HIstory 2100 Medieval Europe

Jan 12, 2010

Greek Contributions to the arts - originated the basic ideas of comedy and tragedy

Greek Philosophy -

Plato (427-347)

the world of ideas - believed that the material world of the senses was like seeing shadows on the walls of a cave. we must be able to understand the world with our mind not just our senses. these ideas of the world dont change and are constant. For Plato the Physical world isnt the best place to find knowledge but rather the world of ideas is a place of true knowledge and is constant. This is a very rational world.

Mind/body dualism - Humans are an amalgamation of Minds and Bodies and the mind is the more important part b/c it will survive the death of the body and go to the world of ideas.

the Neoplatonists - New Platos arrive in the 3rd century CE and their works were the closest many people in the MA ever got to Plato.

Western Science, political ideology and philosophy, architecture, drama, and many other aspects of western european culture have their roots in the ancient Greek culture.

together Plato and Aristotle are important b/c they took a stance against the moral relativism of their day. They believed that it was possible to arrive at fundamental truths that would never change. Truth was certain and knowable and unchangeable.

many people in the Middle ages had a similar belief as Plato. they believed that there were two different worlds, the world of the body and the spiritual world that is immediately present to them and more important than the physical world.

Plato himself wasnt very common or well known in the middle ages. people didnt know Plato second hand through the Neoplatonists.

Aristotle - His approach to finding truth was much different than Platos. for him the physical world wasnt a shadow of reality as it was for Plato but very real and a place were absolute truth could be found. Aristotle used Empirical evidence where Plato had used rational evidence.

Science - he is the father of western science astronomy, physics, biology. He designed the basic vocabulary of western science and the naming system in biology

Logic - he literally wrote the book about basic logic something cannot be and not be at the same time

Ethics - Aristotle believed that ethical virtue was a middle ground b/w two extremes. one of his most famous sayings is Man is a political animal for Aristotle it is a natural event for people to get together and form political units

Like Plato Aristotle was not directly known in the MA it wasnt until the late 13th C that his ideas were re-discovered

Another important school of Philosophy originating out of Greece was Stoicism. Stoics believed that it was their duty to live in harmony with the universe and fulfill their role. they believed that emotions showed that you were not living in harmony with the universe. If you were a emperor be the best emperor you could be and if you were a slave be the best slave you could be, and accept what happens to you. They also believed that every human had a spark of the divine w/i them

Roman Achievements

Administration and Govt - had a massive yet efficient govt that could effectively rule a large empire

Law - Roman laws were the same for everyone all across the empire and it helped bind together the empire.

Latin Language - the language of the romans was fundamentally important for the empire and for the MA. the Latin language remained the language of the educated throughout the MA and even past the MA in western europe.

Architecture - also fundamentally important for medieval society. the romans developed on top of the ideas and designs of the Greeks. The Roman Arch made it possible to build bigger and more structurally sound buildings. Roman styles of building were used late into the MA

Idea of Empire - creating an idea of a politically united region that covered western Europe. the idea of an emperor with the right to rule europe goes back to the original Roman Empire.

The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire

Problems with the decline and fall metaphor - it gives is a sense that roman society was degenerate and collapsed from within which may or may not have been true. Also when people talk about the fall of the Roman empire they are talking about the Western Roman Empire b/c the Eastern Roman Empire doesnt fall until 1453. Historians started calling the eastern roman empire the Byzantine Empire from about 500 BC on.

Rome fell b/c

Empire was over extended

unable to maintain its boarders against barbarian invaders

Theodocian Code - laws were passed that restricted people mobility both professionally and physically. if you were a bread maker or a farmer you had to remain bread maker or a farmer for the rest of your life and thats what your children must do to. they did this b/c there were not enough people making the basic goods to sustain the empire. The empire was also desperately short of money. It got so bad that taxes had to be payed in kind rather than in money.

poor leadership - the Romans were never that good at figuring out how to choose new leaders. this led to coups, assassinations, and Civil Wars. These political problems sapped the strength of the empire.

restrictive taxes that are incredibly high and there is to much corruption. So high are the taxes and so great the corruption that Romans themselves actually flee to the barbarians to get away from these things.

The moral destruction of Rome

there was a partial restoration of the Roman Empire in the 4th C. Two powerful and important emperors Diocletian and Constantine were the leaders of this restorations

Diocletian - he believed that the Roman Empire had simply become to large so he split the Empire into two halves - the Eastern and Western Roman Empires. That split would come to represent the division of Latin and Greek as common speech. He stabilizes the boarders of Rome

Constantine - reunited the Roman Empire but he also protected it as he was a great General. He rebuilds the City Byzantium and renames it Constantinople.

the works of Diocletian and Constantine allow the empire to survive another 100 years.

by 476 the Western Roman Empire is dead. Rome itself sacked multiple times and Barbarians stop even bothering to set themselves up as the Roman emperors anymore.

B/c of Greece and Romes great history many people in the MA sam themselves as dwarves compared to the ancients.

Jan 14, 2010

Christianity

Christianity was different from the previous religions that existed in many ways

monotheistic vs polytheistic

there was no moral code with greco/roman gods

there was no salvation with greco/roman gods

many Romans wanted a personal relationship with gods in the late imperial roman period. this lead to the rise of mystery cults

mystery cults were secretive and only open to those invited by those already in the cult. the often spoke of salvation and saviour figures. Mystery cults are close to Christianity. Mystery cults tended to be polytheistic.

thus religion in the late roman empire was very diverse. there was also a religious philosophy that was changing in the upper classes, religious philosophers began to talk about god in the singular.

Jesus and the Early Church

Jesus was a jew and his teaching a preaching emerged out of the Jewish traditions. Jesus said that the Messiah was going to bring about the end of the world and a day of judgement in which the world have to answer for their sins.

Jesus was in opposition to many Roman ideas and beliefs. He was a monotheist and wouldnt pay lip service to roman gods and said that they werent gods at all. he spread trouble saying that the world was soon coming to an end.

After Jesus' death the religion survived and slowly began to spread. gradually organizations begin to emerge. eventually Christianity spread all over the roman empire.

with the growth of the church leaders are required for small services and to coordinate the activities of all the christian communities in a city. this leads to the positions of priest, Bishop, Archbishop, Cardinal and finally the Pope as the penultimate leader.

the authority of the pope emerges very gradually and slowly and is originally the Bishop of Rome.

The Popes claim to the senior figure in the church is called the Petrine Doctrine - the idea that the Bishop of Rome is a senior authority figure over all the church because of Jesus telling the disciples that Peter is the head of the Church and on him he will build the Christian Church.

The Christian Apologists - the first group of people who attempt to explain the Christian faith and doctrine to non christians and tried to convert them

from the 2nd C on there was a dialogue b/w Christian revelation and classical philosophy. Christians wanted to reconcile their beliefs with the ideas of the classical greco/roman philosophies. the central philosophical question was how to reconcile the bible with Aristotle and Plato.

in the 4th and 5th C the Church Fathers emerge who helped establish the church and established its fundamentals doctrine and theology

St, Jerome 345-420CE - he compiled the official bible that would be used throughout the MA. it is known as the Vulgate Bible (old and new testament together) The Vulgate bible was written in Latin, previous editions were written in Greek so the Vulgate Bible translates the bible into the common language.

St. Augustine 354-430 - probably the most important Church Father in the western Church. He converted to Christianity late in life and he understood how greco/roman philosophers thought b/c he had read and knew the greco/roman philosophies. He develops some of the basic of the Church such as

Original Sin - the sin that we all have as part of our nature passed down to us fr/ Adam and Eve eating the forbidden fruit in the Garden of Eden

Grace - since we are all sinners we all need Gods help to be saved.

Violence as an act of Love - the old testament was very militaristic and the new testament was pacifistic. He argues that violence for a Christian can be justified if it is an act of love.

The Conversion of Constantine

before the 3rd C CE Christianity had been a persecuted religion it was under Constantine that it stopped being persecuted and rose to become the official church of the Roman Empire

the Battle of Milvian Bridge 312 CE - the account of a battle that leads to Constantines conversion. on the eve of his large battle in the West he has a dream in which he sees the Chi Rho symbol and he has his troops put that symbol on their shields and defeats his enemy and goes on to become the emperor of Rome. This leads him to convert to Christianity

with Constantines conversion Christianity goes from a small persecuted sect to a legal religion

the Edict of Milan - Constantine and the Emperor of the Eastern Roman Empire decide that Christianity (and all other religions) would profit the Empire aka. Christianity is accepted. Persecution ended and Christianity joins the other religions of the Roman Empire. The Edict doesnt make Christianity the sole religion of Rome it just makes it Legal.

now Christians are free to worship and evangelize of course it helps that the Emperor is a Christian which leads to a period of rapid spread of Christianity. Over the next 70 years Christianity grows and by 385 becomes the sole religion of the Roman Empire.

in 100 years from 300 to 400 Christianity goes from 10% and an illegal persecuted sect to the only religion of the empire.

