The First Feudal The First Feudal Age (300-1000 AD)Age (300-1000 AD)

-Key Concepts--Key Concepts-

I. Successors to Rome: I. Successors to Rome: “Shadows of the Empire”“Shadows of the Empire”

A. Byzantine EmpireA. Byzantine Empire

Greatest Emperor: Greatest Emperor: Justinian (527-565 AD)Justinian (527-565 AD)

Handed classical Handed classical learning and science learning and science back to the westback to the west

--Justinian’s Code of --Justinian’s Code of Laws (533)Laws (533)

Rebuilding program in Rebuilding program in ConstantinopleConstantinople

The Hagia Sophia (537)The Hagia Sophia (537)

A. Byzantine Empire A. Byzantine Empire (cont)(cont)

The HippodromeThe Hippodrome Justinian’s wife Justinian’s wife

Theodora—life and Theodora—life and influenceinfluence

Autocratic nature of Autocratic nature of the Eastern the Eastern EmperorsEmperors

Selection of the Selection of the Emperor and his Emperor and his administrationadministration

A. Byzantine Empire A. Byzantine Empire (cont)(cont)

Warfare and the Warfare and the enemies of the Empireenemies of the Empire

-- “Greek fire”-- “Greek fire”

--Ottoman Turks capture --Ottoman Turks capture Constantinople (1453)Constantinople (1453)

Tension between the Tension between the eastern and western eastern and western churches over iconschurches over icons

Solemn, otherworldly Solemn, otherworldly preoccupationpreoccupation

B. Islam and the Islamic B. Islam and the Islamic WorldWorld

The life of Muhammad The life of Muhammad (570-632 AD)(570-632 AD)

The Koran: “recitings”The Koran: “recitings” ““Islam”: submission to Islam”: submission to

AllahAllah The “Hegira” or flight to The “Hegira” or flight to

Medina (622)Medina (622) The notion of “jihad”The notion of “jihad” The Ka’ba and the Black The Ka’ba and the Black

StoneStone

B. Islam and the Islamic B. Islam and the Islamic World (cont)World (cont)

The relationship of The relationship of men to womenmen to women

No distinction No distinction between clergy and between clergy and laitylaity

The five pillars of The five pillars of IslamIslam

Differences from Differences from ChristianityChristianity

B. Islam and the Islamic B. Islam and the Islamic World (cont)World (cont)

Successors to Successors to MuhammadMuhammad

--Shi’ites vs. Sunnies--Shi’ites vs. Sunnies The Muslim Empire The Muslim Empire

(632-732 AD)(632-732 AD) Muslim intellectual and Muslim intellectual and

scientific achievementsscientific achievements

--studied the Greco---studied the Greco-Roman classicsRoman classics

--the number “0”--the number “0”

C. The Kingdom of the C. The Kingdom of the FranksFranks

(1) Germanic Culture(1) Germanic Culture

Centrality of the tribal Centrality of the tribal unit or familyunit or family

The leadership of the The leadership of the war chieftainwar chieftain

Characteristics of Characteristics of Germanic lawGermanic law

-- “wergeld”-- “wergeld”

--trial by ordeal--trial by ordeal Germanic treatment of Germanic treatment of

womenwomen

(1) Germanic Culture (1) Germanic Culture (cont)(cont)

Blending of Blending of Germanic and Germanic and Roman cultureRoman culture

The decline of town The decline of town life and tradelife and trade

The role of forests in The role of forests in Germanic thinkingGermanic thinking

Settlement patternsSettlement patterns

(1) Germanic Culture (1) Germanic Culture (cont)(cont)

Views of DiseaseViews of Disease Treatment of DiseaseTreatment of Disease

--Eye Disease--Eye Disease--Frequent Stomach --Frequent Stomach DisordersDisorders-- “Leech”-- “Leech”--Broken bones, wounds --Broken bones, wounds and burnsand burns

Cavities below the gum Cavities below the gum line were prevalentline were prevalent

The role of monasteries The role of monasteries in providing medical carein providing medical care

(2) The Merovingian (2) The Merovingian DynastyDynasty

The Franks: least The Franks: least romanized and most romanized and most orthodox of the orthodox of the Germanic tribesGermanic tribes--Clovis: 1--Clovis: 1stst Frankish Frankish KingKing

The struggles and The struggles and ineffectiveness of the ineffectiveness of the Merovingian kingsMerovingian kings

