Medieval Europe Chapter 10

Europe divided – Dark Ages France, Low Countries, Germany, England 6th to 10th centuries France, Low Countries, Germany, England 6th to 10th centuries Political & Economic Fragmentation Political & Economic Fragmentation Pope & Catholic church powerful - Rome Pope & Catholic church powerful - Rome Iberia – Spain & Portugal – under Arab Muslim control Iberia – Spain & Portugal – under Arab Muslim control Scandinavian Vikings - Raid European coast from 8th - 10th centuries Scandinavian Vikings - Raid European coast from 8th - 10th centuries Dark Ages - Literacy low - except among monks & priests Dark Ages - Literacy low - except among monks & priests

France, Low Countries, Germany, England The Manorial System – ? The Manorial System – ? Power and prestige of the noble class based on land - the fief - supported the lord, his family, soldiers & his serfs Power and prestige of the noble class based on land - the fief - supported the lord, his family, soldiers & his serfs Local political organization Local political organization Lords ruled their fiefdom Lords ruled their fiefdom Agricultural economy Agricultural economy Each was a self-supporting economic unit Each was a self-supporting economic unit Reciprocal obligations Reciprocal obligations Lord provided the land and protection; serfs provided the labor Lord provided the land and protection; serfs provided the labor In-kind labor for produce In-kind labor for produce 800s - Agricultural innovation 800s - Agricultural innovation Moldboard plow Moldboard plow Crop rotation (3 crop system) Crop rotation (3 crop system) Windmill – medieval power

The moldboard plow – Manorial system

The Church: Political and Spiritual Power Popes follow Roman organization Appoint bishops Missionaries Monasticism Benedict of Nursia - Benedictine rule Spiritual functions Holiness Network Pilgrimage centers Secular functions Education Large estates Shelter travelers Universities founded - 13 th C

Holy Roman Empire - Charles the Great (Charlemagne) crowned emperor crowned emperor Copied Roman central administration Copied Roman central administration 814 – death – empire fragments 814 – death – empire fragments 843 – Treaty of Verdun – created 3 kingdoms 843 – Treaty of Verdun – created 3 kingdoms Holy Roman emperors - ruled Germany & Italy Holy Roman emperors - ruled Germany & Italy Statue of Charlemagne

Feudalism in Medieval Europe

Feudal Monarchies in the HRE William of Normandy (French) conquered England William of Normandy (French) conquered England Centralized government, but consulted w/ a “Great Council” Centralized government, but consulted w/ a “Great Council” Created law enforcement – sheriffs & courts Created law enforcement – sheriffs & courts all fiefs held directly or indirectly by king all fiefs held directly or indirectly by king a personal oath of loyalty made each lord the vassal of the king a personal oath of loyalty made each lord the vassal of the king the king coined money & supervised justice the king coined money & supervised justice local government was dependent upon the king local government was dependent upon the king the Domesday Book (1086), a land survey, was compiled for tax levies. the Domesday Book (1086), a land survey, was compiled for tax levies. Over time, Norman and Anglo-Saxon cultures blended, producing a uniquely English culture. Over time, Norman and Anglo-Saxon cultures blended, producing a uniquely English culture.

Magna Carta Signed by King John (King Richard’s bro) Signed by King John (King Richard’s bro) *established specific rights for all members of feudal society – including KING! – legal code for each person’s obligations *established specific rights for all members of feudal society – including KING! – legal code for each person’s obligations *no taxation w/out authorization *no taxation w/out authorization *freedom of ports *freedom of ports *Govt cannot take crop w/out paying for it *Govt cannot take crop w/out paying for it *Govt officials cannot take horses/carts w/out permission *Govt officials cannot take horses/carts w/out permission *Govt needs witnesses to charge someone of a crime *Govt needs witnesses to charge someone of a crime *Everyone has right to justice *Everyone has right to justice *Merchant rights *Merchant rights *Judgment by peers in certain situations *Judgment by peers in certain situations

Significance of Magna Carta *1215, King John (England) forced to recognize Magna Carta - supremacy of written law; limited King’s powers *1215, King John (England) forced to recognize Magna Carta - supremacy of written law; limited King’s powers England turns toward Parliamentary rule; while French absolutism (monarchy) is solidified England turns toward Parliamentary rule; while French absolutism (monarchy) is solidified Representative bodies (Parliaments) Representative bodies (Parliaments) Catalonia, from 1000 Catalonia, from 1000 England, from 1265 England, from 1265 Monarchs continue to increase in power through warfare – nobility not used as knights; professional armies loyal to king used Monarchs continue to increase in power through warfare – nobility not used as knights; professional armies loyal to king used Hundred Years’ War – France vs. England – fought over territory in France controlled by the English King Hundred Years’ War – France vs. England – fought over territory in France controlled by the English King

Decline in Religious Life leads to Religious Reform 9th-11th C - religious life declined 9th-11th C - religious life declined Survival of pagan practice – disillusionment w/Church Survival of pagan practice – disillusionment w/Church Parish priests - frequently illiterate & immoral Parish priests - frequently illiterate & immoral Higher ranking clergy often appointed by powerful lords - served their interests rather than those of the church Higher ranking clergy often appointed by powerful lords - served their interests rather than those of the church In the 10th century, a reform movement began in the monasteries In the 10th century, a reform movement began in the monasteries Gregorian reform, 11th century - Gregory VII Separation of secular and religious spheres Franciscans - Francis of Assisi St Francis preached a life of total poverty, charity and good works, and love for all; the Franciscans ironically became one of the largest and most powerful of the monastic orders.

