Download Early Medieval Europe & Medieval Christianity

Early Medieval Europe &
Medieval Christianity
Effect of Fall of Rome in the West
• Growth of Individual Kingdoms in West, especially
Frankish Kingdom
– Merovingians: Clovis becomes Christian(495)
– Lombards threaten papacy
– Carolingians (Charles Martel, Pepin,
Charlemagne)
• Continuation of Byzantine Kingdom in East
– Relations with Eastern empire & church
• Development of Roman church as key institution
– Provided unity, ongoing Arian troubles
– Split with the East
Charlemagne
“The Empire” and After
Impact of Rome’s Fall in the West
Charles, King of the Franks
Pepin III splits kingdom between sons,
Charles and Carloman in 768
Charles sole king after 771
Charlemagne and “The Empire”
– Personality
– Expansion
– Impact
Coronation of Charlemagne, 800
Charlemagne’s Empire (to 814)
Charlemagne & “The Empire”
Charlemagne (768-814)
– Expands kingdom of the Franks
• Succession, wars against Saracens, Saxons
– Christmas 800, declared Emperor by pope
– Difficulties Managing Empire
• Counts (comites or companions)
– Duties: do justice, protect royal domains, raise army
• Vassi, noblemen with a personal bond to king
• Missi dominici
– Usually two: one lay noble, one bishop
– Duties: supervise counts, distribute capitularies
Carolingian Renaissance
• Relations with the Christian Church
– Education, cathedral schools
– Monastic reform
• Royal monasteries
• Alcuin, education
• Greek philosophy, John Scotus Erigena
The Empire after Charlemagne
Louis the Pious (814–840)
– Partible inheritance: four sons
– Salic Law
Treaty of Verdun (843)
– Recognizes Lothar as Emperor
– Splits Empire into Thirds
Treaty of Mersen (870)
– Divides Empire in Two
Treaty of Verdun (843)
Post Mersen Disorder
Nobles within empire press for local autonomy
Raids by Vikings, Magyars, and Saracens require
quick response, counts become hereditary
Capitulary of Quierzy, 877
Carolingians die out:
In France Hugh Capet becomes king (988) est.
dynasty, lasts until 1328 (Capetians)
In Germany, Otto I (936-973) establishes Saxon
Dynasty (Ottonians)
Otto II (973-983)
Otto III (983-1002)
Feudalism
Feudalism was a medieval contractual relationship
among the European upper classes by which a lord
granted land (a fief) to his man (a vassal) in return
for military service.
Vasslage bound the lord and vassal together
– Oath of fealty
– Hommage
– Mutual duties and obligations
Manorialism
Manorialism refers to a system whereby the
land (or manor) owned by the lord was
parceled out to individual peasants who
farmed it.
In return for the land, peasants made
payments to the lord in the form of money,
crops, and labor services.
Manorialism established a social and political
order that paralleled feudalism.
Origins of Manorialism
(ca. 4th century)
All over Europe, the economy had reverted
primarily to subsistence farming .
Allods, land freely held, thus allodial
farming.
Small farmers found themselves increasingly
forced to seek the protection of more
powerful neighbors.
In return for this protection, farmers gave up
certain rights and a portion of their income to
their more powerful neighbors .
Thus, freeholders often became serfs for
protection from outside threats.
Anglo-Saxon Kingdom
• England divided into
several kingdoms:
– Northumbria
– Mecia
– Wessex
• Political traditions based
on personal bonds rather
than office
– Thegns or liegemen,
Earls
– Shire reeves
– Hundreds
William “The Bastard,” 1066
Battle of Hastings
Duke of Normandy
Successful Feudal
Leadership
1066 Defeats Harold
Godwinson at
Hastings
Adapts Feudalism to
English setting
Domesday Book (a
register for taxation)
Rise of New States
England
– Norman overlords, Saxon population
– Unified political organization
– Church and State conflict
• Criminous Clerks
France
– Small area of direct royal control, Île de France
– Diverse legal and cultural territories
– Weak central monarchy, strong vassals