The Relationship b/w the Church and State

with the emergence of the dominance of the Christian Church there starts to be struggles b/w the Church and the State. the Church is acquiring land and gathering taxes and growing in power

in the 4th and 5th C the Emperor still has far more power and is able to control Christianity. It is during this time the Council of Nicea is called in 325 CE

the Council is the supreme authority of the church at that time and they are called together to decide issues of theology and church doctrine. The Pope is given a place of honor but is only just equal to the other leading Bishops

Pope Gelasius I - he explains what he believes is the proper relationship b/w Pope and Emperor. He believes there are two powers in the world, Religion and Political, and that the Church and Religion is more important than political and secular power.

In the minds of the bishops religion is more important than the state because the sole will live on after a person dies.

the central political challenge of the MA is reconciling the power of the Church with that of the State.

Christianity wasnt monolithic and unchanging. with the emergence of the Churchs power so grows the power of its offices.

Christianity sowed the seeds of a more unified western Civilization. it is the Glue that holds together western civilization during the MA

Jan 19, 2010

The Barbarians - Were considered barbarians b/c they didnt live in cities, they didnt write down their histories, and they werent greco/roman

Germanic Society - it is germanic customs and cultures that go on to become the norm during the MA.

Interior tribes didnt mint coins or even use money they traded in goods and services.

The idea of a Grand Jury to find evidence and a trial jury to decide guilt is a Germanic tradition.

In Germanic society chieftains were chosen by birth but war leaders were chosen by merit.

Germanic society was more loosely organized and citizens had more personal freedom than their roman counterparts.

Germanic kingship - had little actual control over german citizens. A german King rules only his tribe and when important choices had to be made for the tribe the King or priest spoke first only b/c of his power to persuade not b/c of his power to make the decision. Couldnt simply pass a law (cant write) as laws were the customs of the tribe.

Importance of personal bonds - personal relationships b/w individuals is the glue that held Germanic society together

-- Kinship - probably the most important bond in germanic society. people were identified by both their mother and their fathers side of the family. Kin is the social safety net- there are no police, EI, pension or anything like that so they are the first people you look to for support. Extended family members were even held responsible for your debts. Bonds of Blood

-- Lordship - this is a bond that emerges b/w the military leader and his followers. Important people were important b/c they had a group of warriors supporting them. Soldiers protects his leader in war and in peace and does what the leader asks of him. the leader ideally gives his soldiers victory and allows them to rise in society. it is this bond of lordship is the origin of Feudalism.

Personal freedom - the right to use and bear arms was one of the personal freedoms and in fact personal arms were the symbol of a free man. Romans had a professional army and only the soldiers of that army could use arms while germanic society is a warrior society were every free man carried his weapons with him.

Germanic society allowed blood feuds. Usually it was an obligation of the kin that could spiral out of control and last for generations so another system was created for vengeance.

this system was called the wergild. the payment of money in place of a blood feud.

people could be brought before a tribal council and charge them with an accusation of some wrong that they have done against you. it was up to the assembly of the tribe to decide what to do. the tribal council could force him to pay the wergild or swear an oath of innocence or make the accused go through an ordeal which was an appeal to divine judgement

there was a special belief that the local tribe could settle these issues on their own, mainly b/c there was no distant power to solve the problems.

Germanic languages - English, Danish, Swedish, Norwegian, German, and Dutch are all languages that can trace their roots back to the germanic languages

Germans believed that women could speak their minds politically. the running of the household and the fields was left to women as well.

slaves often didnt live in the house of their owner but rather worked in their own home and had to pay in kind to their masters - give them grain, cattle, beer or whatever it is they produce. this system was a precursor to medieval serfdom.

it was Germanic culture that introduced pants into western civilization.

The Barbarian Invasions

The Federati - the name that the Roman empire gives the barbarian tribes that originally allied themselves with Rome.

the Visigoth Migration - the fist visigoth migration happened in 376 and it was the first time that a whole tribe moved into the Roman empire. the Visigoths themselves were being pushed into the empire by the Huns. The Visigoths appeal to the Romans for help, to be allowed into the empire for protection. they agreed to fight in the Roman army. the romans are allowed in and settled in the balkans to defend that region of the boarder against the Huns and other barbarians. After 2 years of subjugation by roman tax collectors and cheating business men they rise up and rampage against the Romans

Battle of Adrianople, 378 - the Visigoths defeat the Roman army and Emperor Valance himself is killed in the battle. this marks the start of the crumbling of Romes boarders as it is no longer to defend them.

- in 410 the Visigoths sack Rome

Fifth C invasions - most barbarian tribes were small and disappeared after the death of their Kings or defeat in battle but some tribes set up kingdoms that have lasted to this day

Anglo-Saxons migrated from Germany to Britain and formed the Kingdom that went on to become England.

Franks migrated at the same time as the Anglo-Saxons. they moved from the western side of the Rhine river into northern gaul and set up a kingdom that is now France. the Dynasty that leads the Franks early on is called the Merovingians. the turning point is when their leader Clovis converts to Christianity

Lombards - settled in Norther Italy and create the Kingdom the Lombardi.

the fall of the western empire allows germanic tribes to sweep into the area and germanic ideals and cultures become prevalent.

most Germanic kings didnt want to destroy the empire, they wanted to come in and enjoy the comforts of the empire. unfortunately they did end up destroying it. They set up their own kingdoms and these kingdoms became the kernels of the nations that would last throughout the MA.

Jan 21, 2010

The Spread of Christianity to 1050

Monasteries - played an important role in the spread of Christianity across europe. They also preserved many of the ancient and and early MA texts. they were centers of learning.

when historians talk of a nations converting to Christianity they are often talking about just the King of the ruler and the aristocracy. everyday people were often well behind of the rulers.

for many of the average people in Europe Christianity was but one religion in the many.

Justinian, emperor of the Eastern Roman Empire, sends out his troops to re-conquest the Western Roman Empire. he managed to retake the city of Rome but was unable to reunite the two empires. shortly after his death the eastern empire shrunk back to its original size

Italy and the Papacy

The Lombard Invasion 568- the last of the great migrations of barbarians are the Lombards. they set up in northern part of Italy (Milan, Turin etc.) Italy is divided b/w different tribes and Italy would remain fragmented for another 1200 years.

Gregory the Great - founder of the Medieval Papacy. it was under his direction that the office of the Pope became very powerful not only religiously but politically. they became powerful almost by default as Italy was divided. The arrival of the barbarian kingdoms to the doors of the papacy was a problem because they are Arian Christians who the papacy view as Heretics.

In the vacuum of political power in Rome the Popes start to take care of the city . They begin to take on political power and begin to Rule Rome. It was Gregory that set in motion the taking on of political power by the Pope. Gregory started the first Papal State.

The Donation of Constantine - a document that claimed that Constantine gives political power to the Pope over the Western Roman Empire. the document itself was a forgery but this wasnt discovered until the late 15th C. this document gave the Papacy the political Legitimacy in the MA

Gregory wrote to the bishops to explain the Petrine Document and told them that the Pope was the leader of the Christian world. He is eventually able to enforce this fact and unites the Christian world. Gregory stressed that a Bishops job was to take care of his flock.

Britain

Christianity in Britain we can witness the birth of a vibrant and flourishing form of Christianity in a place on the boarders of the Roman empire.

The Venerable Bede is a Irish historian who gives us an account of the Anglo-Saxons conversion to Christianity.

Christianity came to modern day England with the Romans and they converted many people. Christians pulled out of England with the Romans and the island reverted to the pagan religions that had existed before.

Ireland was converted by Christian missionaries like St. Patrick. Ireland had never had Roman rule and so the Christianity that emerges in Ireland has its own characteristics. The Irish learned latin as a foreign language. Ireland became a great center of scholarly learning and the printing of manuscripts. it was the monasteries that were the centers of Christianity in Ireland.

It was the Irish that brought the ideas of Penance and Confession to the Roman Catholic Church. In the early Christian church very few people privately confessed sins. It was the Irish that came up with the system of frequent personal and private confession and penance.

Its the Irish monks that come to England and re-convert the island to Christianity.

