UNIT 1: PART 4

Mid-(Evil) Timesin Europe

Byzantine Empire

Lasted until 1453Eastern Roman Empire = Byzantine EmpireKnown as a Greek and Christian state

Greek Language replaced Latin Strong Christian influence Most inhabitants still considered themselves “Romans”

Constantinople considered a prized possession

Extent of Byzantine Empire527-565 CE

Constantinople

Constantinople is the home city of the empire

Gateway between Asia and Europe PRIME location for trade

Melting pot of cultures and ideasConstant target for foreign invadersRemained the Capital city of the Eastern

Empire even after the fall of the Western Empire

Heavily fortified

The Great Schism

Schism-divide or splitChurch leaders in the East and West

differed on their views of ChristianityMajor Issues

Icons: holy images of Jesus, Virgin Mary or Saints Some had these in their homes and Churches,

others believed this was wrong (iconoclast) Pope vs. Patriarch

Byzantines looked to church leader (Patriarch), did not recognize the Pope in Rome

Church Doctrine and Practice

Medieval Times/Middle Ages

476-1300 A.D. Time between the Fall of Western Roman Empire and the beginning of the Renaissance

German tribes replaced the Romans as the rulers of Western Europe

MISERABLE time for most peopleFeudal system developsAdvances and learning made by Greeks and

Romans disappearedMost Europeans lived in fear of:

Barbarian attacks Disease famine

ARG… Vikings Attack!

800-900sVikings from Scandinavia (Norway, Sweden,

Denmark)Coastal cities in fear of constant attacks from

VikingsTraveled south along the coast of Europe and

British Isles during Spring and SummerRaid and Loot settlementsTake captives for slavesEventually settled in Normandy, France

Europe’s Feudal System

After the fall of Rome, people looked for protection from criminals and invaders

Feudalism: System of protection that developed in Europe during the Middle Ages a system of mutual obligation (sort of) Based on loyalty and protection

Fief- a grant of land given to vassals Became hereditary passing from one male to another

“I didn’t know we had a King”

Social HierarchyKingLordVassalPeasant

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-8bqQ-C1PSE

Role of the Church

After schism, there were 2 groups of Christians Orthodox Roman Catholic

Christian Church replaced the Roman Empire as Europe’s source of leadership and stability

Pope had supreme authority Europe’s largest landowner Many church officials were feudal lords Could not question church techniques or authority Church had its own code of law=control over region and its’

people The Wealth and influence of the Church led to corruption Church became the wealthiest institution

Had the power to tax (tithe was 1/10 of income)

Common features

Important Events of the Middle Ages

CrusadesThe Magna CartaThe Bubonic Plague

All lead to the Renaissance in the 1400s!

The Crusades

An attempt by European Christians to retake the Holy Land from the Muslims during the Middle Ages

1000 A.D: Muslims conquer Jerusalem1095 A.D.: Pope calls upon European Kings

and lords to raise armies Result:

1291 Crusades end and Muslims regain control Europeans fail to capture the Holy Land

Benefits of the Crusades

Increased trade between Europe and Asia

Europeans were reintroduced to the ideas and texts of the Greeks and Romans by the Muslims

One Factor that led to the Renaissance

We have a rodent problem!

The Bubonic Plague: swept through Europe 1347-1351 Carried from Asia to Europe on trading ships

Rats carried fleas infected with the disease1/3 of European pop. Died because of the

Plague

Impact of the Plague

Impact: Catholic Church lost power b/c people’s faith in God

was shaken Workers earned better pay b/c there were fewer of

them Entire towns died off Mass graves, not enough room or time to bury ppl Better pay and education lead to peasant uprisings

against kings and lords

Pics

First Hand Accounts

At the time no one knew that rats were the carriers of the disease, they blamed higher powers “Some say that the plague descended upon the human

race through the influence of the heavenly bodies, others that it was punishment signifying God’s righteous anger at our wicked way of life.”

Others thought a major earthquake released toxic fumes

Magna Carta

Means “Great Paper”Magna Carta: one of the most important

documents written in the history of democracy. Guarantees basic rights and limits the power of the government

Written in England in 1215Originally written to protect the rights of

English lords from the King

The Magna Carta stated: Excessive (a lot) taxes

could not be collected by the king

Those accused of crimes would be judged by a jury of peers

The king must follow the law or be removed from office

Changes to Europe

Brought about b/c of the CrusadesNew military techniques- Crossbow Advanced trade between Italian cities and

Holy LandIncrease in power of European Kings due to

large number of noble class deaths

A Growing Culture

1. Education grew as the cities expanded Nobles and clergy most educated 4 elite universities built Law, medicine, theology studied

2. ArchitectureGothic Style- named after barbarian gothsNew Churches were considered monuments

to GodCommon features

High walls Flying buttresses (support) Tall spires

Gothic Architecture

3. Recovery of Greek Texts Brought back works of Aristotle Scholasticism- bringing faith and reason together