Transcript Brief Introduction to European Culture---

7. What are the features of the Early
Middle Ages? Carolingian 751-1100
a. Charlemagne’ empire: 768-814
later known as Holy Roman Empire
b. Carolingian Renaissance: to create
an orderly/unified Christian empire,
Revive wisdom of Roman writers;
with Christian literature & learning;
create new works of art/literature;
c. Economy: farming and trade;
d. Breakup: France, Germany, Italy,
Holland, Belgium, Luxemburg, Sw;
Charlemagne, or Charles the Great, was among the greatest of
military leaders in the Middle Ages. He conquered much of western
and central Europe. As king, Charlemagne revived the political and
cultural life that had disappeared with the fall of the Western Roman
Empire four centuries before.
Charlemagne's
Empire in 800
Under the rule of
Pepin the Short
and his son
Charlemagne, the
Carolingians of
the 8th and 9th
centuries
conquered vast
territories and
combined large
portions of
western Europe
into a single unit.
In 800 Pope Leo
III crowned
Charlemagne
emperor of the
Empire of the
West, a region
later known as
the Holy Roman
Empire.
coronation.
Charlemagne and the Pope
The Frankish king Charlemagne was a devout Catholic who maintained a
close relationship with the papacy throughout his life. In 772, when Pope
Adrian I was threatened by invaders, the king rushed to Rome to provide
assistance. Shown here, the pope asks Charlemagne for help at a meeting
near Rome.
Anglo-Saxon
Chronicle
Considered the
primary source for
English history
between the 10th
and 12th centuries,
the Anglo-Saxon
Chronicle also
contains earlier
examples of prose.
This page depicts
Charlemagne, king
of the Franks in the
late 8th century,
killing the heathen
Saxons.
The Palatine Chapel
of Charlemagne
Charlemagne’s
palace at Aachen,
Germany, built
about 792-805, is
one of the finest
examples of
Carolingian
architecture. The
most dramatic part
of the structure is
the 16-sided
Palatine chapel,
shown here.
Monk in a Scriptorium
Many of the books used for education in medieval Europe were reproduced by monks.
They diligently copied entire texts in a monastery room called a scriptorium, which
was designed for this purpose.
Portrait of Saint
Matthew
This is a page from the
illuminated manuscript
known as the Ebbo
Gospels (about 816835). It depicts Saint
Matthew writing his
gospel account, and is a
good example of the
use of portraits of
authors in illuminated
manuscripts that was
popular in the early
Middle Ages.
Gathering Honey
The women shown
here is harvesting
honey from beehives
in the 15th century.
During the Middle
Ages, families that
had the resources to
do so often kept bees.
Bees and beehives
were an important
source of honey,
which was used as a
sweetener and to
ferment to make
mead, an alcoholic
beverage. The
beeswax was used to
make candles.
Routes of the Vikings
The Vikings were both a warrior and farming society from the region now
known as Scandinavia. They were also seafaring explorers who sailed beyond
their homelands not only to raid, but also to build settlements in other parts
of the world. The Danish Vikings went south toward Germany, France,
England, Spain, and into regions on the northwestern Mediterranean coast.
Swedish Vikings went to eastern Europe, while the Norwegians sailed to
Greenland and North America.
Viking Raiding Party
Viking ships, because of their shallow draft, were able to successfully
navigate rivers and streams that many other vessels could not. This
allowed the Vikings to raid settlements far upriver from the sea,
settlements that frequently were not prepared for an attack from the
water.
Serfdom in the Middle Ages
During the Middle Ages in
Europe, peasants became
legally bound to live and
work in one place in
servitude to wealthy
landowners. In return for
working the land of the
owner, known as the lord,
these peasants, called serfs,
received a crude house, a
small adjoining plot of
ground, a share of the
surrounding fields, some
farm animals, and
protection from outlaws and
other lords. The serf gave
part of his own crop to the
lord as payment of rent and
was subject to many other
payment obligations and
taxes. Serfdom differed
from slavery because serfs
had the right to own
property, could not be sold,
and could theoretically
purchase their freedom
from their lords.
Weapons of Medieval Warfare
During the Middle Ages, warriors in Europe developed into an elite class of
knights. Living under the threat of invasions from foreigners, the people of
Europe also developed a different kind of weaponry. Mounted warriors,
known as cavalry, could move quickly and strike hard with axes, pikes,
lances, and two-edged swords longer than those used by men on foot.