St. Columbus came from Ireland and established a Monastery at Iona and from that monastery Christianity spread through Scotland. late 6th C

Roman Monks begin to come back to Britain sent by Gregory, they land in the south of england and spread north towards the Irish Christianity.

the Irish and Roman systems of Christianity had a showdown at the Synod of Whitby in 664. in the end the Roman side wins out and all of Britain becomes, at least officially, roman catholic.

France

In Frankia (france) christianity had come with the roman empire and the barbarians who moved into the area converted to Christianity so that Christianity never left the area. the problem was not to convert but to order and re-invigorate the Frankish church

Irish and English missionaries went to France and St Columbanus is probably one of the most important. These missionaries founded many Monasteries that would go onto become some of the most powerful in Europe.

Germany

LIke Ireland, Germany was new to Christianity as the romans had never brought it there

St. Boniface was an anglo-saxon Monk who came and converted the Germans. He worked with the Papacy and was sent beyond the Rhine river and organized the church in germany. by the time of his death Germany had largely been converted and the church was spreading rapidly through Germany. was often called the Apostle of the Germans

Spain

during the roman empire was largely Christian but the Visigoths moved in and set up their own Kingdom and then they converted to Roman Catholicism.

Islam arrived in Spain in the early 8th C. started by the prophet Mohammed in the boarder lands of the two great empires the Romans and the Persians. Mohammed pushed for the conversion of people to Islam and the rejection of multiple gods.

he was a very successful military and religious leader and his religion and subsequent empire spread rapidly.

Islam arrived in Spain in 711 and quickly destroyed the Visigoth Kingdom. With the destruction of the Visigoth Kingdom, Christianity... was allowed to continue to be practiced. the Christians lived under Muslim rule, they couldnt build new churches or temples and they had to pay an extra tax.

Islam believed in the Old Testament and referred to Christians and Jews People of the book the big difference was the muslim rejection of the triune nature of God.

the Conversion of the People

the Church in the cities - Christianity first spread in the cities and early on was known as an urban religion. the organization of the church focused on and favoured cities. the church took on the form of the roman administration.

Roman civitates and the pagans - cities were the centers of government and the church copied this and created a system of governance that closely mimicked the civil authorities.

The Pope was in Charge of the entire Christian World

Archbishop was in charge of Provinces (large junks of kingdoms)

Bishops was in charge of a Diocese (one big city)

Priest in Charge of a Parish (a part of the diocese)

the church in the countryside

the destruction of pagan religion

development of the parish system

Monasticism

Saints and relics - saints were christian super heros and their physical remains were believed the maintain their spiritual powers. Cathedrals and Churches to pray to the relics.

Migrations of Christian missionaries were wildly successful and by 1050 Christianity was clearly the dominant religion in Europe.

the Christian word was big with wide boundaries.

the seeds of modern problems can sometimes be traced back to the conversion of Europe.

Christianity and kingdoms often grow hand in hand in europe during this time.

christianity was often the glue that held Medieval Europe together. western society begins to take shape in the christian form.

Jan 26, 2010

Clovis - first King to unit the Franks. his original family lands come from both sides of the Rhine river but under Clovis the north of France, the southwest of France and then went on to put together an empire that is basically all of western europe minus Italy, Spain and the north of Germany.

Clovis founded the Merovingian dynasty but the Merovingian Gaul Empire seemed to be on a roller coaster of expansion and breaking up. the problem was that there really wasnt a govt. it was just a really large barbarian kingdom not a self governing empire.

the strength of the empire relied on the strength of the King.

another problem the merovingians had was Gavelkind - if a King had multiple sons, the kingdom was split up equally b/w all the male heirs.

these problems with the Merovingians led to the eventual fall of the dynasty and it was replaced with the Carolingian Dynasty.

the Carolingian family gets kind of luck b/c there is only one male heir (or one male heir that wants to rule) for 4 generations. so they get stronger and stronger aka they surrounded themselves with more and more supporters. the Carolingians acquired more and more land till they have more land under their control than the kings themselves.

Charles Martel was nicknamed the Hammer which meant that he was a powerful warrior.

at the battle of Tours, 732 - Muslim armies from spain have advanced deep into france and at this Battle Charles is able to defeat the Muslim forces and that stopped the spread of Muslim advance in Europe and eventually his descendants will drive them out of france completely

By the time of Martel the Carolingians are the most powerful family in France but he isnt the King he is the Mayor of the Palace - like the PM. Charles dies in 741 and his Son Pepin the Short takes over

Pepin works out a deal with the Pope - an alliance with the Pope and the Carolingians. the Carolingians wanted to be kings and they got Papal authority to take over the thrown of France. It was decided that the Pope had the right to choose who can become King. St. Boniface was sent to crown Pepin as King of the Franks in 756.

the old Merovingian king was sent to a monastery to get him out of the way.

the Pope decided to crown Pepin as King of the Franks because the Lombards were going to conquer Rome and the Papacy and so they needed the Franks for protection. this means that the Papacy stops looking east to the Byzantine Empire for protection but to the franks.

Donation of Pepin, 756 - Pepin the Short King of the Franks who had just finished defeating the Lombards recognized the Authority of the Papacy over lands in and around Rome and promised to protect them

Charlemagne - created the largest and strongest European empire since the fall of Rome. He inherited the Kingdom of the Franks and he led many successful military campaigns two important ones were.

Lomabard, 774 - finished the job Pepin had started he conquered the Lombards completely and sent their King off to a Monastery. thus he became king of the Franks and the Lombards.

Saxons, - Charlemagne had a difficult time with the Saxons. He would go in and defeat them in battle but as soon as he left they would rise up and kill his officials and rebel. it literally took decades for him to finally and fully defeat the Saxons.

the Capitulary of the Saxons - a set of laws that Charlemagne used to finally pacify the Saxons.

he converted the Saxons to Christianity

he killed a whole bunch of Saxons if they: killed church officials, vandalized of robbed a church, practice old pagan rituals didnt follow the rules of the Church.

he forcibly converted Saxons in to Christianity and is used to assimilate the saxons into the Empire and hold the empire together.

finally by about 804 the Saxons quite down and become part the Charlemagnes empire.

one of the most famous and controversial events of MA history was the Coronation of Charlemagne on christmas day 800.

the Pope called Charlemagne b/c he needs help and on Christmas day Charlemagne goes to worship. the Pope comes to him and Places a crown on his head proclaiming him to be Emperor of the Romans

there are some conflicting accounts of what happened. Some say that Charlemagne hated what happened and never would have gone to the church if he knew what was going to happen. and others say that everyone involved was really happy about what happened. Physical evidence (his palace at Aachen and his imperial coinage) seem to dispute that.

Charlemagne is clearly the most powerful authority figure in Europe but that eventually changes later in the MA when the Papacy gets more and more powerful

Charlemagne was also responsible for a cultural renaissance.

Law and Government

He encouraged different tribes to write down their law system and then governs each of them by their own laws

Capitularies - He starts to pass capitularies (laws) that apply to all people in the empire.

Missi Dominici - officials of the King - they take care of the interests of the king throughout the realm

the Carolingian renaissance

Cathedral and Monastic Schools - taught basic reading and writing as well as Christian doctrine to monks within the realm.

the Carolingian Court and the Palace School - Charlemagne gathered around him the best and brightest of the empire to his court. People from all over the christian world come to learn and study and teach. they all speak and read Latin and thats how they communicate.

Caroline Miniscule - a new type of script that was much easier to read and write. It is the ancestor of our lower case script.

the carolingian renaissance means a lot of us today. it is this renaissance that preserved much of what we have left of classical and christian literature. they helped to preserve a vast body of Greco/Roman and early christianity.

it is this survival of learning and ancient texts that we still use today.

a new European society that was able to record events and was held together by the Greco/Roman, Christian and Germanic traditions

there is the seeds of a problem in the Question of who is the head of Europe the Pope or the Emperor.

Jan 28, 2010

New Invasions and the Ottoninan Renaissance

after the Carolingian renaissance there was a new round of barbarian invasion and the most important results of these invasion was that it hastened the end the Charlemagnes empire.

France fragments where as England and Germany seem to get stronger from the new round of invasions.

- the renaissance was named after Charlemagne but it continued on after him for a number of generations.

