1. The Two Worlds of Christendom
Chapter 16
The Two Worlds of Christendom

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Chapter 16: The Two Worlds of Christendom
Medieval Christendom
Two halves
Byzantine empire
Germanic states
Inherited Christianity from Roman empire
After eighth century, tensions between two halves
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Successor States to the Roman Empire, ca. 600 C.E.

3. The Early Byzantine Empire
Chapter 16: The Two Worlds of Christendom
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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Chapter 16: The Two Worlds of Christendom
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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Chapter 16: The Two Worlds of Christendom
The Byzantine Court
Etiquette reinforces authority of emperor
Royal purple
Prostration
Mechanical devices designed to inspire awe
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6. Justinian (527-565 C.E.) Chapter 16: The Two Worlds of Christendom
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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Chapter 16: The Two Worlds of Christendom
Byzantine Conquests
Effort to reconquer much of western Roman empire from Germanic people
Unable to consolidate control of territories
Abandon Rome
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Chapter 16: The Two Worlds of Christendom
Muslim Conquests
7th century, Arab Muslim expansion
Besieged Byzantium ,
Byzantine defense made possible through use of “Greek fire”
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Chapter 16: The Two Worlds of Christendom
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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10. The Germanic Successor States
Chapter 16: The Two Worlds of Christendom
The Germanic Successor States
In the west, the 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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Chapter 16: The Two Worlds of Christendom
The Franks
Heavy influence on European development, 5th to 9th centuries
Conversion to Christianity gains popular support
Firm alliance with western Christian church
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Chapter 16: The Two Worlds of Christendom
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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Chapter 16: The Two Worlds of Christendom
Charlemagne (r )
Grandson of Charles Martel
Centralized imperial rule
Functional illiterate, but sponsored extensive scholarship
Major military achievements
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14. Charlemagne’s Administration
Chapter 16: The Two Worlds of Christendom
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

15. Charlemagne as Emperor
Chapter 16: The Two Worlds of Christendom
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 Two Worlds of Christendom
Chapter 16
The Two Worlds of Christendom

18. Economy in Medieval Christendom
Chapter 16: The Two Worlds of Christendom
Economy in Medieval Christendom
Byzantium – economic powerhouse
Agricultural surplus
Long-distance trade
Western Christendom
Repeated invasions contribute to agricultural decline
10th century, increased political stability leads to economic recovery
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Chapter 16: The Two Worlds of Christendom
Byzantine Peasantry
Free peasantry kept Byzantium strong
Supported by the theme system
Decline after 11th century
Wealthy accumulated large estates
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20. Manufacturing and Trade in Byzantium
Chapter 16: The Two Worlds of Christendom
Manufacturing and Trade in Byzantium
Trade routes bring key technologies, e.g. silk industry
Advantage of location causes crafts and industry to expand after 6th century
Bezant becomes standard currency
Tax revenues from silk route
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21. Byzantium: Urban Society
Chapter 16: The Two Worlds of Christendom
Byzantium: Urban Society
Aristocrats: palaces
Artisans: apartments
Working poor: communal living spaces
Hippodrome
Chariot races, “greens vs. blues”
Politically inspired rioting
How is life in Europe during this time ?
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22. Manufacturing and Trade in Western Europe
Chapter 16: The Two Worlds of Christendom
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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Chapter 16: The Two Worlds of Christendom
Louis the Pious (r )
Son of Charlemagne (The Franks)
Lost control of courts, local authorities
Civil war erupts among three sons
Empire divided in 843
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Chapter 16: The Two Worlds of Christendom
Invasions
South: Muslims
East: Magyars
North: Vikings
Norse expansion driven by population pressure, quest for wealth
Superior seafaring technology
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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25. The Vikings Chapter 16: The Two Worlds of Christendom
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 9th century
Constantinople sacked three times
Carolingians had no navy, dependent on local defenses

