The Medieval European Synthesis

Fusion of the Early Middle Ages

5th-11th centuries Fall of Rome Celtic Influences Norse-Germanic Influences Spread of Christianity

throughout Europe Islamic Influences Feudalism Empires and Kingdoms

The Celts

Called Galatai or Keltoi by Greeks, Galli (Gauls) by Romans “Omnia Galli tres partes divisus est” Julius Caesar

Migrated throughout Europe from 1st millenium bce-1st c. bce

Fierce warriors: went naked, painted blue, into battle known for wild challenges Furor: battle fury used war chariots, javelins and lancia: battle lances head-hunters believed in re-incarnation

Celtic Migrations

Hallstatt

Celtic Influences Decorative

Animal motifs Arabesques

Religious Scholarship Monasticism

Literary Epics and folklore Sovranty: Love-Political Triangle

King-Queen-Suitor/Challenger Arthur-Guinevere-Lancelot

Gundestrup Cauldron

1st c. bcesilver overlaid with gold

Cernunnos: God of the Beasts

Celtic Christianity

Christianity was introduced into the British Isles in late 1st century or early 2nd c. with Roman soldiers

Cultic religion existing alongside other cults; both indigenous and brought in by the Romans, such as the cult of Mithras.

The new faith rapidly gained adherents

St. Patrick (389?-461?)

Apostle of Ireland, Christian prelate. Born in Scotland -- kidnapped at 16 by

Irish pirates and sold in Ireland as a slave. He passed his captivity as a herdsman

Saw visions in which he was urged to escape, and after six years of slavery he did so,

Ordained as a deacon, then priest and finally as a bishop.

Pope Celestine then sent him back to Ireland to preach the gospel.

Syncretism: St. Bridgit

Patrick carried Christianity to the Irish by transforming their sacred groves, wells, and mounds into centers of worship for the new faith.

He also adopted the ancient Celtic deities into the new faith, demoting them to saints

Brigit,the goddess of healing and fertility became St. Bridgit in the new faith.

The Irish Church

Elements of Eastern Christianity: emphasis on monasticism organizational structure of abbots and monasteries versus bishops

and parish churches ascetic holiness and pilgrimage

The abbeys' and monasteries' success in teaching: Generations of scholars who not only copied Christian material but

also transcribed the myths of the Ulster and Finian cycles, the Brehon laws, and other Celtic documents

Survival of Christianity in the British Isles despite conquest by the pagan Angles and Saxons.

Sent missionaries to England and scholars to courts, such as Charlemagne’s, throughout Europe

The Book of Kells

Fall of Rome:

Rise of Germanic Tribes

330: Constantine moved the capitol of the Roman Empire to Constantinople

402: Honorius moved capitol of the Western Empire from Rome to Ravenna

410: Visigoths sacked Rome 455: Vandals sacked Rome and took control of N. Africa

and Spain 5th c.: Waves of Angles, Saxons and Jutes invaded Britain

and Burgundians controlled much of France 476: Goths seized Rome: Odoacer became Emperor

VölkerwanderrungGermanic Migrations

Germanic Comitatus or Kinship Groups

König, eorlas und thanes: kings, nobles and warriors Mutual loyalty -- warriors fight for king, king is

generous to warriors Originally a socially egalitarian setup, during the third

and fourth centuries AD, became socially stratified Basis for feudal loyalty Ideal and philosophy expressed in oral epics like

Beowulf and The Song of Roland

Charlemagne 768-814

Otherwise known as Charles the Great, or Charles the First

Eldest son born of Pepin the Short and his wife Bertrada

Possessed many qualities of greatness: imposing physical stature, warrior prowess, piety, generosity, intelligence, devotion to family and friends, and joy for life.

A hero in his own time who became a legendary figure

Charlemagne’s Empire

CAROLINGIAN RENAISSANCE Charlemagne was a strong supporter of education Assembled scholars and learned men at court in Aachen Most noted was Alcuin (c. 735-804) who was Charlemagne's chief

advisor on religious and educational matters; prepared official documents and exempla

The scholars copied books and built up libraries; used "Carolingian minuscule;" saved the thoughts and writings of the ancients

Worked on educating priests Limited illiteracy Preserved Latin culture

in West

Carolingian MS.

Aachen Cathedral

early Romanesque architectureca. 792-805

Illuminated Manuscripts

. The word `illuminated' comes from a usage of the Latin word illuminare -- `adorn'.

The decorations are of three main types: miniatures or small pictures, into

the text or occupying the whole page or part of the border;

initial letters either containing scenes (historiated initials) or with elaborate decoration;

Books written by hand, decorated with paintingsborders, which may consist of

miniatures, occasionally illustrative, or more often are composed of decorative motifs.

Sacramentary--Use of Saint-Denis,9thc.

                 

The oldest known iconographic cycle showing the coronation of a French king in the cathedral of Rheims, virtually as it would be staged until 1825.

The archbishop of Rheims, assisted by the abbots of Saint-Remi of Rheims and of Saint-Denis, officiated in the presence of the peers of the realm.

Coronation Ordinal of 1250 Paris

Viking Conquests

I've been with sword and,spearslippery with bright blood

where kites wheeled. And how wellwe violent Vikings clashed!

