The Foundations of Christian Society in Western Europe Chapter 10 The Foundations of Christian Society in Western Europe

Germanic Successor States Germanic kingdoms: Visigoths, Ostrogoths, Lombards, Burgundians, Angles/Saxons The Franks: center of gravity shifted from Italy to northern lands

The Franks and Empire Clovis Led the Franks and wiped out the last vestiges of Roman authority in Gaul Military campaigns against other Germanic peoples Clovis's conversion Many other Germanic peoples converted to Arian Christianity The Franks converted to Roman Christianity Alliance with the Roman church greatly strengthened 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 Charlemagne (reigned 768-814 C.E.) Grandson of Charles Martel, founder of Carolingian empire Control extended to northeast Spain, Bavaria, north Italy

Administration Capital city at Aachen (in modern Germany) Relied on aristocratic deputies, known as counts Used missi dominici to oversee local authorities Charlemagne as emperor Pope Leo III proclaimed Charlemagne emperor, 800 The coronation strained relations with Byzantine emperors

Decline and Dissolution of the Carolingian Empire Louis the Pious (reigned 814-840) Charlemagne's only surviving son; lost control of the counts His three sons divided the empire into three kingdoms, 843 Invasions Muslims raided south, seized Sicily, parts of northern Italy and southern France Magyars invaded from the east Vikings invaded from the north

Vikings Norse expansion; Scandinavian homelands were Norway, Denmark, and Sweden Motives: population pressure, resisting Christian missionaries Most were merchants and migrants Some 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

Establishment of Regional Authorities In England small kingdoms merged into a larger realm against Scandinavian raids King Alfred (reigned 871-899) expanded to the north Alfred's successors controlled all England about the mid-tenth century Germany: after Carolingian empire, local lords took matters into their own hands King Otto I (reigned 936-973) defeated Magyars in 955 Imposed authority in Germany; led armies to support the papacy in Italy Otto's coronation by the pope in 962 made him the Holy Roman Emperor In France counts and other local authorities became local lords

Feudalism After Carolingian empire dissolved, local nobles built decentralized states Lords and vassals (retainers) Lord provided vassal with a grant known as a benefice (usually land, called fief) Enabled vassal to devote time and energy to serve the lord Provided resources to maintain horses and military equipment Vassals owed lord loyalty, obedience, respect, counsel, and military service Lord/vassal relationships become stronger; vassal status became hereditary

Potential for instability Multi-tiered network of lord-retainer relationships Sometimes conflicting loyalties led to instability But powerful states were built on foundation of lord-retainer relationships

Manorialism Serfs Slaves and peasants took agricultural tasks and frequently intermarried Free peasants often turned themselves and their lands over to a lord for protection Serfs as an intermediate category emerged about the mid-seventh century Serfs' obligations Labor service and rents in kind Could not move to other lands without permission Once their obligations were fulfilled, 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 Manors were largely self-sufficient communities

The Economy of Early Medieval Europe Agriculture production suffered from repeated invasions Heavy plows Heavy plows appeared in the sixth century; could turn heavy northern soils Became common from the eighth century; production increased Cultivation of new lands; watermills; and rotating crops Rural society--agricultural surplus not enough to support large cities Mediterranean trade--Italian and Spanish merchants trade with Muslims

Norse merchant mariners in North and Baltic Seas Followed routes of Vikings Traded actively with Byzantine and Abbasid empires Imported Abbasid silver used in European coinage Population: 36 million in 200; down to 26 million in 600; back up to 36 million in 1000

Age of Faith Every aspect of life was dominated by the Church All answers to questions were dictated largely by faith Popes, clergy held enormous power Social Hierarchy of the Church Symbols of the Post-Classical Age of Faith The Cathedral The Crusades The Pilgrimage The Monastery

The Politics of Conversion The Franks and the Church Frankish rulers viewed themselves as protectors of the papacy Charlemagne also worked to spread Christianity in northern lands The spread of Christianity Charlemagne's military campaigns forced the Saxons to accept Christianity Pagan ways did not disappear immediately By 1000 C.E., all western Europe had adopted Roman Christianity

The Papacy Pope Gregory I (590-604 C.E.) Organized defense of Rome against Lombards' menace Reasserted papal primacy over other bishops Strongly emphasized the sacrament of penance--confession and atonement The conversion of England--by 800, England in the Roman church

Monasticism Origin Devout Christians practiced asceticism in deserts of Egypt, second and third century Monastic lifestyle became popular when Christianity became legal, fourth century Monastic rules St. Benedict (480-547 C.E.) provided a set of regulations Virtues of Benedictine monks: poverty, chastity, and obedience St. Scholastica (482-543 C.E.) St. Benedict's sister, a nun Adapted the Rule, and provided guidance for religious life of women

The roles of monasteries Became dominant feature in social and cultural life of western Europe Accumulated large landholdings Organized much of the rural labor force for agricultural production Provided variety of social services: inns, shelters, orphanages, hospitals, schools Libraries and scriptoria became centers of learning