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

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

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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

7. 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

8. 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.

9. 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

10. 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
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)

11. I: The Rise of the Franks
End of Charlemagne’s empire:
Louis the Pious: Charlemagne’s only son, ruled
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)

12. 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)

13. 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

14. 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)

15. 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

16. 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

17. 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)

18. 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

19. 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)

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

21. 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

22. 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)

23. 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

24. 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

25. 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

26. 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

27. 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)

28. 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