Download 9-GREEN The Middle Ages From Decay to Rebirth 450

9-GREEN
The Middle Ages
From Decay to Rebirth
450-1300 AD
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How historical and cultural developments of middle ages still affect us today
Women and the middle ages
1071-1127: William IX music, poetry, arts… Courts of Eleanor and daughters: music,
literature, courtly love Guys not to be RUDE to the LADIES… ehem.. Men learned to
be courteous and use manners. (LOL)
1137- marries Louis VII- two girls, but NO sons
Marriage is annulled, she remarries Henry Plantagenet – they DO have sons
LOTS of important women in the Middle Ages—
Middle Ages- Historical Background
FALL OF ROME TO THE RENAISSANCE
Collapse of roman structures to beginning of new.. renewal of interest in classical (Greek,
Latin)
A New European Structure
- Roman Empire divided into East & West in 3rd century AD
- Northern Germanic tribes pushed at Roman boundaries
- Population boom led to mass migration from Germany to Rome with much violence
o Called Volkerwanderung
The Germanic Contribution
- Various Germanic tribes (The Lombards, Visigoths, and Ostrogoths) settled in Italy
- Franks in France
- Individual kingdoms ended Roman rule
The Code of Chivalry
- Middle Ages emerges from Feudalism
- Knights serve the king
o Knights were horsemen, skilled in metallurgy, and were good fighters
- In the Code, knights are loyal to lords and offer their services
- During the Crusades, knights fought for god
- The code of Chivalry is idealistic
The Birth of Feudalism
o Vassalage is when 1 lord swears allegiance to another for privileges/ “feuds”
o Germanic tribes quickly converted to Christianity
o Latin now was made the official language of the Western Church
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Feudalism and Peasants
o Feudal System included peasants
o Peasants served lords in exchange for protection
o They contributed by raising livestock and growing food…………………..
The Moors Threaten Europe
o Moors or Muslims take most of Spain (AD 711)
o Charles Martel defeated Moors. Stopped advance. (AD 732)
o Islam, Christianity struggled against one another.
A New Stability: The Reemergence of Learning
o Christmas 800 A.D. – Charlemagne crowned Holy Roman Emperor
o Represented the integration of Germanic people into European society.
o Used this title (Holy Roman Emperor) to link the Ancient Roman Empire was an attempt
to create a unified political order
A Crusade
o Christian rulers looked to Jordan and Israel for holy lands
o Pope Urban II urged knights to win back Holy Land
A Powerful Sermon
o Urban attempted Crusade after successful speech
o Failed as had little support
o Followed by several other Crusades
Stirrings of Nationalism
o Nationalism causes conflict between Catholic Church and kingdoms
o Conflict changes political landscape
o 1302: Dante expressed dislike for Church’s worldliness in Inferno
The Impact of the Crusades
o Crusaders returned with new spices, textiles, and other products
o A merchant class was created
o New cities of learning grew, along with the rise of universities
Transformation of Medieval Life
-Gothic Cathedralo Development of Gothic Style was rebirth of spiritual expression
o Expressed brilliance of stonemasons
o Stone towers, flying buttresses, stained-glass windows
o Expressed multi-colored heaven of sunlight
o Commerce = New capital = stimulates quest for knowledge and literature
o Explorers search for better trade routes (expand knowledge)
o Entered the Renaissance or rebirth
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Literature in Native Languages
o Latin: Language of religion, scholarship and government
o Not Understood by Communities
o Culture existed side by side
o High Culture: Latin
o Popular Culture: Vernacular
Reforms in Latin
- Latin reformed as vernacular literature arose
- Under Charlemagne, monks made new writing style called the Carolingian miniscule
o Neater and easier to read
- Latin grammars helped to standardize the language
A New Kind of Vernacular Epic
- Oral tradition was evolving
o New kind of epic – long, narrative, heroic poems (Germanic)
- These epics, unlike others, had irregular verse and were performed before battle (not
written)
Epic Heroes for Different Nationalities
- Spanish story of My Cid: described Spanish war hero
- French story of Roland: described tragedy of Roland
- Described conflicts between Moors and Christians
Icelandic Sagas
- 9th – 11th century
- Conflicts between Europeans and Viking raiders
- 1066: Norman (Viking) Army conquered Europe
- Vikings settle in Iceland
- Literature: Njals saga and Egils saga
o Oral traditions and fictionalize historical events
Troubadour Poetry
- Group of poets write in Provencal
- Troubadour= Trobar= to find or invent
- Theme of poetry was known as courtly love
- Courtly love =praise unattainable lady
- Courtly Love and the Status