Patterns of Medieval Life

Rome’s Three Heirs Byzantine Empire Islamic Empire Western Christendom

Middle Ages Three cultural traditions: Greco-Roman Judeo-Christian Germanic

Germanic Tribes Nomadic tribes, driven Westward by the Huns Made unstable alliance with the Roman Empire Visigoths raid Rome in 410, Vandals cause destruction in 455 (hence, “vandalize”) Germanic commander Odoacer deposes Roman emperor in 476—bringing Empire to an end

Germanic Culture Not “civilized” like Greco-Roman culture Nomadic, warrior culture Based on chieftains Fealty between warrior and chieftain is the basic relationship in society Law is oral, not written Religion: nature deities; however, many Germanic peoples convert to Christianity

Beowulf 3,000-line Anglo-Saxon epic originating c. 700, written down later (10th century) Unrhymed verse Kennings: two-term metaphors (e.g., “ring-giver,” “whale-path”) Beowulf, a prince, has 3 adventures: the monster Grendel; Grendel’s mother; dragon

Germanic Art Earliest examples are portable Later examples fuse with Christian culture Lindisfarne Gospels, 7th-century England Cruciform design Combines “compositional order with a sense of labyrinthine movement” (Fiero 247) Similarity to Islamic art: “complex rhythmically meandering surface designs” (Fiero 247)

Charlemagne Frankish king, Charles the Great, reigned 768-814 Created a Christian Empire modeled on Roman Empire Pope Leo III crowned him “Emperor of the Romans” in Rome in 800

Carolingian Renaissance Charlemagne sponsored a revival in architecture, learning and literacy Benedictines play important role Charlemagne established schools where monks and nuns copied Latin manuscripts, religious and other Develop miniscule writing style (see Fiero 249) Charlemagne himself was barely literate

Palatine Chapel, Aachen, Germany, 792-805 San Vitale, Ravenna, Italy, 6th c. http://freepages.history.rootsweb.com/~rgrosser/germany/dka/deko.htm

http://employees. oneonta http://employees.oneonta.edu/farberas/arth/images/109images/carolingian/aachen_palchap_int.jpg http://www.coco.cc.az.us/apetersen/_ART201/carolingian.htm

Charlemagne (Equestrian) Marcus Aurelius http://www.paradoxplace.com/Insights/Equestrian/Images/Charlemagne%20Equestrian%20BR2.jpg

Lindau Gospels, c. 800

Feudal Society After Charlemagne, unity does not survive Lack of administrative order and standing army Vikings and Muslims pose threat Empire divided among Charlemagne’s grandsons Feudalism supplies alternative political order

Knight Wearing Hauberk (c. 1200) A hauberk was a knee-length mail shirt that weighed about 14 kg (31 lbs). The sleeves extended to mid-way down the forearm. Hauberks were put on over the head, and were split at the front and the back to enable the knights to ride his horse. Hauberk were constructed from overlapping metal scales riveted to a garment made of leather or cloth.   A fragment of Norwegian tapestry at Baldishol Church showing a knight wearing a hauberk (c. 1200) http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/MEDhauberk.htm

Feudalism Lord grants his vassal land (a fief) In return, vassal gives lord military service The exchange of oaths between lord and vassal was called investiture Upper 10% of European society involved in feudal contract: nobles

Feudalism Male nobles were knights (chevalier) Chivalry was the code of behavior dictating the actions of lords and vassals. Nobles included both men and women; female aristocrats could inherit land

Song of Roland Chanson de geste (“song of heroic deeds”) Peformed by jongleurs: Professional entertainers Demonstrates Roland’s loyalty to Charlemagne and the code of chivalry Demonstrates the warfare between Christians and Muslims

Norman Conquest Vikings=Norsemen=Northmen=Normans In 1066, William of Normandy crossed English channel and defeated Anglo-Saxon Duke Harold at Battle of Hastings. Effects: Feudalism came to England French words incorporated into English

Bayeux Tapestry 11th century embroidery recording William’s conquest of England 231 feet long

Halley’s Comet on Bayeux Tapestry

Song of Roland & Bayeux Tapestry: Similarities “epic in theme and robust in style” “sweeping narratives whose episodes are irregular rather than uniform in length” Stereotypical characters Weapons and armor described “heroic splendor” of feudal life (Fiero 255-56)

Medieval Manor Manorialism was the medieval economic system, just as feudalism was the political system Lords and serfs (peasants, who equalled 90% of European population) were interdependent Serfs needed protection; lords needed workers

Effects of Crusades, 1096-1204 “revival of trade between East and West enhanced European commercial life, encouraging the rise of towns. . . .” Lands centralized in absence of nobles on crusades Contact with Byzantium reestablished, opening doors to Byzantine commerce and culture (Fiero 258-59)

Lancelot vs. Song of Roland “feminization of the chivalric ideal” in Lancelot Roland motivated by glory and fealty Lancelot motivated by romantic love Roland wants to be remembered by his lord; Lancelot wants to be seen by Guinevere

Lancelot Crossing the Swordbridge and Guinevere in the Tower, c. 1300

Troubadours Men and women of the nobility Wrote and performed poems about “courtly love, chivalry, religion, and politics” (263)