The Renaissance after Charlemagne

Cathedrals and Monastic Schools - founded by Charlemagne they continued on in the reigns of his successors. they wanted to be seen like Charlemagne as those that cared for the arts and the peoples spiritual well being

John Scotus Erigena (810-877) - John the Scot from Ireland is the literal translation of his name. He was an accomplished scholar. he could read and write in Greek which was extremely rare. he translated some late antique greek works into latin and he translated and popularized the works of the neoplatonists.

decline of the Carolingian Empire

Weaknessses of the Empire - so many ethnic group within the empire and they all have their own customs and traditions and laws. there were disputes and civil wars w/i the empire.

the Reign of Louis the Pious (814-40) Charlemagnas successor. it is at the end of his reign that the empire first starts to break up. He had three sons and b/c of gavelkind they all wanted a piece of the empire. he wanted to pass on the empire to his eldest son Lothar I. but people in carolingian society would have seen Louis with holding inheritance from two of his sons as an injustice.

the Treaty of Verdun, 843 - it is clear that Lothar will be unable to get the whole empire so the three sons get together and divide up the Carolingian empire into three sections. Charles the Bald gets France, Louis the German gets most of Germany, Lothar gets Northern Italy, southern France and a strip in between Louis and Charles.

the Carolingians are dismantling their own empire even as the new rounds of invasions begins.

in the 9th C. Europe itself was increasingly under siege.

The Saracens (Muslims) - coming out of Spain and North Africa they invaded and raided, although mainly raiding. These are not something new its just that as the Carolingian power breaks down the raids became more successful. in the 10th and 11th C Christian cities build up strong navies and take the fight to the Shores of north africa

the Magyars - Modern day Hungarians they settled in what is now Hungary. it is a flat plain and good for raising horses. they raided through germany into france and down into Italy. their raids last until about 955 when they are defeated by Otto I of germany. Magyars are not germanic their ancestors came from central asia. but they have the same basic ideas raiding and plundering makes you a important person.

The Vikings - the widest ranging raiders of the three. they spread from scandinavia all the way to the south of spain and france, deep into russia and even to Constantinople.

Vikings may have raided b/c there may not have been enough food and territory to go around. It is really unknown why the Vikings ventured forth and spread across the world. Raiding was also extremely profitable and the decline of the Carolingians lead to the rise of the Vikings.

much of the Vikings success is attributed to the Viking Longship. it was stable enough to go across the open sea but light enough to be carried across land. it was also agile enough that it could sail up rivers and in narrow shoals.

the vikings presented a difficult problem to europeans as they were very hard to catch or stop and often refused to fight against soldiers, preferring to attack undefended villages

the Swedes looked eastward across the baltic sea towards russia

the Danes were important in England and northern France

the Norse raided Ireland and down into spain and the west coast of France. Norse Vikings were the first to land and settle on North America.

by the 10th C the raids get so big that the Vikings bring their families and decide to stay and settle the area. Normandy on the north coast of France was one of these areas.

A large part of modern day England was also once ruled by the Danes.

Eventually the Vikings were converted into Christianity and then absorbed into the European population but that takes a long long time.

in the 9th and 10th C the vikings still had large armies and kings. The English fought against the Vikings. it was a see-saw affair finally Alfred the Great leads the English to defeat the Vikings and in the terms of the peace treaty the Vikings are forced to accept Christianity. It is the viking threat that forges England into the Nation of England.

In Normandy there is a different story. the Kings of West Frankia couldnt fight against them anymore. he offers the chieftain Rollo a deal - he recognizes Rolllo as duke of Normandy as long as Rollo recognizes the King as King of France. When they get together there is a snag in the ceremony. Rollo refused to kiss the kings feet so he gets one of his knights to do it. the knight doesnt bother to bend over and just grabs the kings foot and kisses it, knocking the King over in the process.

Ottonian Kingship - Germany comes out of the second round of Invasions and the collapse of the Carolingian empire as the strongest nation.

The Magyars were kicking the crap out of germany so the leaders of germany get together and decide they need a leader to fight against the Magyars.

Henry I is the first King elected in Germany - he starts building fortresses and gathering troops and starts fighting back

Ottos the Great - next German King

Battle of Lechfeld - first major German victory against the Magyars in 955.

after his victory at Lechfeld Otto travels to Aachen and become the Holy Roman Emperor. He revives the title and from this point on there will be a Holy Roman Emperor. The Holy Roman Empire becomes the largest nation in Europe and the most powerful leaders in Europe.

the Holy Roman Empire was made up of Germany, Northern Italy, Holland, Belgium and parts of France.

Otto institutes the imperial Church system in Italy - Otto is far from his base of power in Germany so Otto appoints a Church leader as leader of the city or territory. Otto is using Church officials as his officials. The Church and State are welded together.

the Ottonian Renaissance

Gerbert of Aurillac Went on to become Pope Sylvester II - a great scholar who had read the Muslim texts of the ancient greeks and romans

Roswithda of Grandersheim - a nun and the first great playwright since the fall of Rome. she was also a historian and a scholar.

General Characteristics - there were no great works of art and such like in the Italian renaissance but there were some works of art and some great works of philosophical ideas. one of the big shifts was the Gero Crucifix of Christ on the cross suffering which was a change away from the Byzantine Christ who was regal and austere.

Feb 2, 2010

Feudalism

Entomology and the Meaning of Feudalism

the feudum or fief - grant of land given by the king to a lord or from a lord to a vassal.

Feudalism vs. Manorialism -

Lords had control over the fief in the areas of taxation, military command and justice. Lords had their own vassal. Lords had to protect the people within their lands.

the minimum size of a grant of land was linked to the amount of land needed to support a single night.

vassals didnt have to pay taxes but in place of them they had to pledge to fight for the lord. Vassals were expected to supply good hospitality. Vassals were expected to supply council - attending the lords court as well as giving him your best advice. Vassals also had to give feudal aids which were irregular payments made by vassals to lords.

the feudal system was designed to operate with the exchange of large amounts of money cause there wasnt that much money going around.

military service didnt just mean fighting in wars it could also mean service in the lords fortresses.

there could be multiple levels of lords and vassals meaning that a man could be both a vassal and a lord at the same time.

homage - to become the vassal/follower of another person. When you pay homage to a person they return that symbol by promising to protect you.

Fealty - the act of pledging allegiance and loyalty to a king or lord. usually done by placing hands on a sacred relic or object.

Origins of Feudalism

Germanic Personal Bonds - the ideas of warriors fighting for their King and a King fights for victory. there is already this following around military leaders in germanic culture and as early as the 7th or 8th C we have records of oaths of fealty by warriors to their leaders. this was just an oath of loyalty and there is no grant of land as well there are no knights yet.

Late Antique Beneficia - the patron and client relationship. wealthy and powerful would gather people around them. it could be a land grant but it could also be money or other civil bonuss

The White/Brunner Thesis - states that feudalism started in 732 with the Battle of Tours and the defeat of the Muslims in France. although the invention of the stirrup was thought to change the make up of the army and thus started feudalism. this theory has been discredited.

The Breakdown of Carolingian Authority - with the breakup of the empire into small independent states. the kings still claims to be their king but they can do whatever they want.

Feudalism as a term doesnt exist until after the MA. no one in Medieval time period used the word. Feudalism as a pejorative - everything the enlightenment thinkers thought was backwards and authoritative.

people define feudalism differently - some people keep it as the military and legal relationship b/w a lord and a vassal. Others have argued that it should be a wider definition that includes more than just the Lord and Vassal by including the Serfs and free peasants.

The Feudal Revolution - argument that feudalism started around the year 1000. the big difference may be said to be the formation and construction of castles.

the Motte-and-Baily Castle - an early basic castle. a man made earthen mound with a tower on the top of it. around the year 1000 these castles start to proliferate. the vassals are starting to build their own castles. this causes the political power to fragment even further. it allows vassals to become independent rulers as they are really really hard to kick off the land.

Feudal Violence

The Peace and Truce of God

The New Nobility: the milites of knights - begin to emerge around 1000 and become an important class of citizens.

Changing Inheritance practices - with the arrival of the castle we see some changes in inheritance practices. the gavelkind begins to decline and in its place we see primogeniture begin to be practiced. meaning the first born son will inherit all of the family land and title.

there is still considerable debate among historians about when feudalism started or if there ever was a system of feudalism outside of just the lord vassal relationship. some historians say that feudalism extends right down from the king to the lowest serfs.

others say feudalism depends on the changed inheritance practices, the rise of castles and knights.

feudalism didnt seem to hurt the economy or the population. it is right after the year 1000 we enter the high middle ages when europe begins to become very wealthy.

feudalism creates a new, powerful, and independent military aristocracy from which grows out our modern rights. they become the new masters of europe.

Feb 4, 2010

Manorialism, technological innovation and the rise of towns

farmers start to get more productive around the year 1000 and around the same time the european population starts to expand and towns and cities grow because there is now more food available. there is development of new occupations and money is used more commonly. ag productivity leads to an explosion of population and economics in europe in the 12th C

the avg people in the MA were peasant farmers. Well over 80% of european population would fit into this category.

