The World of Christendom World History Chapter#10 The World of Christendom

Asian Christianity Arabia about 100 years after Muhammad’s death Christianity in Arabia had been decimated Only a few small groups were left 8th Century Muslims celebrated the end of Christianity by using pillars of a demolished church to build the Grand Mosque of Sana’a in southern Asia

Middle East – Islam took control of Jerusalem in 638 and constructed the Muslim shrine – Dome of the Rock Built on a location sacred to Jews – contained the stone Abraham had offered to sacrifice his son Site of the 1st 2 Jewish temples For Christians Jesus had visited when young to talk with learned teachers and later drive out money changers Umayyad caliph took for Islam what Christian and Jewish legacies - Announced to Jews and Christians “Islam was here to stay”

Syria and Persia Most Christians and Jews here voluntarily conversion Christians in Syria, Jerusalem, and Armenia were allowed to practice faith in private but pay special tax Christians were subject to the moods of the local Muslim authority Sometimes Churches destroyed, villages plundered, fields burned, and Christians forced to wear certain clothing setting them apart

Syria – Christians were administrators of churches, schools, translations services and even armies Syria, Iraq, and Persia Muslims defended the Christian religion and people Here the Church of the East lasted but was shrinking

China 635 Nestorian Church took hold in China with permission of Tang rulers Art and literature gave Christian message using Buddhist and Daoist concepts Religious text, Jesus Sutras referred to Christianity as “Religion of Light from the West” or “Luminous Religion” Described God as “Cool Wind” and sin as “Bad Karma” Church holds together and gains some growth later during Mongol conquest Almost completely vanished by 1368

African Christianity Christian churches in Africa were declining with the arrival of Islam Widespread conversions led to the extinction Egypt – Christianity was the religion of the majority when Islam arrived 640 For the next 500 years large numbers spoke Coptic and practiced their religion Legally inferior (dhimmis) but protected and paying special tax

13th Century – change as Crusading Christians and Muslims invaded Egypt Muslims came to distrust Christians living here 14th century – Violence against Christians, churches destroyed and many forced off their lands This forced many to convert Small Christian communities continued to exist to present

Nubia 6th century Christianity took hold Kings sometimes served as priests & Bible translated into Nubian Nubian armies twice defeated the Muslims Agreement that Egypt would protect this Christian community Protection lasted 600 years, but as Muslims in Egypt became more hostile toward Christianity, attacked Christians, by 1500 Christianity had disappeared

Ethiopia – here rulers of Axum had adopted Christianity by 4th century It became an island in a sea of Islam Here they tell the story of an Ethiopian queen who was seduced by Solomon and had a child Solomon was in the line of Jesus and this put Ethiopian rulers in this line

Byzantine Christianity Part of the Roma Empire in the east 4th century Constantine made Constantinople the capital of Eastern half of Roman Empire Split in ½ causing a lasting division in Christianity Roman Empire in west collapsed 5th century but eastern half did not

Justinian 527-565 took the Byzantine Empire to its greatest size Had 200 years of Roman Law rewritten – Justinian Code Here the Emperor was head of church and state After 1085 Byzantine Empire shrank – result of Crusades and Turic Muslim invaders

Byzantine Church and Christian Divergence Orthodox vs Western=n Christian Western Or Roman Catholic Church Pope head of church and king or emperor head of kingdom, Icons used Most sacred holy day is Christmas Language is Latin East or Orthodox Christianity Ruler head of church and state but can appoint a patriarch Easter most important holy day Greek the language of the church Icons (statues) not allowed

Crusades started in 1095 to help Catholic pope against Islam Forces passing through Byzantine often caused injustices against locals 4th crusades forces looted and controlled Constantinople Attacked Orthodox Christians Byzantine viewed Roman Catholics as despoilers - gap in Christianity not able to be repaired

Byzantine and the World Greek fire – helped defend Byzantine from Muslims Byzantine became an economic link to Eurasia Gold coins the bezant (wearing as a pendant was a status symbol) Preserved ancient Greek knowledge and shared it with Islamic world