The “Mayor of the The “Mayor of the Palace”Palace”

Charles Martel’s defeat Charles Martel’s defeat of the Muslims at Toursof the Muslims at Tours

(3) The Carolingian (3) The Carolingian Dynasty and Dynasty and CharlemagneCharlemagne

Pepin the Short, the first Pepin the Short, the first Carolingian king (751)Carolingian king (751)--The “Donation of --The “Donation of Pepin”Pepin”

Pepin’s son, Charles the Pepin’s son, Charles the Great, or Charlemagne Great, or Charlemagne (768-814)(768-814)

Charlemagne’s military Charlemagne’s military exploitsexploits

Continued reciprocal Continued reciprocal relationship with the relationship with the PopePope

(3) Charlemagne (cont)(3) Charlemagne (cont)

Crowned Holy Crowned Holy Roman Emperor Roman Emperor (Christmas Day, 800)(Christmas Day, 800)

Charlemagne’s Charlemagne’s palace city of Aachenpalace city of Aachen

Charlemagne’s Charlemagne’s challenges in challenges in administering such a administering such a vast empirevast empire----missi dominicimissi dominici

(3) Charlemagne (cont)(3) Charlemagne (cont)

The Carolingian The Carolingian RenaissanceRenaissance

--Alcuin of York--Alcuin of York The Disintegration of the The Disintegration of the

Carolingian EmpireCarolingian Empire The Treaty of Verdun The Treaty of Verdun

(843)(843)

--Louis the German--Louis the German

--Charles the Bald--Charles the Bald

--Lothair--Lothair

II. The “Dark Ages” (9II. The “Dark Ages” (9thth and 10and 10thth Centuries) Centuries)

Agricultural Difficulties Agricultural Difficulties and Violenceand Violence

Population DeclinePopulation Decline Muslim and Magyar Muslim and Magyar

invadersinvaders Chief Threat = VikingsChief Threat = Vikings Viking strategy of terrorViking strategy of terror Effectiveness of Viking Effectiveness of Viking

boatsboats The extent of Viking The extent of Viking

raidsraids

III. The Role of the III. The Role of the ChurchChurch

A. Physical ProtectionA. Physical Protection

Offered safe haven to Offered safe haven to neighborsneighbors

Some churchmen were Some churchmen were renowned fightersrenowned fighters

Monasteries preserved Monasteries preserved important arts of important arts of manufacturingmanufacturing

Popes fill political Popes fill political vacuum in the westvacuum in the west--Leo I and Attila the Hun--Leo I and Attila the Hun--Gregory I and the --Gregory I and the LombardsLombards

B. Preservers of Greco-B. Preservers of Greco-Roman CultureRoman Culture

Significance of copying Significance of copying manuscriptsmanuscripts

The role of Pope The role of Pope Gregory IGregory I--had been secular --had been secular Roman administratorRoman administrator

Realized early on that no Realized early on that no help would be help would be forthcoming from the forthcoming from the Byzantine EmpireByzantine Empire

Church split in 1054Church split in 1054

C. Spiritual ProtectionC. Spiritual Protection

Superstitious, illiterate Superstitious, illiterate ageage

The Church was the The Church was the door to salvationdoor to salvation

Seven Deadly sins: Seven Deadly sins: pride, envy, anger, pride, envy, anger, greed, lust, gluttony, and greed, lust, gluttony, and slothsloth

Seven sacramentsSeven sacraments Sacraments of ordination Sacraments of ordination

and extreme unctionand extreme unction

C. Spiritual Protection C. Spiritual Protection (cont)(cont)

Sacrament of MatrimonySacrament of Matrimony Sacrament of the Sacrament of the

EucharistEucharist-- “transubstantiation”-- “transubstantiation”

Duties and categories of Duties and categories of the clergythe clergy-- “regular” vs. “secular” -- “regular” vs. “secular” clergyclergy

The Sacrament of The Sacrament of PenancePenance-- “Purgatory”-- “Purgatory”

C. Spiritual Protection C. Spiritual Protection (cont)(cont)

The Power of “Holy” The Power of “Holy” IntercessorsIntercessors

Veneration of the SaintsVeneration of the Saints Shift in the pattern of Shift in the pattern of

sainthood into the Middle sainthood into the Middle AgesAges

The growing importance The growing importance of female saintsof female saints--In 1100, only 10% of --In 1100, only 10% of saints were female; by saints were female; by 1515thth Century, 29% were Century, 29% were femalefemale

