1. The Worlds of European Christendom
Chapter 9

2. By the 4th Century the Roman Empire splits
After the Roman Empire
By the 4th Century the Roman Empire splits
Christian Europe is two parts:
Eastern half = The Byzantine Empire
Western half = Latin Christendom

4. The Byzantine Empire Mostly located in the Eastern Mediterranean basin
Capital = Constantinople
Gradually evolved into a distinctive civilization
Eastern Orthodox Christianity

5. The Byzantines looked to Rome as a source of inspiration
Continued the Roman practices of:
Road building
Tax systems
Military structures
Centralized government
Laws
Christian church
As an empire it was MUCH smaller than Rome

6. The emperor was the head of the Empire as well as head of the church
Caesaropapism
Emperor was God’s representative on earth and the absolute ruler

7. Byzantium and the World
Often at war with the Sasanian Empire (another Persian empire)
“Greek Fire” – sort of like a flamethrower
Helped them hold off the Islamic caliphates
Major trade center during this period
Commercial links to China, Western Europe, Russia, and Central Asia
The empire also produced luxury goods (silk & jewelry)
Culturally significant
Preserved and spread ancient Greek learning to Islamic and European lands

8. What’s Happening in Russia?
Kievan Rus – culturally diverse part of Eastern Europe
An important region due to trade between the Byzantine Empire and Scandinavia
In the 10th Century, Prince Vladimir of Kiev decided to affiliate himself with the Orthodox church
Made the decision freely after considering Islam, Judaism, and Catholicism

9. Orthodox Vs. Catholicism
Both believed in:
Jesus
The Bible
Sacraments
Church (bishops, priests, etc)
Intolerance towards other religions
Hierarchy

10. Icons – Greek for picture or likeness

13. What does this icon portray about the spiritual journey?
What sources of help are available for the monks on the ladder?
What message might the monks have taken from this image?

14. Western Christendom

15. Politics and Society
War and disease reduced the population of Europe by 25%
Cities in particular declined  people move back to the country
Rome goes from 1,000,000 citizens to 10,000 by 900 C.E.
Politically, Europe was a collection of regional kingdoms
Feudalism emerges
Independent, self-sufficient and isolated estates owned by warrior elites
Peasants called SERFS lived on these estates
NOT slaves but they exchanged labor/services with the lord of the estate for protection/safety
In the absence of Roman authority it was the only source of security available to many people
Ties to family, estate, and lord were the primary source of loyalty

19. The West from
From western Europe was under constant threat of invasion
Muslims in Spain, Hungarians (Magyars), Vikings
By 1000 the invasions had stopped
Stability = Positive Change
Also the climate of Europe warmed so agricultural output increased

20. Population doubled from 1000 – 1350
Also increased long distance trade which had almost disappeared with the fall of the Roman Empire

21. Two major trading networks
Northern Europe to the Baltic Coast
Northern Italy
Florence, Genoa, and Venice traded with Islamic and Byzantine civilizations

22. Politics
Minor monarchs in Europe began to consolidate their authority
France
England
Spain
Scandinavia
Italian city-states also became rich and powerful
German princes remained loyal to the Holy Roman Empire

24. The Crusades
As populations increased Europeans began to look outward at the world
The Crusades reflected the new expansiveness and religious passion of Europe after 1000
First one in 1095
Religious wars
NOT just Islam – also sacked Constantinople in 1204

25. Long Term Impact:
Spain, Sicily, and the Baltics were permanently brought into Western Christendom
The Byzantine Empire was severely weakened
Increased interaction between the Middle East and Europe
Greater demand for Asian luxury goods
Technology/knowledge transferred from Islamic Empires to Europe

29. Quick review questions for your notebook…
What replaced the Roman Order in Western Europe?
In what ways did European civilization change after 1000?
How did the historical development of the European West differ from that of Byzantium in the post classical era?