26. Norse Merchant Mariners
Chapter 16: The Two Worlds of Christendom
Norse Merchant Mariners
Commerce or plunder as convenient
Link with the Islamic world for trade
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27. Western Europe: Rural Society
Chapter 16: The Two Worlds of Christendom
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

28. Organizing in a Decentralized Society
Chapter 16: The Two Worlds of Christendom
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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Chapter 16: The Two Worlds of Christendom
Lords and Retainers
Formation of small private armies
Incentives: land grants, income from mills, cash payments
Development of other functions
Justice, social welfare
Formation of hereditary class of military retainers
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30. Peasants’ Rights and Obligations
Chapter 16: The Two Worlds of Christendom
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. The Two Worlds of Christendom
Chapter 16
The Two Worlds of Christendom

33. Population Growth in Christendom
Chapter 16: The Two Worlds of Christendom
Population Growth in Christendom
During 5th and 6th century, population fluctuations
By 8th century, demographic recovery
Political stability
Productive agriculture

34. Population Growth of Europe, 200-1000 C.E.
Chapter 16: The Two Worlds of Christendom
Population Growth of Europe, C.E.

35. Evolution of Christian Societies
Chapter 16: The Two Worlds of Christendom
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
- Both promote same values…differences re: doctrine !
Council of Florence Orthodox and Roman Catholic churches meet to work out a union in Constantinople fell in 1453.

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Chapter 16: The Two Worlds of Christendom
Pope Gregory I ( C.E.)
“Gregory the Great”
Asserted papal primacy
Prominent theologian
Sacrament of penance: required individuals to confess their sins to priests to atone for sins
No other religion has a more hierarchical organizational structure. No pope of Buddhism !
Pope Gregory made clear that as Bishop of Rome, he was the ultimate authority for all of Christian churches
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Chapter 16: The Two Worlds of Christendom
The Byzantine Church
Church and state closely aligned
Byzantine emperors appoint patriarchs
Treated as a department of state
Caesaropapism creates dissent in church
- Caesaropapism creates problems v. government officials, and the people (when their views contradicted the masses)
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Chapter 16: The Two Worlds of Christendom
Iconoclasm
Emperor Leo III (r C.E.)
Destruction of icons after 726 C.E.
Popular protest, rioting
Policy abandoned 843 C.E.
- Most Christians like religious icons. The Emperors act created great divisions.
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39. Asceticism Chapter 16: The Two Worlds of Christendom
Hermit-like existence
Celibacy
Fasting
Prayer
Some turned away from religious hierarchy…and turned to local monasteries.
Some whipped selves, rolled in thorns, etc.
St. Simeon on pillar for 37 years.

40. St. Basil (329-379 C.E.) and St. Benedict (480-547 C.E.)
Chapter 16: The Two Worlds of Christendom
St. Basil ( C.E.) and St. Benedict ( C.E.)
Both established consistent rule for monasteries
Poverty
Chastity
Obedience
St. Scholastica ( C.E.)
Sister of St. Benedict
Adapts Benedictine Rule for convents
- Monasteries agenda consisted of studying scripture, work, eating, praying, work, sleep
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41. Monasticism and Society
Chapter 16: The Two Worlds of Christendom
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
Pope Gregory promoted a large Christian cultural zone in w. europe.
Mmissionaries sent to Germanic kings (Pagans), esp England to convert to Christianity. Successful.
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42. Influence on Slavic Cultures
Chapter 16: The Two Worlds of Christendom
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
Cyrillic language appealed to Slavs – most were illiterate, but the alphabet represented the sounds of slavic language best
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43. Tensions between Eastern and Western Christianity
Chapter 16: The Two Worlds of Christendom
Tensions between Eastern and Western Christianity
Ritual disputes
Beards on clergy
Leavened bread for Mass
Theological disputes
Iconoclasm
Nature of the Trinity
Shaving beards for priests was not acceptable by Byzantines, whereas in Europe it was common.
Byzantine priests ate leavened bread, whereas Europe ate unleavened
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Chapter 16: The Two Worlds of Christendom
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
- Each side disputed the others claim of authority and who had rights
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