Conversion of Russia Kievan Rus – named after most prominent city Kiev Built along Dnieper River linking Scandinavia and Byzantine by trade Land of slaves and freemen, polytheistic and small Jewish and Christian population

Prince Vladimir of Kiev adopted Eastern Orthodox as the state religion 10th century / rejecting Islam for its ban on alcohol Married the sister o a Byzantine Emperor and acquired many Byzantine priests and advisors Eastern Orthodox became the religion of the Russian people Russia borrowed from Byzantine, architecture, science etc. 3rd Rome – Moscow / 1st Rome abandoned its true faith, 2nd Rome lost to Islam Moscow the 3rd and final protector of Christianity

Western Christendom 476 German general Odoacer overthrew the last Roman Emperor Western Europe fell into dark ages Disease and warfare reduced population by 25%

Germanic tribes had invaded and set up kingdoms Visigoths Spain, Franks in France, Lombard’s in Italy, and Angles and Saxons in England – replaced Roman authority The leaders of these groups adopted laws and brought order and justice Clovis King of the Franks 481-511 Conquered most of Gaul Became Christian (significance?)

Charlemagne 678-814 controlled France, Belgium, Netherlands and parts of Germany and Italy Christmas day 800, Given the title by the pope and Emperor of everything that is Christian. 1st Holy Roman Emperor Otto I of Saxony 936-973 took most of Germany under his control also given title

Society and church Feudalism developed – lords give protection to lessor lords for military service and promised fiefs, peasants given protection but farm the lords land - Local estates and manors Roman Catholic Church, modeled after the Roman Empire took over some political, administrative and educational and warfare functions

Church became very wealthy and often competed with state authority for control Wide spread conversions and most of the population quickly became Christian Christianity became the thread that held most societies together

Accelerating Change in the West Muslim invasions into western Europe stopped by 1000 Gave kingdoms stability and security High middle Ages 1000-1300 Population grew from 35 million in 1000 to 80 million by 1340 Agriculture revolution compared to China’s at the same time

1300 the forest covering Europe had been reduced to 20% of land area Stimulated long distance trade & Italy (Florence, Genoa, and Venice) would be trading centers & Trading with Islam and Byzantine Many cities population grew very rapidly London 40,000, Paris 80,000, and Venice 150,000 In Contrast Constantinople 400,000, Cordoba in Muslim Spain 200,000

Gave rise to Lawyers, doctors, scholars merchants Nation states emerged ruled by kings who would gain more and more power and eventually absolute authority Women given opportunities, weaving, brewing retailing, laundering, spinning, prostitution and others

England – new weaving machines were worked by men Women also offered a life in the church / nuns Men and women in churches provided education and from this would rise universities Beguines – laywomen who practiced celibacy and devoted themselves to weaving, caring for the sick and old

Europe Outward Bound After 1000 western Europe was growing as the Byzantine was in decline Crusade or Holy Wars to free the Holy Lands Crusades by God’s command Pope ordered them as God would remove any sin

Started in 1095 wave after wave of Christian soldiers attacked Muslim controlled territory Jerusalem seized in 1099 accompanied by slaughter of Jews, Muslims and Christians Little lasting impact religiously or politically Crusades did impact the people of Europe who liked the spices, clothing and foods from these Muslim lands This will stimulate European trade with Asia

Catching Up Muslim empires were more advanced than the of the Europeans 13th and 14th centuries as trade routes opened with the east many Europeans would make the long trip Marco Polo and Italian merchant went to China, served the Great Khan Kublai Khan The contact and trade items led Europeans to seek new water routs to Asia

Agriculture New wheeled plow, used horses to pull it 3 field system used – crop rotation Windmills built all over Europe and by 13th and 14th century Water driven Mills allowed a revolution in production methods Thomas Aquinas 13th century, gave logic to Christian doctrine – a new emphasis on human rational will give rise to the Scientific Revolution

The End