C. Spiritual Protection C. Spiritual Protection (cont)(cont)

The cultural power of The cultural power of calling on saints for calling on saints for helphelp

The Supernatural The Supernatural power of Relicspower of Relics

Christian burial near Christian burial near the Church altarthe Church altar

IV. Feudalism and IV. Feudalism and VassalageVassalage

A. Physical ProtectionA. Physical Protection

The origins of feudalismThe origins of feudalism The lord as the central The lord as the central

figure of the feudal figure of the feudal systemsystem

The expense of medieval The expense of medieval warfarewarfare

Contractual nature of Contractual nature of feudalismfeudalism

The local and emotional The local and emotional nature of feudalismnature of feudalism

A. Physical Protection A. Physical Protection (cont)(cont)

The lord’s obligations to The lord’s obligations to his vassalhis vassal

----fieffief The vassal’s obligations The vassal’s obligations

to his lordto his lord

----scutagescutage The complexity of feudal The complexity of feudal

relationshipsrelationships

-- “subinfeudation”-- “subinfeudation”

----liege lordliege lord

B. Life in a Medieval B. Life in a Medieval CastleCastle

William Manchester’s William Manchester’s A World Lit by FireA World Lit by Fire and Joseph and and Joseph and Frances Gies’ Frances Gies’ Life in Life in a Medieval Castlea Medieval Castle

Interior and Interior and furnishings of the furnishings of the castlecastle

Servants in the Servants in the castlecastle

B. Life in a Medieval B. Life in a Medieval Castle (cont)Castle (cont)

Daily routine and diningDaily routine and dining The marriage of The marriage of

aristocratic womenaristocratic women The life of aristocratic The life of aristocratic

womenwomen The church’s view of The church’s view of

womenwomen Women and sexWomen and sex The early life of young The early life of young

noblemennoblemen The ceremony of The ceremony of

knighthoodknighthood

B. Life in a Medieval B. Life in a Medieval Castle (cont)Castle (cont)

The travels of the The travels of the young knightyoung knight

Tournaments and Tournaments and JoustsJousts

Tension surrounding Tension surrounding the life of a young the life of a young knightknight

The ideal of chivalryThe ideal of chivalry-- “troubadours”-- “troubadours”

V. ManorialismV. Manorialism

A. FunctionA. Function

Western Europe was Western Europe was much more rural than much more rural than Eastern EuropeEastern Europe

Manorialism was the Manorialism was the economic foundation of economic foundation of feudal societyfeudal society

The “open field” system The “open field” system of medieval farmingof medieval farming

Origin and status of Origin and status of serfdomserfdom

By 800 AD, nearly 60% By 800 AD, nearly 60% of western Europe was of western Europe was enserfedenserfed

A. Function (cont)A. Function (cont)

Composition and Composition and administration of the administration of the manormanor

““Custom of the Manor”Custom of the Manor” Tax obligations of the Tax obligations of the

serfsserfs

-- “banalities”-- “banalities” Other limitations on the Other limitations on the

activities of the serfsactivities of the serfs

B. Life in a Medieval B. Life in a Medieval VillageVillage

Living conditions of the Living conditions of the serfsserfs

Striking lack of privacy Striking lack of privacy for family membersfor family members

Variety of dietary options Variety of dietary options for peasantsfor peasants

The central role of bread The central role of bread in the peasant diet—80% in the peasant diet—80% of caloric contentof caloric content

B. Life in a Medieval B. Life in a Medieval Village (cont)Village (cont)

Types of meals eaten by Types of meals eaten by villagersvillagers

Beer: the universal drink Beer: the universal drink of northern Europeof northern Europe

Accidents as a way of Accidents as a way of life in manorial villageslife in manorial villages

The role of women and The role of women and village clothingvillage clothing

Medieval view of childrenMedieval view of children

B. Life in a Medieval B. Life in a Medieval Village (cont)Village (cont)

Center of manorial life Center of manorial life was the village churchwas the village church

Village church servicesVillage church services Life was short and Life was short and

frightening for village frightening for village peasantspeasants

Village life was strictly Village life was strictly hierarchicalhierarchical

Village life was also very Village life was also very communalcommunal

Village life was always Village life was always very localvery local