1. The Two Worlds of Christendom
Chapter 16
The Two Worlds of Christendom
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Medieval Christendom
Two halves
Byzantine empire
Germanic states
Inherited Christianity from Roman empire
After eighth century, tensions between two halves
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3. Successor States to the Roman Empire, ca. 600 C.E.
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4. The Early Byzantine Empire
Capital: Byzantium
On the Bosporus
Golden Horn
Commercial, strategic value of location
Constantine names capital after himself (Constantinople), moves capital there after 330 C.E.
1453, falls to Turks, renamed Istanbul
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Caesaropapism
Power centralized in figure of emperor
Christian leader cannot claim divinity, rather divine authority
Political rule
Involved in religious rule as well
Authority absolute
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The Byzantine Court
Etiquette reinforces authority of emperor
Royal purple
Prostration
Mechanical devices designed to inspire awe
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Justinian ( C.E.)
The “sleepless emperor”
Wife Theodora as advisor
Background: circus performer
Ambitious construction programs
The church of Hagia Sophia
Justinian’s code: codification of Roman law
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Byzantine Conquests
Effort to reconquer much of western Roman empire from Germanic people
Unable to consolidate control of territories
Abandon Rome
Ravenna
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Muslim Conquests
Seventh century, Arab Muslim expansion
Besieged Byzantium ,
Defense made possible through use of “Greek fire”
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Theme System
Themes (provinces) under control of generals
Military administration
Control from central imperial government
Soldiers from peasant class, rewarded with land grants
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11. The Germanic Successor States
Last Roman emperor deposed by Germanic Odoacer, 476 C.E.
Administrative apparatus still in place, but cities lose population
Germanic successor states:
Visigoths
Ostrogoths
Lombards
Franks
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The Franks
Heavy influence on European development, fifth to ninth centuries
Conversion to Christianity gains popular support
Firm alliance with western Christian church
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The Carolingians
Charles “the Hammer” Martel begins Carolingian dynasty
Defeats Spanish Muslims at Battle of Tours (732)
Halts Islamic advance into western Europe
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Charlemagne (r )
Grandson of Charles Martel
Centralized imperial rule
Functional illiterate, but sponsored extensive scholarship
Major military achievements
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15. Charlemagne’s Administration
Capital at Aachen, Germany
Yet constant travel throughout empire
Imperial officials: missi dominici (“envoys of the lord ruler”)
Continued yearly circuit travel
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16. Charlemagne as Emperor
Hesitated to challenge Byzantines by taking title “emperor”
Yet ruled in fact
Pope Leo III crowns him as emperor in 800
Planned in advance?
Challenge to Byzantium
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17. The Carolingian Empire, 814 C.E.
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Louis the Pious (r )
Son of Charlemagne
Lost control of courts, local authorities
Civil war erupts among three sons
Empire divided in 843
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Invasions
South: Muslims
East: Magyars
North: Vikings
Norse expansion driven by population pressure, quest for wealth
Superior seafaring technology
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The Vikings
From village of Vik, Norway (hence “Viking”)
Boats with shallow drafts, capable of river travel as well as on open seas
Attacked villages, cities, monasteries from ninth century
Constantinople sacked three times
Carolingians had no navy, dependent on local defenses
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The Dissolution of the Carolingian Empire (843 C.E.) and the Invasions of Early Medieval Europe in the Ninth and Tenth Centuries
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22. Economy in Medieval Christendom
Byzantium – economic powerhouse
Agricultural surplus
Long-distance trade
Western Christendom
Repeated invasions contribute to agricultural decline
Tenth century, increased political stability leads to economic recovery
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Byzantine Peasantry
Free peasantry kept Byzantium strong
Supported by the theme system
Decline after eleventh century
Wealthy accumulated large estates
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24. Manufacturing and Trade in Byzantium
Trade routes bring key technologies, e.g. silk industry
Advantage of location causes crafts and industry to expand after sixth century
Bezant becomes standard currency
Tax revenues from silk route
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25. Manufacturing and Trade in Western Europe
Invasions and political turmoil disrupt commercial activities
Agricultural innovations
Heavy plow; water mills; special horse collar
Small scale exchange; maritime trade in Mediterranean
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26. Norse Merchant Mariners
Commerce or plunder as convenient
Link with the Islamic world for trade
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27. Byzantium: Urban Society
Aristocrats: palaces
Artisans: apartments
Working poor: communal living spaces
Hippodrome
Chariot races, “greens vs. blues”
Politically inspired rioting
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28. Western Europe: Rural Society
Concept of feudalism
Lords and vassals
Increasingly inadequate model for describing complex society
Ad hoc arrangements in absence of strong central authorities
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29. Organizing in a Decentralized Society
Local nobles take over administration from weak central government
Nominal allegiances, especially to Carolingian kings
But increasing independence
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Lords and Retainers
Formation of small private armies
Incentives: land grants, income from mills, cash payments
Formation of hereditary class of military retainers
Development of other functions
Justice, social welfare
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31. Peasants’ Rights and Obligations
Obligation to provide labor, payments in kind to lord
Unable to move from land
Fees charged for marrying serfs of another lord
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32. Population Growth in Christendom
During fifth and sixth century, population fluctuations
By eighth century, demographic recovery
Political stability
Productive agriculture
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33. Population Growth of Europe, 200-1000 C.E.
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34. Evolution of Christian Societies
Christianity main source of religious, moral, and cultural authority
Two halves disagree on doctrine, ritual, and church authority
By mid-eleventh century, two rival communities
Eastern Orthodox
Roman Catholic
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Pope Gregory I ( C.E.)
“Gregory the Great”
Asserted papal primacy
Prominent theologian
Sacrament of penance
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The Byzantine Church
Church and state closely aligned
Byzantine emperors appoint patriarchs
Treated as a department of state
Caesaropapism creates dissent in church
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Iconoclasm
Emperor Leo III (r C.E.)
Destruction of icons after 726 C.E.
Popular protest, rioting
Policy abandoned 843 C.E.
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Asceticism
Hermit-like existence
Celibacy
Fasting
Prayer
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39. St. Basil (329-379 C.E.) and St. Benedict (480-547 C.E.)
Both established consistent rule for monasteries
Poverty
Chastity
Obedience
St. Scholastica ( C.E.)
Sister of St. Benedict
Adapts Benedictine Rule for convents
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40. Monasticism and Society
Social welfare projects
Inns, orphanages, hospitals
Agents in spread of Christianity
Missionaries – Christian cultural zone in western part of Eurasian continent
England
Northern Germany; Scandinavia
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41. Influence on Slavic Cultures
Saints Cyril and Methodius
Missions in Bulgaria and Moravia
Create Cyrillic alphabet
Slavic lands develop orientation to Byzantium
Prince Vladimir of Kiev converts
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42. Tensions between Eastern and Western Christianity
Ritual disputes
Beards on clergy
Leavened bread for Mass
Theological disputes
Iconoclasm
Nature of the Trinity
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Schism
Arguments over hierarchy, jurisdiction
Autonomy of patriarchs, or primacy of Rome?
1054, patriarch of Constantinople and pope of Rome excommunicate each other
East: Orthodox church
West: Roman Catholic
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