“the dark ages” - arc of · pdf filemedieval european history we are all...
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Medieval European History
We are all Europeans, and I am one of your
kings...
Who are the Europeans?
What’s History?
Post-Classical European History
The “Story” of the “Ages”
Middle Ages Renaissance Enlightenment
1400 1750
Classical
400
SomethingBorn
SomethingSuppressed
Something Born Again
Something BecomesThe Light of the World
That Something is… Human Reason
Help,
help,
I’m be
ing
suppre
ssed!
Dark
A
ges
“The Dark Ages”
Early years of the Middle Ages were
in many aspects of time of retreat
• Cities
• Infrastructure
• Trade
• Law and Order
• Education
With a few exceptions the years
following the collapse of the
western Roman Empire was one of
decentralization
Charlemagne (768-814)
Charlemagne creates an empire
for the franks
Promotes scholarship among
western Europeans
Awakens dreams of a “Christian
Roman Empire”
Defends Pope Leo III against
rival nobles in rome. Pope
names Charlemagne “Emperor”
Grandsons end up splitting the
empire, which then disintegrates
under new attacks from vikings
and Magyars.
Charlemagne creates an empire
for the franks
Promotes scholarship among
western Europeans
Awakens dreams of a “Christian
Roman Empire”
Defends Pope Leo III against
rival nobles in rome. Pope
names Charlemagne “Emperor”
Grandsons end up splitting the
empire, which then disintegrates
under new attacks from vikings
and Magyars.
Charles, I thought we talked
about letting the Pope
get the better of us!
Feudalism and Manorialism
In the absence of stable centralized
government, new political, social, and economic
r e l a t i o n s h i p s w e r e f o r m e d . T h e s e
relat ionships were characterized by
hierarchies, duties, and privileges.
F e u d a l i s m M a n o r i a l i s m
Polit ical relat ionship
between Kings and Nobles
Nobles given land (fief) in
exchange for loyalty
L a n d p r o v i d e d t h e s e
“Vassals” the income needed
to purchase and maintain
horses and equipment for
battle
Economic relationship between
Nobles and Peasants
Peasants received protection in
return for service to the noble
Service to nobles took such
forms as the harvesting of
grain and the milling of flour,
to road-building and beer-
brewing.
Royal Power Expands
By the 12th Century a number of conditions were
changing in Europe
• increase in food production
• Increase in population
• Growth of Cities
• Formation of “Parliaments”
• Reduction of threats from the outside
These conditions allowed for varying degrees of
centralization of power.
“Battles” for power constantly were being
played out between Kings and nobles, and
between Kings and popes.
New Monarachies
FranceEngland Holy Roman Empire
Alfred the Great (871-899) promotes learning
William the Conqueror, 1066
Subjected and consulted nobles
Later kings battled the church and Nobles
King John forced to sign “Magna Carta” (1215)
Emergence of parliament (14th C.) recognized the
growing influence of towns and merchants
England
New Monarachies
FranceEngland Holy Roman EmpireFrance
W-T-C’s success motivates French to unify
Successive French kings made alliances to
counter W-T-C
Louis VI raised status of towns, reduced
influence of feudalism
Philip II Augustus defeats English in 1214
Louis IX’s just and fair reign fed French
Nationalism. Centralizes king’s authority.
Philip IV calls Estates-General (1314)
New Monarachies
FranceEngland Holy Roman Empire
Ottonian Monarchs earn title of “Holy Roman
Emperor.” Yet, the play role of “pope-maker”
Popes begin to assert more strength and
independence of secular rules
Investiture Struggle finds Pope Gregory VII
excommunicating Henry IV...Twice!
Concordat of Worms, 1122
Holy Roman Empire
New Monarachies
FranceEngland Holy Roman Empire
Frederick II gets excommunicated...4 times!
Papacy emerges from the battle stronger than ever
Holy Roman Empire
Frederick I Barbarossa restarts battle with pope
The Medieval Papacy
With the collapse of the Roman Empire, the
Catholic Church took on many of the features
of the empire.
Secular Clergy
Regular Clergy
Rules of St. Benedict
Pope Gregory I sent Benedictine monks to
England in 597. By the middle of the 11th
century, most western Europeans had been
converted.
The Medieval Papacy soon became caught up
in secular politics
Many church officials were nobles and
vassals of kings
Nobles donated land and money to the
church
Popes increasing ruled as monarchs
Pope Innocent III
Clericis LaicosThe Pope had to approve of all taxation of the clergy
Pope Boniface VIII
Boniface gets “Bull”ish
•Ausculta fili (Listen, my son) “God has set popes over kings and kingdoms.”
•Unam Sanctum (One holy place)"outside of her there is neither salvation nor the remission of sins"
Boniface VIII vs. Philip the Fair
philip arrests Bernard Saisset, Bishop of Pamiers
Boniface issues “Ausculta fili”
Guillaume de Nogaret beats up pope
pope dies....
Avignon Papacy (1309-1377)
Pope Clement V falls under French Influence
Starts selling indulgences to raise some coin
National Gov’t begin to assert themselves against
the financial encroachment of the Papacy
The Great Schism (1378-1417)
Pope Gregory XI moves papacy back to Rome in 1377
Gregory dies...New pope is Urban VI
Urban upsets Cardinals with call for Reform
Cardinals (with Charles V’s blessing) pick new pope, Clement VII
Now we have two Popes
Council of Pisa called to solve this problem. They deposed Urban
and Clement and elect Alexander V
Urban and Clement refuse to give up keys to popemobile
Now we have three popes....
Council of Constance wipes slate clean and installs Martin V
The Black Death
1. What hypotheses can you make regarding the origin and spread of the plague?2. Why are some areas untouched?
Setting the Stage of Death
Overpopulation
Crop failures and famine
Densely populated cities
Reactions to The Black Death
Obsession with death
Sense of fatalism
Worry about DivineRetribution
Scape-goating
Consequences of the Black Death
Farm laborers declined wages went up
Agricultural prices fell manufactured goods rose
Noble landowners try to recoup loses Peasants Revolt
Rural areas declined Cities increased