1. HIST 1123 History of the Late Medieval World
Dr Niall Christie
Office Hours: Tuesday and Thursday, ; Wednesday, ; or by appointment
Copy of outline on the web at:
<

2. Political Developments
The Rise of Christianity
Education and Culture
Social History

3. Map Link: Reference Map of the European Provinces of the
Roman Empire:
<
shepherd-c jpg>

4. Political Developments
3rd c. Roman Empire encountering
difficulties
Reign of Diocletian
Reign of Constantine
Constantinople

5. Map Link: Map of the Tetrarchy:
<
/0/07/Tetrarchy_map3.jpg/789px-Tetrarchy_map3.jpg>

6. Political Developments
3rd c. Start of barbarian invasions of Roman
Empire
410 Visigoths sack Rome
455 Vandals sack Rome
Reign of Romulus Augustulus as last
western Roman emperor

7. Political Developments
Merovingians Carolingians
Charlemagne (r )
Capetians
Holy Roman Empire
Feudal System

8. Map Links:
Growth of Frankish Power, :
<
frankish_power_481_814.jpg>
France about 1035:
<
shepherd-c-061.jpg>

9. Map Links:
Empire of Otto the Great:
<
OttonianEmpire.png>
Europe and the Byzantine Empire about 1000:
<
shepherd-c jpg>

10. Rise of Christianity 303 Last great persecution of Christians under
Diocletian
Reign of Constantine
Reign of Theodosius I
Church Fathers: St Ambrose (c ), St
Jerome (c ), St Augustine of
Hippo ( )
Pontificate of Gregory I (the Great)

11. Rise of Christianity Secular clergy (saeculum) Pope Archbishops
Patriarchs of Jerusalem,
Constantinople,
Antioch and Alexandria
Archbishops
Bishops
Priests
Deacons
Subdeacons, Lectors, Acolytes, Doorkeepers, Exorcists, etc.

12. Rise of Christianity
Holy Rule of St Benedict of Nursia
(c )
Regular clergy (regula)
Involvement of church in individual’s life

13. Rise of Christianity
Other issues:
Relations of church and state
Corrupt nature of papacy in 10th c., with
attempts by German emperors
to sort this out
Simony
Clerical marriage

14. Rise of Christianity
Other issues:
Monastic reform movement in 10th c.
led by Cluny
Millennial expectations

15. Education and Culture
Mostly under church auspices
Latin and non-Latin works
Various genres of writing
Various forms of art, incl. manuscript
illuminations, architectural decoration

16. Education and Culture
Charlemagne (r )
Louis the Pious (r )
Alcuin of York (c )
The Venerable Bede (672/73-735)
Ecclesiastical History of the English People

17. Map Link: The Spanish Kingdoms 1030:
<
spanish_kingdoms_1030.jpg>

18. Social History
manorial/seignorial system
9th-11th c. peasants becoming serfs
in exchange for protection

19. Social History
10th-11th c. Growth of towns
End 11th c. Towns obtaining privileges from
lords in exchange for rents
Women: position in mediaeval society?

20. Map Link: Europe and the Mediterranean Lands about 1097:
<
europe_mediterranean_1097.jpg>

21. Possible Reasons for Christian Revival
Perceived corruption of church
Fear of impending Day of Judgment
Clearer definition of Purgatory

22. Pilgrimage Destinations:
Jerusalem
Al-Hakim bi-Amr Allah (r )
Santiago de Compostela (St James of
Compostela)
Rome

23. Peace of God, c to 12th c.
Truce of God, mid 11th c.
Church and surrounding lands as sanctuaries

24. Growth of number of hermits in 11th c.
Increasing numbers of anchorites and
anchoresses in 12th c.

25. Primary Sources: written by people living at
time or soon after
Secondary Sources: Works of interpretation
or analysis written long after the fact
Important to read critically, with eyes open
for agendas, biases, etc. Applies to both
primary and secondary sources, as well
as newspapers, TV, web sites, etc

26. Reading (Primary) Sources
Context
Who wrote this?
Where and when? Was the author an
eyewitness?
Why was it written?
To whom is it addressed? Who are they?

27. Reading (Primary) Sources
Classify Source
What sort of work is it?
What is its purpose (stated or not)?
Is it following a traditional structure or
mould?

28. Reading (Primary) Sources
Understand Source
What are the key words? Meaning?
What is the author’s point?
What evidence is provided?
What assumptions are made?
What values are expressed?
What problems are addressed? Context?
What reaction is expected/hoped for?

29. Reading (Primary) Sources
Evaluate Source
How typical is the source?
How widely did it circulate?
Does it share views/values/ideas/arguments
with others from period?
Can you find other evidence to corroborate
your conclusions?