Transcript Slide 1
Ch. 17: Foundations of Christian Society in Western Europe I. Aftermath of the Western Roman Empire. A. The Early Middle Ages (CE 500-1000) is known as the Dark Ages. Why? 1. Roman law (judges and written law) was replaced by trial by ordeal or combat. 2. Towns declined. Western Europe became largely rural. 3. Learning and literacy declined. Usually, only priests were literate. Latin language began to change. French, Spanish, Italian, and other Romance languages evolved from Latin. II. The quest for political order. A. Germanic successor kingdoms: Visigoths, Vandals, Franks, Angles/Saxons, Lombards, and Ostrogoths. Successor states to the Roman Empire, AD 500 B. The Franks 1. Clovis (AD 481 to 511) founded the Merovingian Empire. Converted to Roman Christianity. Alliance with the Roman Catholic Church greatly strengthened the Franks. Clovis 2. Carolingian Empire: Clan that gained authority in the early 8th C. and began a new dynasty. Charles Martel (the Hammer; CE 688-741) defeated Muslim forces at the Battle of Tours in CE 732. Charlemagne (Charles the Great; CE 768-814) extended the empire. Pope Leo III crowned him emperor. Missi dominici (counts) helped administer his realm. Charles Martel Charlemagne (Charles the Great) Charlemagne (Charles the Great) Carolingian Empire, AD 814 3. Decline and dissolution: Charlemagne’s grandsons (Louis the German, Lothair, and Charles the Bald) divided the empire. Invasions: Vikings attacked from the north; Muslims raided from the from the south; Magyars invaded from the east. Division of Carolingian empire (AD 843) Page: 450 III. The Vikings (Northmen or Norsemen) A. From Scandinavia (Norway, Sweden, Denmark). B. CE 800-1000: Raided from Ireland to Russia. C. Fierce barbarians, worshipped warlike gods (Odin: God of War). Bersrkrs were the “crazy” warriors. D. Excellent sailors; technologically advanced ships; skilled explorers. E. Explorations and raids 1. Eric the Red (Greenland in CE 982). 2. Leif Ericson (New Foundland in CE 1000). 3. Settlements in Iceland, Ireland, England, France, and Russia. 4. Viking raids stopped. Why? *Opponents responded quicker. *Agricultural output increased. *Converted to Christianity. Viking Discoveries IV. Establishment of regional authorities. A. In England, small kingdoms united as a defense against Viking raids. King Alfred (the Great; reigned CE 871-899) expanded to the north. His successors controlled all England by the 10th C. B. Germany: after the Carolingian Empire dissolved, a German ruler, King Otto (reigned AD 936-973) defeated the Magyars and reestablished imperial authority. Coronated by Pope John XII in 962—made him the Holy Roman Emperor. V. Feudalism: Arrangement between king, lord, vassal (knight) (retainer), and serf for ownership of land, military service, and protection. King Duke, Count Lord (local leaders) Vassal (knight) (retainer) Serfs VI. Formation of Christian Europe. A. Frankish rulers viewed themselves as protectors of the papacy. B. Charlemagne’s military campaigns forced the Saxons to accept Christianity. C. Gregory I (the Great) (CE 509-604) sought to convert England (by CE 800, this occurred). D. Monasticism 1. St. Benedict (AD 480-547) provided a set of regulations (St. Benedict’s Rule). Virtues of Benedictine monks: poverty, chastity, and obedience. St. Benedict 2. St. Scholastica (CE 482-543) was St. Benedict’s sister. She adapted the Rule thus providing guidance for women living in convents. St. Scholastica E. By AD 1000, most ethnic groups in Western Europe had adopted Roman Christianity (Catholicism).