Transcript Chapter 17
Chapter 17 THE FOUNDATIONS OF CHRISTIAN SOCIETY IN WESTERN EUROPE Example Question Which of the following achievements was not a part of the early middle ages? a. a restoration of political order through a feudal system. b. economic recovery. c. the reestablishment of centralized, imperial rule. d. the creation of an institutional framework for the Christian church based in Rome. e. Both c and d are true. Overview Political order restored out of disruption caused by the fall of the Roman Empire. Economic recovery based first on increased agricultural production within the rural manorial system. During this period Roman Christianity provided the impetus for cultural continuity and unity in Western Europe. The office of the papacy and the monastic movement were two powerful institutions that developed and consolidated a uniquely European culture. Germanic successor states Germanic kingdoms: Visigoths, Ostrogoths, Lombards, Burgundians, Angles/Saxons. The Franks: center of gravity shifted from Italy to northern lands. The Franks Clovis Led the Franks and wiped out the last vestiges of Roman authority in Gaul The Franks converted to Roman Christianity Alliance with the Roman church greatly strengthened the Franks The Franks The Carolingians Carolingians, an aristocratic clan, asserted authority in the early eighth century Charles Martel's son claimed the throne for himself, 751 Carolingian Map The Franks Charlemagne (reigned 768-814 C.E.) Grandson of Charles Martel, founder of Carolingian empire Control extended to northeast Spain, Bavaria, north Italy Charlemagne Map Charlemagne Capital city at Aachen (in modern Germany) Relied on aristocratic deputies, known as counts Used missi dominici to oversee local authorities Pope Leo III proclaimed Charlemagne emperor, 800 Decline of the Carolingian empire Charlemagne's only surviving son; lost control of the counts His three sons divided the empire into three kingdoms, 843 Muslims raided south, seized Sicily, parts of northern Italy and southern France Magyars invaded from the east Vikings invaded from the north Vikings- Norsemen Most were merchants and migrants Mounted raids in many European regions from Russia to Spain Outstanding seafarers; even established a colony in Canada about 1000 Fleets could go to interior regions via rivers, attacking towns and villages Early medieval society After Carolingian empire dissolved, local nobles built decentralized states Lords and retainers Lord provided retainer Retainers owed lord loyalty, obedience, respect, counsel, and military service Lord/retainer relationships become stronger; retainer status became hereditary Serfdom Serfs Serfs as an intermediate category emerged about the mid-seventh century Could not move to other lands without permission Serfs had right to work on land and pass it to heirs Manors were a principal form of agricultural organization A manor was a large estate, controlled by the lord and his deputies (self-sufficient) Agriculture of early medieval Europe Heavy plows appeared in the sixth century Agricultural production increased Cultivation of new lands; watermills; and rotating crops Agricultural surplus not enough to support large cities PERSIAN Chart- The Franks (Carolingian) Complete a PERSIAN Chart on the Franks. Focus your study on the Carolingian empire.