- Manorialism/Seigneurialism/Seignorialism - the relationship b/w the vassal and the peasant farmers on their fiefs.

Villages vs. Manor - villages are the physical settlements of peasants and the immediate lands on which the settlements reside. A Manor isnt a physical thing it is a unit of administration, its more like lines on a map that decide who you pay your taxes to as a peasant. One manor per lord.

Origins of Manorialism - grew out of the roman coloni which became MA serfs

organizing life labour and property - ag is extremely important and the main focus of ht peasant farmers life

in-field/out-field - in fields are the fields close to your house that you fence of and fertilize with manure and farm intensively. Out-fields had to be shifted to different fields each year as the crops used up the nutrients.

open-fields - the most common type of field system in europe during the MA. fields are in narrow strip and not fenced in. Each family in the village would farm some of these strips usually about 200m long and only a few meter wide. Some production in the village that are done communally. there are common areas that are available to anyone. the three field system emerges in the high MA. crops are planted in the spring, and fall and one field is left fallow.

bread is the staple of the european peasant diet. Milk, cheese and other dairy products are also important as are protein grains like peas, beans and lentils. meat is rare with the pig being the most common type of meat being eaten.

there are distinctions of social classes w/i villages in MA society. people are not equal before the law even at the level of peasants and non-nobles. ranked from bottom to tops it goes

Slaves - lowest of the low and slavery is dying out by this time

Serfs - not totally free, they are bound to the land and are forced to work the lords lands for so much time in a week.

Free Peasants - non-noble farmer. they can leave their land if they want to and dont have to perform services on the lords land although they still have to give the lord a quota from their lands.

commoners - ranked again into artisans and then merchants - these groups lived in towns.

Lords couldnt kick serfs off of the land he owned. Peasants back then had certain rights that we equate to ownership to .

there are many technological innovations in the high MA as well

The three fields system

the heavy plough

horses, horseshoes, and the horse collar

Iron

Wind/water mills

towns were emerging around the year 1000 although they are still fairly small very few would have approached 100,000.

Feb 9, 2010

Church and State before the 11th C - the church and the state had grown so closely together that it was hard to tell them apart at times. As the church spread from the cities into the country side there were often times when rural churchs came under the authority of secular authorities.

Church and state therefore became more integrated. Local lords may build a church on their own land with their own money. they thought then that they would have a say in who the priest was or what church money was spent on.

Churchs may be built in a local knights castle to protect the church but the knight expect some things back from the church.

The Franko-Papal Alliance - the Pope looks to the Franks as his protector and the Franks looked to the Pope as their King maker. during Charlamagnes time the church and state were closely allied.

Otto the Great and the Imperial Church System - Otto would appoint bishops as the rulers of a city that he is a long way a way from his power base in Germany. The king can keep appointing the title as Bishops arent have to heirs to pass on control of the city to. Allowed Otto to maintain power for a long time.

relationships b/w secular and church officials become to be a problem and people look at them as an underhanded arrangements that were the same as corruption.

Simony - the act of buying or selling of church offices, was illegal and became common in some parts of Europe.

people were wondering why secular officials were choosing who would become a priest, bishop and even the pope.

there was also anger over lay people gaining places of prominence and important officials in the church.

Church officials were supposed to serve in the Kings Army and had to bring all their knights to fight as well.

by the year 1000 more and more people are thinking that this cozy relationship b/w Church and State needs to end and reforms are needed

monks in the monasteries were the first people to begin to call for reforms in the church.

there were two centers of Monastic reforms Cluny in Central france and Lorraine

Cluny - monks were worried about interference from local authorities. Their solution was to separate their monastery from the local lords and get independence. They were given a chunk of land to build on by the local lord and then he stepped back and allowed them to run the monastery however they saw fit.

Lorraine - Bronge and Gorze were the main monasteries. The monks actively sought the help of the local authorities. they asked the duke to come in and help them reform the monastery. they used local authorities to come in and kick out corrupt monks and inject money to help with reforms.

reform starts in the monasteries and takes a long time to make it to the Pope and high officials. at times during the 10th and 11th C the papacy was very week and extremely corrupt. Pope Steven the 7th had the bones of his rival dug up and charged him with heresy.

Henry III Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire got fed up with the struggle to become Pope so he comes down to Italy with His army and decided to depose all three rivals for the Pope and Henry appoints a reform minded Pope Leo 9th

Leo 9th starts the process of reforming the church and he wants to root corruption out of the church. He brings with him a bunch of like minded monks

Peter Damian (1007-1072) identified a particular abuse called Nicolaism - the marriage of priests and church officials. he identifies clerical marriage as an indication of corruption and abuse of their power. At this time Bishops often had wives. because of his work this tradition stops.

Humbert of Silva Candida - he argues that Simony is illegal and goes against the teaching of the Bible. Simony had always been considered wrong but it was becoming more common and took the form of gifts to local authorities.

Leo 9th starts asserting and enforcing Papal primacy and the Petrine Doctrine. He travels around europe and enforces both his authority and his reforms. he deposes bishops and arch bishops to enforce his reforms.

there is a split in the Church over Leos power and this leads to the Eastern Schism. this is the Split between the Roman Catholic Church and the Eastern Orthodox Church in 1054. at the time no one really thought that this was a permanent split but it lasts until this day.

Nicholas II and the Papal Election Decree - a decree to allow the reforms started by Leo 9th to stay and allow the reformers to maintain control of the Papacy. Also stopped emperors from choosing who the pope could be. He gave the power to elect a Pope to the Collage of the Cardinals and set up the process of the Conclave.

Pope Gregory VII and Henry III and the Investitures Struggle

Gregory VII was a committed reformer who went to extreme measures to make sure they were enforced.

the spark that started the Investiture Controversy was a dispute b/w the pope and Henry III over who would choose the next Arch-Bishop of Milan.

the issue at the heart of the fighting was the issue of the Lay Investitures. when a person was chosen as Bishop the Emperor would come in and give the new Bishop his staff and a Ring. Reformers saw this as Simony and corruption.

By 1074 Gregory has declared that Lay Investitures is the sin of Simony. he strips power from people that have be given positions of authority through this process.

in 1075 the Decrees of the Pope is written. it is a number of decrees and statements that Gregory passed over the Roman Church and all of Western Rome. in it the church is decreed above all earthly powers, the pope is the head of the church, that the Pope and the Pope alone has the right to choose and depose Bishops, and most controversial that the Pope could choose and depose of Emperors.

that last one was a declaration of war against secular leaders as he is claiming supreme political authority in Europe.

Henry gets together the Bishops of Germany and they all vote to depose Pope Gregory. the Pope retaliates by excommunicating Henry.

by the late 1070s there is open warfare b/w Henry and Gregory and their armies. Gregory frees Henrys vassals from all feudal obligations and this leads to Civil War.

the Emperor is forced to blink first and this is a major turning point in European History. He looses a few major battles and he decides to humble himself before the Pope.

He begs the Pope to forgive him and recognize his crown. He waits for three days but eventually the Pope does receive him back into communion. After this point the Pope is the supreme authority in Europe

this didnt end the Investitures Controversy. Henry went around restoring his power and he came back and kicked the Pope out of Rome. He appoints his own Pope who came on to become known as the Anti-Pope.

the controversy lasts for about 40 years. reformers still have control of the collage of Cardinals so they keep electing reform popes

the Investitures Conflict ended with the Concordat of Worms in 1122. Lay Investitures were abolished, but it is recognized that bishops can have lands and incomes granted to them by the Emperor. the King has the right to give Bishops lands and power with knights and vassals. the Emperor also has the right to withhold lands and vassals from Bishops.

this is the beginning of the separation of church and state.

Clergy are now Celibate from priests to the Pope and everyone inb/w

with the separation of Church and state comes a competition. the church grows in power and authority. some say that the Popes are becoming the real authority of Europe.

the investitures contest is only the first round of conflicts b/w Church and State in Europe. there would be other rounds as it only settled the investitures issue, it didnt settle the issue of who is the head of Europe.

Feb 11, 2010

MIDTERM:

All of the classes until today. Midterm the first Tuesday back after Reading Week (23rd)first part is exactly like the quiz. 10 questions = fill in the blanks and multiple choice(based on the terms)

Second part is an essay. Consider things from the bigger picture and start to create own opinions about medieval period. Also generally the questions come from more than one class. Be as specific as you can, give examples, also mention primary sources whenever possible,

NOTES:

The Origin of the Idea of Crusade and The First CrusadeWhy did more than 100 000 people decide to get up one day and march from Paris to Jerusalem. Many would die on the way and it would take a long time, and yet they still made it. What did they want? What was driving them? How did we get from Christ to Crusade.

