The Two Worlds of Christendom Chapter 16 (and Ch. 13 from the old book)

I: The Quest for Political Order 500-1500 CE in Europe = Medieval period (or Middle Ages) -> between Classical and modern times Early (500-1000): lots of problems (disease, decreasing pop., econ. contraction, pol. turmoil, social unrest, and invasions) Late (1000-1500): better (united by religion, but not politically)

I: The Quest for Political Order 2 halves: East: Byzantine Empire (continuation of Roman Emp., pol and econ powerhouse) West: Germanic states (attempts to unify, decentralized, econ recovery) Both were Christian, but different types -> split

I: (13)The Early Byzantine Empire As western Roman Empire fell apart, east stayed intact, but with challenges (Sasanids in Persia and Germanic invaders) Statecraft: centralized rule (caesaropapism – aura of divine rule), lavish capital, complex bureaucracy, codified Roman laws

I: (13)The Early Byzantine Empire Justinian and His Legacy: . Most important, with wife Theodora Rebuilt city after riots (Hagia Sophia) Codified Roman law (influenced later European law) Tried to reconquer the west – succeeded, but didn’t last -> withdrew to protect the east

I: (13)The Early Byzantine Empire Islamic Conquests and Byzantine Revival: Lost land in SW Asia and N Africa to Islamic empire, plus, sieges on Constantinople (resisted with military tech. – Greekfire) -> more compact and manageable

I: (13)The Early Byzantine Empire The theme system: = provinces (themes) under control of a closely supervised general who controlled military defense and civil admin. Built armies of free peasants in exchange for land => Win-win: quick and effective protection and stronger peasant class and -> agri. econ.

I: The Rise of the Franks After fall of Rome -> Germanic successor states emerged (e.g., Visigoths, Ostrogoths, Lombards, Franks, etc.) Heavily influenced by Rome (esp. law) and Christianity The Franks: by early 6th century, controlled most of Gaul By converting -> support from Roman populations and the pope

I: The Rise of the Franks By 8th century: ruled by Carolingian Dynasty Founded by Charles Martel (732, Battle of Tours – kept Muslims out of the rest of Europe) Charlemagne (grandson) ruled 768-814 Temporarily established centralized imperial rule (proclaimed emperor by Pope in 800) Diplomatic relations with Byzantine and Abbasid empires Military expansion, some tributary states Travelled to maintain control (no bureaucracy – relied on aristocratic counts and missi dominici at local level)

I: The Rise of the Franks End of Charlemagne’s empire: Louis the Pious: Charlemagne’s only son, ruled 814-840 Internal issue: Lost control and sons fought over succession -> kingdom divided into 3 parts External issue: Invasions: Muslims (from south), Magyars (from east), and Vikings (from north)

I: The Age of the Vikings Expansion of Nordic peoples from Scandinavia Populations growth and quest for wealth -> trading and raiding Boats were key: shallow draft, oars (rivers) with sails (sea) Some wanted to trade, others to resettle and farm, others to raid and plunder (<- Vikings)

I: The Age of the Vikings Very successful at sacking settlements and monasteries from Russia to Eastern Europe and the Mediterranean Carolingians had no navy to offer protection and no way to predict where they’d go next -> protection fell to locals Later, political control also held by locals = feudal Europe. Also, Vikings established small states in France and S. Italy

II: Economy and Society in Early Medieval Europe At the time, Byzantine Empire = economic powerhouse (large agricultural surplus -> large urban pops. -> increased manufacturing and LD trade) Western Europe saw decreasing agricultural production and weakening of cities (10th century – more political stability -> economic recovery)

II: (13) Byzantine Peasantry Large class of land-owning peasants -> strong economy and society (theme system) But, the wealthy started building up large estates, and after the 11th century, peasants become dependent class Also means less taxes collected and less soldiers for military Landowners built private armies

II: (13) Byzantine Industry and Trade Lots of manufacturing/craftsmen: glassware, linen and woolen textiles, gems, jewelry, gold, and silver, and silk (late 6th century –under government regulation) Trade: excellent location (end of silk roads) – control of trade and customs duties -> wealth Finance: banks (loans for business ventures) and business partnerships (to pool resources and limit risk) became more extensive

II: Western Europe’s Economy Political turmoil and invasions disrupted agriculture and large-scale manufacturing But, adopted innovations -> increased agricultural production Heavy plow: 8th century, worked better in northern European soils But, expensive and required draft animals Other developments: new fields, fish ponds, water mills, horse collar, new crops (legumes)

II: Trade in Western Europe Small-scale: markets, fairs, itinerate peddlers, plus maritime trade in the Med. Norse merchant-mariners: North and Baltic Seas, Russia, Ireland trading fish, furs, honey, wheat, wine, beer, swords Traded with Byzantine and Abbasids

II: (13) Byzantine Society Constantinople: huge imperial palace with gardens, fountains, peacocks Aristocrats had palaces (women were separated) Artisans lived in rooms above shops or in apartment buildings Workers and poor lived in communal tenements City life: baths, taverns, restaurants, theaters, Hippodrome (races with fans – greens and blues)

II: Western European Society Some towns, but very rural: surplus supported political elites, but not urban populations of artisans, merchants, etc.

II: Western European Society Feudalism: political and social order of Medieval Europe Hierarchy of lords and vassals with exchange of land for loyalty and military service Maybe oversimplified

II: Western European Society Peasants (a.k.a., serfs) gave surplus to lords, as well as labor and rent payments Men: worked 3 days for lord, farmed Women: sewed for lord made butter, cheese, beer, thread, cloth Couldn’t move because lord owned land and tools After 8th century: population began to recover (new crops from Muslims, better health, bigger surplus)

III: Evolution of Christian Societies in Byzantium and Western Europe Both areas were Christian, but different forms Similarities: sources of religious, moral, and cultural authority, ecclesiastical hierarchies (more so than other religions), monasteries, missionaries But, disagreed over doctrine, ritual, and church authority

III: The Papacy and the Patriarch Pope (Bishop of Rome) and Patriarch of Constantinople cooperated at first By late 6th century, competed for power Pope’s position strengthened by Pope Gregory I (defended Rome from Lombards) and reinforced papal primacy Patriarch: appointed by Byz. Emperor => close relationship between political rulers and religious ones

III: (13) Iconoclasm Byzantine: implemented by Leo III Believed veneration of icons was sinful (= idolatry) 726: destroyed and banned images of Jesus, Mary, etc. -> protests and riots. Rome was ok with icons

III: Monks and Monasticism In both areas: monasteries played important role in peoples’ religious lives St. Basil of Caesara (Byz) and St. Benedict of Nursia (Italy) set rules for monasteries – mild asceticism, meditation, and work Celibacy, under direction of abbot St. Scholastica applied Benedictine rules for women (nuns) in convents Also, counseled people, supplied food and medical attention, acted as orphanages and inns, provided basic education services

III: Missionaries Popes sent missionaries all over western Europe to convert people to Christianity Franks helped in north Byz: sent St. Cyril and Methodius to convert Slavs to Christianity -> created Cyrillic alphabet to translate bible to illiterate Slavs Also, converted Russian Prince Vladimir (-> strong Byzantine influence over Russia)

III: Two Churches Political and religious tension between Byz. and Rome: iconoclasm, ritual, doctrine (even facial hair) 1054: patriarch and pope excommunicated each other = The Great Schism (a.k.a. The East-West Schism) => Eastern Orthodox Church and Roman Catholic Church