1. The Two Worlds of Christendom

2. The Byzantine Empire Constantinople- capitol city
Caesaropapism- emperor rules as secular lord but also plays active role in ecclesiastical affairs
Justinian and Theodora
Rebuilt Constantinople + Hagia Sophia
Codified Roman law
Conquests to unify former Roman empire
Not enough resources to maintain

3. Muslims and Byzantine Muslim conquests Theme System Sasanid Emipire
Byzantine Empire
Theme System
Imperial province under control of a general
Generals control administration and defense
Recruit armies of free peasants
Peasants receive allotments for military service
Allow Byzantium to expand influence

4. Successor states to the Roman Empire c. 500

5. The Franks Heavy influence on European development
Strong agricultural base
Conquered most of Roman Gaul
Firm alliance with western Christian church

6. The Carolingians
Charles “The Hammer” Martel begins Carolingian dynasty
Defeats Spanish Muslims at Battle of Tours (732)
Halts Islamic advance into western Europe

7. The Carolingian Empire

8. Charlemagne (r. 768-814) Grandson of Charles Martel
Centralized imperial rule
Maintain relationship with Byzantine empire and Abbasid caliphate
Functional illiterate, but sponsored extensive scholarship
Major military achievements
Authority over northeastern Spain
Bavaria
Italy

9. Charlemagne’s Administration
Capital at Aachen, Germany
Relied on aristocratic deputies, counts
Yet constant travel throughout empire
Imperial officials: missi dominici (“envoys of the lord ruler)
Continued yearly circuit travel

10. 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

11. Louis the Pious (r. 814-840) Son of Charlemagne
Lost control of courts, local authorities
Civil war erupts between three sons
Empire divided in 843

12. Invasions South: Muslims East: Magyars North: Vikings
Norse expansion begins c. 800 CE
Driven by population pressure, hostility to spread of Christianity
Superior seafaring technology
Sailed to eastern Canada, northeastern US

13. The Vikings From village of Vik, Norway (hence “Viking”)
Boats with shallow drafts, capable of river travel as well as open seas
Attacked villages, cities from 9th century
Constantinople sacked three times
Carolingians had no navy, dependent on local defenses
Emergence of Regional Kingdoms

14. Early Medieval Society
Concept of Feudalism
Lords and vassals
Increasingly inadequate model for describing complex society
Ad hoc arrangements in absence of strong central authorities

15. Organizing in a Decentralized Society
Local nobles take over administration from weak central government
Nominal allegiances, esp. to Carolingian kings
But increasing independence

16. Lords and Retainers Formation of small private armies
Incentives: land grants, income from mills, cash payments
Formation of hereditary class of military retainers
Development of other functions
Justice, social welfare

17. Potential for Instability
Complex interrelationship of lord-retainer relations
Rebellion always a possibility
Nevertheless, viable large states developed (Germany, France, England)

18. Serfs’ Rights and Obligations
Right to pass on land to heirs
Obligation to provide labor, payments in kind to lord
Unable to move from land
Fees charged for marrying serfs of another lord

19. The Economy of Early Medieval Europe
Agricultural center moves north from Mediterranean
8th century iron-tipped plow introduced in Europe
Draft animals bred
Water mill technology
Agricultural output insufficient to support growth of cities
Strong Mediterranean trade despite Muslim domination of sea

20. Population Growth of Europe, 200-1000 CE

21. Western Christian Society
Hierarchical organizational structure
Bishop of Rome= Pope
Spiritual authority over all lands of the former Roman empire
Strengthen the western Christian church
Pope Gregory I “Gregory the Great” ( CE)
Asserted papal primacy- bishop of Rome as ultimate authority for Christian church
Prominent theologian
Sacrament of penance
Major missionary activity, especially in England

22. The Patriarchs of Byzantium
Emperors treated church as a department of the government
Appointed patriarchs
Instructed patriarchs
Patriarchs encouraged obedience to imperial authorities
Iconoclasm- destruction of religious icons and images, and prohibition of their use in churches

23. St. Basil (329-379) and St. Benedict (480-547)
Established consistent rule for monasteries
Poverty
Chastity
Obedience
St. Scholastica ( )
Sister of St. Benedict
Adapts Benedictine Rule for convents

24. Monasticism and Society
Accumulation of large landholdings, serfs
Social welfare projects
Labor contributions
Educational services
Expansion of literacy
Inns, orphanages, hospitals
Missionaries spread Christianity
Establishes large Christian cultural zone

25. Schism Friction between Constantinople and Roman churches
Resentment in Byzantium after Charlemagne accepted title of emperor
Different views on religious and theological issues
Iconoclasm, Worship, Wording of teachings, Trinity
Pope and patriarch excommunicate each other, 1054
Refuse to recognize each others’ churches
Eastern Orthodox and Roman Catholic