I.Political and Military Foundations in the East

Dissension and Conquest:

-The Fatimid Caliphate

-The Seljuk Turks

--Mansikert, 1071

Why did people in Europe decide to launch a crusade at the end of the 11th century?The first was an appeal for help from the Eastern Roman Empire to the pope. They were asking for military help.

First crusade largely a crusade against Muslims. In Egypt a new dynasty arose the Fatamid dynasty proclaimed selves leaders of the Muslim world; called themselves the Caliphates. Fatimids claimed that they were descendants of Muhammads daughter Fatima and thus Muhammad. This gave them, as they felt, the right to rule all. Were called the Shiites.

Sunnis were the opposing, and also rather popular, group of Muslims

There was a split in the Muslim world between two groups. This split became important because these divisions meant that people did not have to fight all the Muslims at once. Muslim world disunited but expanding.

The Seljuk Turks had recently been converted and pushed deep into the Byzantine Empire

1071, the byzantine emperor put together an army and marched out to meet the Turks, one of the greatest defeats in byzantine history, emperor Romanus 4th captured by Arslan Battle of Manzikert.

Turks defeat Byzantines. Turks push deep into byzantine territory and started to carve out own kingdoms. This frightens the Byzantines, and they start to get desperate, so they start to look to western empire. As early as 1074 we can see emperors reaching out for help.

II.Political and Military Foundations in the West

The Christian counteroffensive:

The Spanish reconquista (conquest of Spain, by Christians, from Muslims)

Italy

Essentially the Christians start to push back against Muslims and take back some of the land, in advances like the one in Spain. Starting to launch raids on the North African Coast.The pope is becoming more powerful and sanctioning some of these raids and campaigns and portraying them as Holy Wars (because they are against Non-Christians)

European economy is expanding, towns are growing up again and expanding, the population is growing, and thus the economy is more vibrant.

2 main areas of urbanization at this time: Flanders (like Flanders Fields) and Northern Italy

The Rise of the Bourgeoisie - beginning of a middle class. Bankers, artisans, Guilds people, etc

Many of these towns, once they get large enough, push to be cities. They want to take control of their own affairs. So some of these towns eventually become essentially independent states/cities.

Western society that is starting to flex its economic muscles.

Guilds and Town Life Guilds are similar to modern labour unions, organization of craftspeople

Individual members of the guild own the tools and production and business itself. Help other people in the guilds. (So.. the people who work at Ford dont own the vehicles, but the guild people would... So in that sense guilds were more powerful than trade unions today)

III.Socio-economic Background: Development of Christian Society and the 12th Century Renaissance

a.Towns, Trade, and Agriculture

b.Lands Pressure

c.From Gavelkind to Primogeniture

Farmers pass down farm = less land to go around

Primogeniture noble families and knights started doing this, which meant there would be children left without any inheritance, for nobles this especially became an interesting situation because they were nobles, used to living like a noble, and yet got nothing from their family so some would branch off and crusade to try and start their own lordship somewhere.

IV.Religious background: Christian holy war in theory and practice to the eleventh century:

Early Church Pacifism Augsutine (354-430)

Violence as an act of love

Just War theory

Persecution of heretics

Constantine, the Roman Emperor, converts to Christianity. See a re-examination of Christianity and their ideas of violence. Augustine looks at this.

Violence is not a terrible thing, need to look beyond the actual act, it can even be an act of love. Example of a child running into streets over and over. Well you love her, but you may need to beat her (as this was accepted and expected at the time) to show her she cant do. Thus It is the intention behind the act. So there are some cases where an emperor can use war. He can use force to protect empire and prevent Christians from being killed.

Thus the Just War it can be done, if the intention is right.

Persecution of Heretics is NECESSARY type of violence. They are essentially imperiling peoples souls and thus must be executed, or jailed, or something.

Christian Holy War 1

The Peace of God middle ages = a widespread peace movement; climaxes in 11th century; Peace of God; bishops would call big meetings and ask everyone to take a vow that they would not be violent (wouldnt rob churches or beat up homeless or anything) Church sponsored holy war. Bishops would go around the country, gather people together, enforcing a vow, and trying to root out violence.

Pilgrimage a trip to a holy space; trickle of people to Jerusulum, is now becoming a stream. Jerusulam is the holiest of holy places for the Christians.

Elements finally all combined in the reform movement, which all come together to give us a crusade

The reform movement and holy war:

-Leo IX (r. 1049-54) 1st of reforming popes. Led and army onto the battle field at Civitate in S. Italy to fight against Brigants? (I think thats what he says)

--Civitate, 1053

-Gregory VII (r. 1073-85)

--The militia Sancti Petri

Popes, like Gregory, learning to raise own armies and becoming increasingly militant. Starting to work out the doctrine and call upon

NOTE: they would not call it a crusade at the time, they called it a pilgrimage

V.The Course of the First Crusade (1095 -9)

a.Pope Urban II and the Council of Clermont, 1095

He proclaims the first crusade (pilgrimage) and the response was huge, tens of thousands of people eager to go.

b.The so-called Peasants Crusade of 1096

i.The poorest people who cannot wait for months for the crusade to get going because they cannot afford it, so disorganized bands of crusaders pack up their things and started going. They mostly got massacred by the Turks. So not a good start

ii.Then the big contingence starts off, war horses, bands of followers, vassals, knights, people who know how to use swords. All the bands meet up at Constantinople to form one extremely large group. Push on deep into Turkish territory. Win some battles. Settle down outside city of Antioch. Stay here for about a year. Surround the city and then Muslim army after army (3 seperate total) comes charging against them. Some Christians desert, they think that this might be the end of the crusade, and that they will be destroyed. At a crucial moment one of the Christians has a dream, that there is a holy lance buried in the city and they find it and dig it up, and carry it out to the battle, and defeat the Muslims and then move on to Jerusalem.

iii.Very famous event; Capture of Jerusalem. Story of suffering, Christians marching for 3 years, most of companions die or be lost or turn back, many starved to death, many taken as slaves, died of disease and wounds. Not many left by the time they are at Jerusalem. Make an entrance into the city over the walls. Committed an act which would never be forgotten. Charged through the city, pursued and killed many Muslims (Beheaded, shot with arrows, killed with daggers and swords etc)

iv. Fall of Jerusalem, Christians now can worship at holiest of j shrines. However Jerusalem falling in such a blood back will influence Christian-Muslim relations in the future still..

The Origins of the Idea of the Crusade and the First Crusade

It can be hard to relate medieval events to the modern world with the crusade we can see how it does in particular Osama Bin Laden, and Bush calling the campaign in Iraq a crusade

c.The Turks have pushed deep into Byzantines Just like the Barbarians did

iii.The Byzantines get desperate for help and ask the popes for help

2.Political and Military Foundations in the West

The Christian counteroffensive:

i.The Spanish Reconquista

The Christians are pushing pack and taking back Spain

Well under way by the end of the 11th century

ii.Italy and the Mediterranean Islands

Also took place all over Africa by city states across Islands in the Mediterranean

Now it is the Christians on the Offensive the invaders launching raids on the North African Coast

iii.Why is this happening Pope starts to sanction these wars Holy Wars campaigns against non-Christians and a new incentive Indulgence a substitution for a sin

iv.4.Christianities Approach to War

Early Christian Pacifism

i.Jesus rejected war those who live by the sword shall die for it was the prevailing view Christians were killed often for refusing to serve in the Roman army

ii.Things start to change though with conversion of Constantine he has to defend the Christian state

Augustine (354-430)

i.Violence as an act of love

It is about the intentions behind the act

a.Love b/c you have to discipline to teach right from wrong disciplining children with violence showing live

b.If the intention is like a fathers love for his daughter, than the violence is accepted

c.Emperors can prevent Christians from being killed.

d.This is a Just War Theory

ii.Just War Theory

if the conditions are right, war is good

iii.Persecution of heretics

This is a threat to the church and must be dealt with in order to preserve the church

iv.Still not at a crusade yet his wars did not include spiritual rewards like indulgences

The Peace of God (11th Century)

i.Climaxed here the peace of God because it was an attempt by bishops to prevent people from committing violence

ii.Sometimes Bishops lead armies (enforcing a vow) to root out violence

Pilgrimage

i.A trip to a holy place

ii.Even Jerusalem itself starts to become a stream of people

The Reform movement and Holy War:

