Lesson 10 HIS 2100The High and Late Middle Ages

Announcements1. Attendance is mandatory2. Bringing your textbook and notebook to class is

mandatory3. The final exam is scheduled for April 25th, two

weeks from today. Content will include Romans and Chapter 7.

Chronology

Consider: The geography; new relationships between political powers; increase in population; changing economy; influence of Christianity upon political leaders, monarchs and the general population.

There was a lull in international warring

Summary Population Grew significantly Long distance trading relationships were again

creating employment and prosperity New towns were being built Christian Papal power was increasing

Integration of life around the Christian belief system was the new way of life

Universities learning based on ancient learning methods were revived

Theologian-philosophers (religious academics) combined Greek philosophy and Christian beliefs into the new political order

Changing Times: c. 1100 Civilization was rejuvenated Latin Christianity (Greek – Roman) was coming

back with strength Creativity and vitality in all areas of society was on

the rise The educate elite from Britain to Sicily (on the

Mediterranean) were united by common ideals and belief in God

Thinking and philosophic ideas were now being generated by educational institutions funded by the church (schools and universities)

Contributing Factors to the 12th Century Awakening

1. Attacks of Vikings, Muslims, and Magyars ended Kings and Lords imposed more order and stability People began to live with less fear, travel more and

‘accept the differences of other people’ with less hostility and prejudice Is there a pattern to current time?

Communication between distant peoples increased with travel and trade

Language differences had to be overcome in order to create and maintain prosperity.

2. With increased trade, there was an increased need for effective communication. Look at the map. The people spoke different languages.

Increased wealth, from trade and business, made money available to build schools and pay teachers. Is there a pattern to current times?

Increased contact (positive relationships) with Islamic and Byzantine cultures in Spain, Sicily, and Italy provided the opportunity to translate into Latin, the ancient Greek works of literature. Is there a pattern to current time?

START HERE 3. Islamic civilizations provided a bridge by which

Europeans (Westerners) could better understand their own history How might this have contributed to even more positive

relationships?

4. Education was centered in monastic (monastery – religious) schools. If the religious order owned the schools, how might that

impact the evolution of society? Teachers were selected by the church, paid by the

church and taught the belief systems of the church How might this influenced the students (children and

young adults)?

The university was the focus of expanding intellectual life How is this different from Greek and Roman higher

education? Why was there a greater need for education?

Because of the renewed importance of law to manage business trade and politics, there was a need to increase the competency. Why would the leadership of churches and powerful

families want their people to be more competent and competitive?

Subjects included Grammar Rhetoric Logic Arithmetic Geometry Astronomy Medicine Music Church law and theology

Universities provided the opportunity for reasoned argument.

What is reasoned argument? Why is it important for civilization?The curriculum and texts being used were virtually the

same across Europe. This led to people becoming more alike in the ways they think and act. How might this be good? How might this be bad?

There is a continuity between universities today and medieval centres of learning, although they have changed, the evolution is clear

The Medieval World-View The Christian view: the creator defined the good

life This was different from Greco-Roman (Greek-Roman)

and modern scientific and secular (non-religious) In the Christian view, if the reason was not

explained by the creator (God), it was either, wrong or not a good reason

The good life was explained as ‘not the life we live in this world, but in a higher world, when we become one with God’

The explanations provide by the church and taught across Europe, gave meaning and value to life and death. Do you think that the only reason that the masses of

people followed the leadership of the church was that they had good explanations for the meaning of life?

Explaining Life: Spirit versus MatterSpirit

The world of the heavens, of grace and goodness A higher world of perfection Moral values The final destination of those who live according to the

rules as explained by the church

Matter The earth where we live A lower world of imperfection

Two set of laws existed One for the heavens and a second for the earth Below earth was hell, ruled by Satan and his evil spirits,

inhabited by the souls of those who have been damned Belief: Earth is the centre of the universe

(geocentric theory), not a planet, but that there were 7 planets that did revolve around earth

Christian professed that the goal of life is salvation, which could be achieved by following Christian beliefs which will lead to acceptance to the higher world, upon the end of your life on earth

What is heaven? Only humans are capable of entering heaven Christians adopted and taught ideas that Aristotle

had taught more than 1000 years earlier There are big differences between what is above

the moon (celestial bodies) and below the moon (terrestrial bodies)

Terrestrial bodies are made of earth, water, air and fire Changed form regularly – burn, decompose, molded

into different forms…

Celestial bodies are made of ‘ether’ (upper part of the sky), which is to good to be found on earth. Ether did not change and could not be destroyed.