Religion & Education in the High Middle Ages Theological debate: faith vs. reason Theological debate: faith vs. reason Emphasis on Scholasticism - a medieval philosophy that used Reason (from Greek philosophy) to deepen the understanding of what was believed by Faith (from Christianity) Emphasis on Scholasticism - a medieval philosophy that used Reason (from Greek philosophy) to deepen the understanding of what was believed by Faith (from Christianity) Rational examination of church doctrine vs. Mysticism Rational examination of church doctrine vs. Mysticism Thomas Aquinas – wrote Summas – both faith & reason Thomas Aquinas – wrote Summas – both faith & reason - faith primary requirement, reason/analysis leads to deeper understanding - faith primary requirement, reason/analysis leads to deeper understanding Roger Bacon - English philosopher & Franciscan friar who emphasized empiricism Roger Bacon - English philosopher & Franciscan friar who emphasized empiricism one of the earliest advocates of the modern scientific method inspired by the works of early Islamic scientists one of the earliest advocates of the modern scientific method inspired by the works of early Islamic scientists

Religious Themes in Art & Literature Romanesque architecture Romanesque architecture Plain - round arch, barrel vault, and massive stone walls with small windows Plain - round arch, barrel vault, and massive stone walls with small windows Exterior decoration is usually quite simple Exterior decoration is usually quite simple Especially popular for monastic buildings Especially popular for monastic buildings Gothic - 11 th century  (Notre Dame) Gothic - 11 th century  (Notre Dame) Pointed, or Gothic, arch, rib vault, use of thinner walls & large windows Pointed, or Gothic, arch, rib vault, use of thinner walls & large windows Architects sought a unified design and decoration Architects sought a unified design and decoration Importance of height and light; windows filled with stained-glass. Importance of height and light; windows filled with stained-glass. Art – didactic; “Last Judgment” popular Art – didactic; “Last Judgment” popular Cathedrals often required centuries to complete - entire community from noble to peasant worked to erect them Cathedrals often required centuries to complete - entire community from noble to peasant worked to erect them

High Middle Ages 12 th C – vernacular/secular literature - Women National epics - English Beowulf; French Song of Roland; Spanish Cid - recounted the stories of great heroes; value of a bloody warrior society National epics - English Beowulf; French Song of Roland; Spanish Cid - recounted the stories of great heroes; value of a bloody warrior society Troubadour songs (12 th C) - celebrated unfilled romantic love - addressed to women - Tristan und Isolde Troubadour songs (12 th C) - celebrated unfilled romantic love - addressed to women - Tristan und Isolde Fabliaux - humorous often bawdy and worldly animal tales - mocked the ideas of chivalry, ridiculed human foolishness & mocked the Church Fabliaux - humorous often bawdy and worldly animal tales - mocked the ideas of chivalry, ridiculed human foolishness & mocked the Church Greatest work of the was the Divine Comedy of Dante - told of the poet's spiritual journey through Hell, Purgatory & Paradise Greatest work of the was the Divine Comedy of Dante - told of the poet's spiritual journey through Hell, Purgatory & Paradise Best known of the medieval writers - Geoffrey Chaucer – 14 th C author of humorous, bawdy, and very popular Canterbury Tales Best known of the medieval writers - Geoffrey Chaucer – 14 th C author of humorous, bawdy, and very popular Canterbury Tales Limited Sphere for Women Women generally lose ground as commerce expands – WHY?? Some opportunities as nuns

Growth of Trade & Banking Commerce expands - Mediterranean trade zone joined with North Sea & Baltic region Money replaces barter / Banking & insurance expand Money replaces barter / Banking & insurance expand Merchants relatively free - but still relatively low status Merchants relatively free - but still relatively low status Example - Hanseatic League - Northern Germany, southern Scandinavian cities who joined together to increase trade Example - Hanseatic League - Northern Germany, southern Scandinavian cities who joined together to increase trade Guilds – early merchants were not capitalistic – stressed cooperation instead of competition Guilds – early merchants were not capitalistic – stressed cooperation instead of competition 1. Craft associations – elections for leadership; meetings 2x/year 1. Craft associations – elections for leadership; meetings 2x/year 2. Protect markets – no new merchants (strangers) 2. Protect markets – no new merchants (strangers) 3. Ensure standards & low price – high quality 3. Ensure standards & low price – high quality 4. Social role - *guildsmen required to attend funerals of fellows 4. Social role - *guildsmen required to attend funerals of fellows *membership in guild passed down to sons *membership in guild passed down to sons *support provided if one guildsmen fell into poverty *support provided if one guildsmen fell into poverty

The Decline of Medieval Europe Widespread warfare from 1300 to 1500 Widespread warfare from 1300 to 1500 Hundred Years War Hundred Years War Weakens feudal order Weakens feudal order Population outstrips agric. = Famines Population outstrips agric. = Famines Bubonic Plague/Black Death – began 1348 Bubonic Plague/Black Death – began 1348 Result: a loss of faith in existing authorities and beliefs and heightened fears and anxieties Result: a loss of faith in existing authorities and beliefs and heightened fears and anxieties bizarre religious behavior, such as the Flagellants; black magic & witchcraft bizarre religious behavior, such as the Flagellants; black magic & witchcraft Apocalyptic fears also influenced the arts – “Dance of Death” painting Apocalyptic fears also influenced the arts – “Dance of Death” painting Signs of Strain Signs of Strain Aristocracy lose military purpose Aristocracy lose military purpose Foot soldiers more important Foot soldiers more important Church increasingly rigid – inquisitions against “heretics” Church increasingly rigid – inquisitions against “heretics”

Western Europe towards the End of the Middle Ages