The Crusades emerge out of the investiture Reform where the reforming popes were well acquainted with waging wars, as seen below

ii.Leo IX (r.1049-54)

Clivitate, 1053

a.This pope led the army itself against Normans in Southern Italy

b.Unfortunately the Normans Defeated and captured him

c.After this the popes dont go on crusades, but they can put it together and direct it

d.Reform popes helped bring the elements of crusading into the element

iii.Gregory VII (r. 1073-85)

The Militia Sancti Petri

a.This was Gregorys Army (Saint Peters Army)

This shows that the Pope was working out the rules and ways of war

Reforming popes are staring to become increasingly military to start a holy war

5.The Course of the First Crusade (1095-9)

Pope Urban and the Council of Clermont, 1095

i.The pope agrees to help the Byzantines

ii.He rallies a council of people at Clermont and proclaims what we would later call a crusade what they called a pilgrimage

iii.This was really popular and tens of thousands of ppl agreed to go on the crusades

iv.If they go they get a remission of sins Indulgences

v.Use the violence that happened before against each other now be used against the Muslims

vi.It was promised that all their sins could be forgiven; you could have a better life the biblical life of land and honey (economic incentive) ; to help our brothers in need in the East(satisfies Augustines Just Cause)

The so called peasants Crusade of 1096

i.Immediately the poorest people take off out of excitement disorganized bands

ii.They are not equipped or armed and things dont turn out too well and they are massacred by the Turks Massacre of Peter the Hermits Army

Then the big one takes off with well equipped knights and vassals several different groups go out

6.The Official Crusade

They all meet at Constantinople tens of thousands of knights and push deep into Turkish territory most troubling time was their time in Antioche

Siege of Antioch (1097-9)

i.They dont take the city yet, and for a year they are hit by 3 massive armies, one after the other

ii.It is the low point of the Crusade

iii.One of the Crusaders has a dream that a lance which pierced Christ side was buried their so they dig it up and with the Holy Lance they defeat the Muslim army and the way is open to Jerusalem

7.They make their way to Jerusalem

A story of suffering for Christians and Muslims thousands have starved to death in turkey, most have died and only a small number are alive

When they finally get through the walls of Jerusalem, the Christians saw this as an ecstatic moment and they committed an act to never be forgotten by Muslims:

i.Count Raymond ran into the city to kill everyone in the city

ii.On Solomons temple 10,000 were beheaded- not one was aloud to live, not the women or children

They have recaptured Jerusalem in a blood bath and influenced Christian relations up to today

MIDTERM ENDS HERE

The Later Crusades and European Colonialism

- after the capture of Jerusalem many of the crusaders went home but some decided to stay. those that stayed created their own little kingdoms that would last for many decades.

Establishment of the Crusader States - it is the creation of the Crusader states that ensure the long history of Crusades. Crusaders elected or appointed their own rulers and enforced Christianity on the inhabitants. They imposed a Feudal hierarchy.

County of Edessa - a small european state in south east turkey. the crusaders took over the kingdom after the king died.

Principality of Antioch - formed after the Crusaders defeated the Muslim armies at Antioch

Kingdom of Jerusalem - the largest of the Crusader states formed after the capture of the City of Jerusalem.

County of Tripoli

the Military Orders: groups of Monk that live like monks.

The Templars - the first of the monk warrior orders to form up. in 1118 a group of knights decided that they wanted to help people get to jerusalem, particularly the last leg of the of the journey from the coast to Jerusalem. They started to live the lives of Monks, they had no personal property, made ritual prayers, didnt marry (they werent even allowed to kiss their own mothers). Not until 1136 did public opinion start to accept the Templars. After that the Templars start to become very important and powerful.

Hugh de Payens - founder of the the Templars. He got approval from the King of Jerusalem to set up a protective order of Monks to get pilgrims to Jerusalem.

Bernard of Clairvaux and the New Knighthood - not a Templar but he did help to popularize the idea of a monk who fights. Monk knights fight for a love of fellow Christians and not for personal gain.

The Hospitallers - started out as a charitable group of monks that ran a hospital in Jerusalem. they followed the template set out by the Templars. they had arrived in Jerusalem before the Templars but blossomed later than the Templars and became rivals. They remain today as the St. Johns Ambulance and the Knights of Malta

The Teutonic Knight - last of the monk knight groups to start up. they were germanic knights that eventually crusaded in Europe as well.

The Second Crusade 1147-1148 - a crusade in response to the actions of Moslem actions

the fall of Edessa 1144 - the spark of the second crusade as it was the fall of Edessa that led to the second crusade.

Siege of Damascus 1148 - the Crusade suffers a number of setbacks and in the end focus their efforts on this siege. it is unsuccessful and the crusading armies are driven back from the the City.

Saladin (1137-93) and the Moslem Response - the Moslem world was slowly getting its act together and getting over their own divisions. They realized the threat that the Crusader states represented to them and they looked to Saladin as their leader. He was a great Sunni General who helped to reunify Egypt with Syria

Unification of Egypt and Moslem Syria - Saladin helped to reunify these two nations which meant that the Crusader states were now surrounded

the Battle of Hattin 1187 - Saladin puts together one massive army and gives battle to the Crusaders. The Christian army was annihilated as Saladin had lured the army into the desert where there was no water. this was the turning point of the Crusades as from that point on the Crusades as it puts the Crusader states on the defensive.

Capture of Jerusalem 1187 - Saladin Marches from Hattin to Jerusalem unopposed and captures the city.

The Third Crusade (1189-92) - rises in response to the fall of Jerusalem. Richard the Lionhearted, The Holy Roman Emperor, and the King of France all went. They dont retake Jerusalem but they do help shore up what was left of the Crusader states.

The Siege of the Kingdom of Acre - Acre was the largest and most important costal city and the Third Crusade takes the city and it becomes the capital of the Crusader states

The 4th Crusade (1202-04) - the strangest of all the crusades. It ends up taking the City of Constantinople which is a major gain for the Crusaders, the problem is is that it is a Christian city.

the Conquest of Constantinople - the Crusaders ordered a bunch of ships to sail to the holy land from the Venetians but cant pay for them so they hired themselves out as mercenaries to the Venetians and eventually ended up sacking the City in order to repay their debt. Once the greatest city of the Byzantine empire is sacked any hope of re-uniting the two different Churches is gone. The Crusade never made it past Constantinople

Later Crusades and the Fall of Acre (1291) - The fall of Acre marks the end of the Crusader states in the holy land but not the end of the Crusades. Crusading continues, evolves and expands. they crusaded to northern europe and islands in the Mediterranean. There are crusades against internal enemies (w/i europe) to the Papacy.

people were motivated to go on Crusades by religious motives, and materialistic goals.

Effects of the Crusade

permanently splits the Eastern Church and the Western Church

set the pattern for later western european imperialism and colonialism

Christianity becomes more accepting of warfare and Organized violence.

March 2, 2010

Monasticism and the New Religious Orders

some christians tried to separate themselves from the world so that they could focus on God. These mens became known as monks and they often moved into Monasteries with other like minded monks and these Monasteries became the center of medieval europe. by the end of the high middle ages they were surpassed by Universities. they did however continue to give rise to new orders and ideas.

Monks also spearheaded the fight against Heresy.

St Benedict was one of the most important early monks, he helped to devise a set of rules for monks and nuns to live by. he recorded in minute detail how a monk or nun should spend their day and this gave rise to the Benedictines a group of monks that follow his rules.

The secular Clergy: Canons regular - by the 11th C many of the reform minded monks have moved up to the highest levels of the Church (Popes Leo and Gregory) these men promoted an order known as Canons regular. the Canons regular are a group of secular (normal) clergy (they say mass, marry people, baptize) that want to live the life of a monk or nun. Monks and nuns were not ordained by the Catholic Church they simply lived lives of piety and the Canons regular wanted to become more like them.

Augustinians - priests who tried to live the life of a monk as laid out by St. Augustine.

Premonstratensians - same as above but not following the commentaries of St. Augustine.

- Canons regular wanted to live the life of a monk and with a group of other Christians because it was easier to keep each other accountable.

Eremitic or Hermitic monasticism - monks who live by themselves or almost by themselves. sometimes they would enclose themselves into caves and completely separate themselves from society

Camaldolese - an order of Italian hermits

Carthusians - French Hermits

Bruno Founds La Grande Chartreuse (1084) - this is where the order of the Carthusians were formed and who by. they were concerned about both physically, mentally, and spiritually separating themselves from the world

cenobitic Monasticism: the Cistercians - they are a reaction against the Cluny and Benedictine orders. they thought that these orders had strayed from the ideals. for them Monasticism was about enduring a harsh lifestyle

Citeaux, 1098 - the first of the Cistercian monasteries

Poverty and asceticism - the idea that a Monk should live a life of harsh poverty. no great monasteries with beautiful architecture and no rich foods

Manual Labour - they believed that this was very important and would often set up monasteries in very poor locations so that they would have to work hard just to survive

they gave much more time for the individual monk to connect with God and to work.

