beginnings of the British Parliament - Great Council: middle class merchants, townspeople [burgesses in Eng., bourgeoisie in Fr., burghers in Ger.] were added at the end of the 13c. eventually called Parliament. by 1400, two chambers evolved: House of Lords nobles & clergy. House of Commons knights and burgesses.
The Rise of European Monarchies: France
Gothic Architectural Style Pointed arches. High, narrow vaults. Thinner walls. Flying buttresses. Elaborate, ornate, airier interiors. Stained-glass windows. “Flying” Buttresses
Pope Urban II: Preaching a Crusade
Setting Out on Crusade
Christian Crusades: East and West
Medieval Universities
Oxford University
Late Medieval Town Dwellings
Medieval Trade
Medieval Guilds Guild Hall - Commercial Monopoly: Controlled membership apprentice journeyman master craftsman Controlled quality of the product [masterpiece]. Controlled prices
Medieval Guilds: A Goldsmith’s Shop
Crest of a Cooper’s Guild
The Black Death 1347 - 1351
The Culprits
The Famine of 1315-1317 By 1300 Europeans were farming almost all the land they could cultivate. A population crisis developed. Climate changes in Europe produced three years of crop failures between 1315-17 because of excessive rain. As many as 15% of the peasants in some English villages died. One consequence of starvation & poverty was susceptibility to disease.
1347: Plague Reaches Constantinople!
Septicemic Form: almost 100% mortality rate. The Symptoms Bulbous Septicemic Form: almost 100% mortality rate.
From the Toggenburg Bible, 1411
Lancing a Bulba
The Disease Cycle Human is infected! Flea drinks rat blood that carries the bacteria. Bacteria multiply in flea’s gut. Human is infected! Flea bites human and regurgitates blood into human wound. Flea’s gut clogged with bacteria.
Medieval Art & the Plague
Medieval Art & the Plague Bring out your dead!
Medieval Art & the Plague An obsession with death.
Boccaccio in The Decameron The victims ate lunch with their friends and dinner with their ancestors.
The Danse Macabre
Attempts to Stop the Plague “Leeching” A Doctor’s Robe
Attempts to Stop the Plague Flagellanti: Self-inflicted “penance” for our sins!
Pograms Attempts to Stop the Plague “Golden Circle” obligatory badge against the Jews “Golden Circle” obligatory badge “Jew” hat
Death Triumphant !: A Major Artistic Theme
The Mortality Rate 35% - 70% 25,000,000 dead !!!
Signs of Strain 1. Growth of professional armies and new weapons 2. Shift in the balance between church and state 3. Breakdown of the intellectual and artistic synthesis…no more blending of rationalism and religion
Decline in the Medieval Church Political & Spiritual Poverty Spiritual Authority Temporal Authority Political & Spiritual Poverty Taxing the clergy [clericis laicos] - 1296 Royal courts vs. Church courts Papal Bull [Unam Sanctam] - 1302 Marsilius of Padus [Defensor Pacis] - 1324
Decline in the Medieval Church Theological Differences Official Church Beliefs Heresies Theological Differences John Wycliffe Lollards John Huss
Decline in the Medieval Church Popes Church Councils [Conciliarism] Internal Church Power Innocent III Boniface VIII The Avignon Papacy [1309-1377] Pisa Constance Basel
Decline in the Medieval Church FAITH [Scholasticism] REASON [Roger Bacon & William of Ockham] Intellectual Inquiry Peter Abelard [Sic et Non] Thomas Aquinas [Summa Theologica]
Decline in the Medieval Church Church Corruption Individual Piety Religious Devotion Inquisition Rich Monasteries Benefices Lay Devotions Beguines Beghards