Eastern and Western Christendom Connected and Divided Europe 330-1300 C.E.

Eastern Christendom: Building on the Roman Past Video: Fall of Rome the Roman Empire... in the 15th Century http://www.khanacademy.org/partner-content/crash-course1/crash-course-world-history/what%E2%80%99s-God-got-to-do-with-It/v/crash-course-world-history-12

Byzantine State Historians date its beginning to 330 C.E., when the Roman emperor Constantine established a new capital, Constantinople, on the Greek city called Byzantium. Byzantine was wealthy and urbanized due to its access to the Black Sea and command of the eastern Mediterranean. Continued Roman traditions. Had roads, taxation system, military structures, centralized administration, imperial court, laws, and was heavily influenced by the Christian Church.

Map of Byzantine Empire

Byzantine and the World Continued the Roman struggle with the Arab world. How did this lead to future conflicts between the European and Arab world? Hint: Think religion… Economically, the Byzantine Empire was a central player in the long-distance trade of Eurasia. Products such as jewelry, gemstones, silver, gold, linen, woolen textiles, purple dyes became world-wide demands. Byzantine religious culture spread to Slavic-speaking peoples in the Balkans and Russia. Eastern Orthodox Church

Western Christendom: Rebuilding out of the Roman Collapse Further removed than Byzantine counterpart. Missed out on many trade routes in the Indian Ocean and along the Silk Roads (China). Europe’s geography and diverse cultures made political unity difficult. Population centers were divided by mountain ranges and dense forests. Europe has five major peninsulas and two large islands (Britain and Ireland). At the same time a moderate climate and fertile soils led to productive agriculture that could supply for a growing population.

Political Life in Western Europe By 476, 25% of Western Europe’s population had been reduced by disease and warfare. Regional kingdoms – led by Visigoths in Spain, Franks in France, Lombards in Italy, and Angles and Saxons in England – arose to replace Roman authority. Charlemagne (reigned 768-814 C.E.) – ruler of the Carolingian Empire, occupying what is now France, Belgium, the Netherlands, and parts of Germany and Italy. Holy Roman Empire – limited mostly to Germany, was a collection of united kingdoms and influenced European history for centuries to come.

Society and the Church Feudalism Emerges – thousands of estates or manors controlled by a warrior elite of landowning lords. Lesser lords and knights swore allegiance to greater lords and kings and became vassals, frequently receiving lands and plunder in return for military service. Roman Catholic Church – hierarchical organization of popes, bishops, priests, and monasteries that was modeled on that of the Roman Empire. Took over political, administrative, educational, and welfare functions in many kingdoms.

Accelerated Change in Western Europe (1000-1300 C.E.) Muslim and Viking invasions had subsided by 1000 C.E. Warming trends in climate allowed for increased agricultural production. Caused a growth in long-distance trade. Population boom – from 35 million in 1000 C.E. to 80 million in 1340 C.E. Western Europe saw an increase in urbanization. What is urbanization?