Bernard the Clairvaux (1090-1153) - a Cistercian monk who became extremely popular and led to the popularization of the Cistercian order. he becomes one of the most respected and feared churchmen of his day

Because of him and his work the order expands rapidly 1115 - 5 monastic houses and by the end of the century over 500 - each with over a hundred monks and nuns

12th C mysticism: On the Love of God - a book Bernard wrote about his personal relationship with God. he leads a trend towards a type of monastic mysticism.

the Mendicants - another new order of monks.

the Franciscans - take their name from St Francis of Assisi (1182-1226) - he wanted to preach the word of God to different groups of people. he had been raised to be a cloth merchant but as a young man he was transformed into a man that wanted to help his fellow man by working with a group of Lepers. He preached the joy of Gods creation and he even gave a sermon to a group of birds.

Francis rejects the world and goes and lives among the sick and poor. he gains followers but these people dont become an order until 1209. In 1209 he goes to the Pope and asks for him to let him become a new Monastic order, the pope is at first reluctant b/c St. Francis isnt a priest of monk and hadnt even read the whole Bible. the Pope then had a dream in which St Francis is seen holding up the Church. Innocent III ordains St Francis and allows him and his followers to continue to preach. they are then directly under the authority of the Pope.

the Mendicants live among the laity to preach the word of God to the people and this was a fairly new idea. they dont try and separate themselves from the world rather they go and live in and among the people that need God the most.

they were called the Mendicants b/c they were intended to beg for their meals. aka not only did they live among the poor, they lived like the poor. in this way they wouldnt just worship Christ but live like him.

soon the Franciscans became the largest and most powerful order of monks in Europe. St Francis was concerned that his followers would become too strong and powerful and that this would lead to corruption and so instructed them to not take any, gifts, churches, powerful positions, or anything that went against the life of poverty.

Conventual and Spiritual Franciscans - Conventual Franciscans are the ones that accept some modifications of the order and get large churches and own property. The Spiritual ones were the hard core's who accepted no modification. this led to a split in the order and the Spiritual Franciscans have disappeared

Many of the Franciscans went on to become the leading intellectual figures of the church.

the Dominicans were the other large Mendicant order. it was formed by Dominic de Guzman who wasnt interested in preaching normally but in preaching against heretics.

Guzman took it as his task to preach against heresy. he thought that heresy spread b/c the priests werent good enough and didnt know enough about Christian doctrine. The Church recognized them as the Order of Preachers in 1216.

like the Franciscans they lived and worked in the towns and cities in Europe, they were much more focused on education.

Monks and Nuns and the new orders were part of a deepening relationship with God that was sweeping across Europe during the high MA. at the same time as this deepening of religious impulse we see a perceived rise in heresy.

March 4, 2010

Scholasticism and the 12th C Renaissance

the central question of the time was what was the proper relationship b/w faith and science or reason?

Scholasticism: An alternative to monastic education -

the Cathedral Schools: Scholars and issues - schools run out of the large churches in the towns and cities of western europe. these schools had been part of the carolingian renaissance, these schools continued and in the 11th C they started to expand in both size and importance. part of the reason for this is that the towns themselves are growing and the middle class in the towns and cities now have the money to send their sons to school.

the scholars in the cathedrals had a more worldly outlook on life than did the monks. the scholars in cathedral schools arent monks they are secular priests. they live and work among the laity. they arent interested in separating themselves from the world.

St Anselm of Canterbury (1034-1109) - he was a monk that became a bishop. he devised the one of the most important thinkers in the 11th/12th C. He believed that he could prove that God exists through logic and reason.

the ontological argument - nothing greater than God can be thought of. Even the fool has a definition of God in his mind even if he believes that God doesnt exist. the definition of God is that he is the greatest thing. By this very definition God must exist because if he doesnt exist than something greater must exist and even the fool will agree that there is nothing greater than God.

- some scholars questioned whether or not universal knowledge existed. how could there be a right and wrong if there are no universals

Peter Abelard (1079-1142) - he helped to devise methods for solving problems such as faith vs reason or realism vs nominalism. he was a controversial figure.

realism vs. nominalism - realists thought that universal ideas were real vs nominalists believed that universals are mostly just human abstractions not universal truths.

faith and reason: Sic et Non - means yes and no. it was Abelards famous answer to the questions such as faith vs reason or universals. he would line up both sides of the argument and line up to apparently contradictory positions. this came to be known as the dialectician method. he tried to understand each argument on its own. He never gave a final answer, he just showed both sides of the coin.

the dialectical method - the idea of lining up both sides of an argument but not arising at an answer. this got him in trouble as people thought he was just showing contradictions w/i the bible. This becomes the hallmark of the medieval schools

Peter Lombards Book of sentences (1150) - he did what Abelard had done in Sic et Non but he provided answers. he line up both sides of an argument and then gave his conclusions.

Development of Law

Revival of Roman Law

rediscovery of the Corpus Iuris Civilis - it was found by Irnerius at the library of Bologna. It was written down by Justinian and codified hundreds of years of Roman Law. in the MA it was used as a supplement to european law and by the end of the high MA it has become the main source of law. It was the common terms that could be used with any form of law.

Irnerius and the law school of Bologna - he found in the library of Bologna the ancient roman codification of all roman law called the Corpus Iuris Civilis. when he found it he realized that he had a code of law that could become the single unified code of law of all of europe.

Refinement of Canon Law - Church law affected ordinary people not just the pope, priests and monks but of all laity as well. Issues like heresy, church courts and other issues are a big deal to everyone in europe.

Gratian (1090-1155): he used the dialectical method to unify church law.

The Decretum 1140 - the work that Gratian wrote to reconcile the church law and the bible as well as older church laws to newer ones.

The First Universities

Academic Guilds - universities in the south formed the guilds. they wanted a good education and wanted profs to show up and keep prices low. In the north it was the masters that formed the guilds they wanted students to show up. Gradually, out of Cathedral schools in the north and private tutors in the south we see Universities emerge. Our Modern structure of our universities go back to this time.

The Bachelor of Arts (undergrad degrees) the basic university degree made up of the 7 liberal arts that were broken up into two parts.

Trivium: Grammar, Rhetoric (speaking in public), Logic

Quadrivium: Arithmetic, Geometry Astronomy, Music

these 4 teach you essentially the way in which the universe works

Grad degrees:

Law, Medicine, theology

here you study the big shit and the greatness of these - become a master or a doctor

Originally only a very small percentage of the population could afford to got to university. Students were part of the clergy technically to get into university you have to be ordained which made it impossible for women to make it to university.

New Sources of Knowledge

- as Europe is in the high middle ages they begin to thirst for knowledge that they know exist but not in western europe. so westerners travel to Arabia, spain, north africa and translate Aristotle's and others works into latin.

Islam : Ibn Rushd and Averroes 1126-1198

The recovery of Aristotle - works like Aristotle's politics, logic are translated from arabic into latin and then the original greek texts are also translated. This is a fundamental turning point in medieval philosophy. Aristotle becomes know as The Philosopher - aka the greatest philosopher of all time.

Faith vs Reason - Aristotle said that man is a political animal and this went against the common belief at the time that it was the divine that gave us politics (Queen by the grace of God).

solutions to faith vs reason

Bonaventura 1217-74: Primacy of Faith - he argued that when faith and reason contradict, go with faith. reason is created by humans and is fallible whereas faith is not. read the bible and not aristotle.

Siger of Brebant 1240-84: double truth - where reason and faith seem to disagree, both are right.

St. Thomas Aquinas 1225-1274 - the most famous of MA philosophers he chose the middle ground b/w the two above. he was still controversial, some in the church thought he had gone to far in accepting reason but eventually it was recognized that he was the greatest of the MA thinkers

The Harmony of faith and reason - if faith and reason seem to disagree then you arent thinking hard enough (in most cases)

the Summa Theologiae - his compilation of theology - he went through how the greek philosophers and the bible and the church agreed with each other in reality.

the emergence of Cathedral schools and universities is part of the 12th C renaissance .

characteristics

optimism about the capacity for people to understand God and Nature

systematization, order and comprehensiveness.

effects

shift from monasteries to universities

tremendous growth in science and learning - europe is becoming more literate and complex.