Redflames ate up men's roofs,raging we killed and killed;

and skewered bodies sprawledsleepy in town gateways.

Viking Runes

Viking Art

Scene taken from the stone Smiss I, found in Stenkyrka parish. Dated 700-

800 AD.

8th c. Bronze keys

Sigurd the Dragon-Slayer

12th c. door carvings

Sigurd slays the dragon Fafnir and grills and eats his heart

The Normans

Vikings, or Norsemen, who settled in northern France (or the Frankish kingdom), together with their descendants

A Viking named Rollo emerged as the leader among the new settlers.

911 the Frankish king Charles III the Simple ceded Rollo the land around the mouth of the Seine and what is now the city of Rouen

The Normans founded the duchy of Normandy and sent out expeditions of conquest and colonization to southern Italy and Sicily and to England, Wales, Scotland, and Ireland.

Feudalism

Social system of rights and duties based on land tenure and personal relationships land is held in fief by vassals who owe military services tolords to whom they are bound by personal loyalty.

Feudalism is a form of civilization that flourishes especially in a closed agricultural economy

Those who fulfill official duties, whether civil or military, do so because of personal and freely accepted links with their overlord – not because of patriotism

Public authority becomes fragmented and decentralized.

Social ClassesSECULAR

KING

NOBLES

KNIGHTS

MERCHANTSPROFESSIONALS

CRAFTSMEN

PEASANTSfreemen

serfs

ECCLESIASTICAL

POPE

CARDINALS

BISHOPS ABBOTS

PRIESTS MONKSSUMMONERS FRIARSPARDONERS NUNS

PEASANTSlay brothers and sisters

serfs

Norman Conquest1066: Contest for the English crown:

Harold, Earl of Wessex: Anglo-Saxon claimantHarald Hardrada of NorwayWilliam Duke of Normandy

Battle of Stamford Bridge: Harold defeated Hardrada's army which invaded using over 300 ships; so many were killed that only 25 ships were needed to transport the survivors home.

Battle of Hastings: William led Norman forces against the English. Harold Killed in battle; William seized the throne

William the Conqueror

Norman Castles

Tower of London

Motte and Bailey Castle

Crusades: 1095-15th c.

Holy Wars"-- against various enemies of the Church

Initially non-Christians: Moslems and pagans

At first the object of the Crusades was to recover the Holy Places (in what are now Israel and Jordan) from the Moslems, who had seized them in the 7th Century.

Later Crusades were preached against Christian heretics, and even against orthodox Christians who happened to have political disputes with the current pope.

Crusade Period

Chivalry

Chivalry was a peculiarity of the practice of war in medieval Europe.

The feudal knight was supposed to be devout, honest, selfless, just, brave, honorable, obedient, kind, charitable, generous, and kind to women.

complex rituals and rules

European Universities Evolved from medieval schools known as studia generalia

Places of study open to students throughout Europe. Efforts to educate clerks and monks beyond the level of the cathedral and

monastic schools. Earliest Western universities:

Salerno, Italy-- 9th c. -- famous medical school that drew students from all over Europe

Bologna, Italy-- 11thc. --a widely respected school of canon and civil law University of Paris --mid 12th c.-- noted for its teaching of theology and as a

model for other universities in N. Europe Oxford University in England--end of the 12th century.

Course of Study Core curriculum based on the

seven liberal arts: Trivium: grammar, logic, rhetoric,

Quadrivium: geometry, arithmetic, astronomy, and music.

Students then proceeded to study under one of the professional faculties of medicine, law, and theology.

Final examinations were grueling, and many students failed.

Christian Mysticism

Visionary literature Visions Dreams

Reflection of an individual’s intuitive and direct knowledge of God: autobiographical

Subject to review and confirmation by Church authorities

Those who did not adhere to Church doctrine were considered heretics and often prosecuted.

Discipline of Christian Mysticism

Mystics typically received visions or knowledge of God by practicing: Prayer: oral praying, meditation, contemplation Self denial: asceticism, fasting, etc. Charity: almsgiving, service to others Visions often came in times of personal crisis

or illness

Major Medieval Christian Mystics

St. Symeon the New Theologian (949–1022)

Saint Anselm (1033–1109) Hugh of Saint Victor (1096–1141) Richard of St. Victor (? –1173) Hildegard of Bingen (1098–1179) St. Francis of Assisi (1181–1226) St. Clare of Assisi (1194–1253) St. Anthony of Padua (1195–1231) Beatrice of Nazareth (1200-1268) Mechthild of Magdeburg (1210–1279) St. Bonaventure of Bagnoregio (1221–

1274) Angela of Foligno (1248–1309)

Gertrude the Great (1256–1301) Marguerite Porete (?–1310) Meister Eckhart (c. 1260–1327/8) John of Ruysbroeck (1293–1381) St. Gregory Palamas (1296–1359) Johannes Tauler (1300–1361) Henry Suso (1300–1366) St. Bridget of Sweden (1302–1373) St. Julian of Norwich (1342–c.1416) St. Catherine of Sienna (1347–1380) William Langland (?–1385/6) Margery Kempe (c.1373–1438) Thomas à Kempis (1380–1471) St. Ignatius of Loyola (1491–1556)