1 The Two Worlds of Christendom Chapter 16

Medieval Christendom Two halves  Byzantine empire  Germanic states Inherited Christianity from Roman empire After eighth century, tensions between two halves 2 ©2011, The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Chapter 16: The Two Worlds of Christendom Successor States to the Roman Empire, ca. 600 C.E.

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 3 ©2011, The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 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 4 ©2011, The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Chapter 16: The Two Worlds of Christendom

The Byzantine Court Etiquette reinforces authority of emperor  Royal purple  Prostration  Mechanical devices designed to inspire awe 5 ©2011, The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Chapter 16: The Two Worlds of Christendom

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 6 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 7 ©2011, The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Chapter 16: The Two Worlds of Christendom

Muslim Conquests 7 th century, Arab Muslim expansion Besieged Byzantium , Byzantine defense made possible through use of “Greek fire” ©2011, The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 8 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 9 ©2011, The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 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 ©2011, The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 10 Chapter 16: The Two Worlds of Christendom

The Franks Heavy influence on European development, 5 th to 9 th centuries Conversion to Christianity gains popular support Firm alliance with western Christian church 11 ©2011, The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 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 12 ©2011, The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 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 13 ©2011, The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 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 14 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 15 ©2011, The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Chapter 16: The Two Worlds of Christendom

16 ©2011, The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved. END

17 The Two Worlds of Christendom Chapter 16

Economy in Medieval Christendom Byzantium – economic powerhouse  Agricultural surplus  Long-distance trade Western Christendom  Repeated invasions contribute to agricultural decline  10 th century, increased political stability leads to economic recovery 18 ©2011, The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Chapter 16: The Two Worlds of Christendom

Byzantine Peasantry Free peasantry kept Byzantium strong  Supported by the theme system Decline after 11 th century  Wealthy accumulated large estates 19 ©2011, The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 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 6 th century Bezant becomes standard currency Tax revenues from silk route 20 ©2011, The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 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 21 ©2011, The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Chapter 16: The Two Worlds of Christendom How is life in Europe during this time ?

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 22 ©2011, The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 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 ©2011, The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 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 24 ©2011, The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Chapter 16: The Two Worlds of Christendom The Dissolution of the Carolingian Empire (843 C.E.) and the Invasions of Early Medieval Europe in the Ninth and Tenth Centuries

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 9 th century  Constantinople sacked three times Carolingians had no navy, dependent on local defenses 25 Chapter 16: The Two Worlds of Christendom

Norse Merchant Mariners Commerce or plunder as convenient Link with the Islamic world for trade 26 ©2011, The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 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 27 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 28 ©2011, The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 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 29 ©2011, The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 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 30 ©2011, The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Chapter 16: The Two Worlds of Christendom

31 ©2011, The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved. END