Aristotle said that it was natural for celestial bodies to move eternally (forever) in uniform circles. This circular motion was considered a sign of perfection.

Aristotle also professed that it was natural for heavy bodies (stone) to fall downward and light objects (fire, smoke) to move upward toward the celestial world. THIS PROCESS WAS HOW THINGS FOUND THEIR NATURAL PLACE IN THE UNIVERSE

The Individual: Sinful but RedeemableChristian belief: God is perfect Humans are a wretched and sinfulBy way of the story of Adam and Eve, humans are shown to be

rebellious and presumptuous (believing that we already know everything)

1. Question. Do you think that in a time when people were ruled by force, chained and enslaved, that maybe they had a reason to be rebellious?

2. Question. Do you think that this human nature of ours to ask questions, may be the reason for our survival?

3. Question. Is asking a question or offering a different opinion on a way of life deserving of enslavement?

4. Question. Does the saying, ‘either you are with us or against us’ fit here and is it a good way to manage a civilization?

The Individual: Sinful but Redeemable (continued)

Humans are considered weak, egocentric and sinful, with evil as an intrinsic part of our personality.

God became a man and died so that human beings could be saved.

The universe is a hierarchy (authority from the top down) top down.

Medieval people gained a sense of security from the hierarchical order of the universe where the human position was clearly defined.

Being a sinner on earth was not forever because it is possible to be raised up the higher world unless you were a ‘heretic’

Heretic – definition – a person who has opinions that are different than the church or a person who disagrees with the faith or who chooses to not conform according to the prescribed ways

Question: Knowing the difficulties that humans faced in their daily lives, why do you think that this religious hierarchy may be comforting?

Hierarchy of Knowledge

Medieval philosophy, Science, and Law Medieval scholars tried to prove through Greek

reasoning and logic, what they already believed and preached as true God is immortal If you follow God’s teachings, you will ascend to

heaven Christian conservatives did not agree with the use

of Greek reasoning and logic to construct arguments that support Christian beliefs. Why?

Medieval philosophy, Science, and Law (continued)

They believed that if people were taught to reason that it would lead to

questioning miracles and other articles of faith Encourage disbelief in essential church teachings

The conservatives were correct! Renewed vitality to thinking encouraged questions about the

religion and its concept of nature and science Modern Western thought was created by thinkers

who refused to stop thinking, and agree with everything that the church told them to believe

Recovery of Roman Law Germanic customs, only some in writing, were

used to govern. Some, not many, elements of Roman law remained

as custom and practice, but the formal study of Roman law was gone until revived in Bologna, Italy in the 12th Century.

Recovery of Roman Law (continued)

The difference between Germanic law and Roman Law is that, Germanic law was tribal and top down (interpreted by

those in power) Roman law assumed the existence of universal

principles which made sense to an average human. It was also written down and taught to the population.

Roman law used rational analysis of evidence and judicial decisions based on rational procedures.

WHICH SET OF LAWS WOULD YOU PREFER TO BE GOVERNED BY, AND WHY?

Architecture and ChurchesTwo styles evolved in the middle ages.1. Romanesque. Dominated the 11th century, into the

12th. These buildings had huge walls to support very heavy stone roofs. The drawback was the small windows and lack of natural light inside.

2. Gothic. The development of new architectural design allowed for smaller walls to carry the weight of the roof and allow larger windows and more natural light. A benefit was in the beautiful stain glass pictures that told stories to those who could not read.

250 years of Latin Christendom was accompanied by economic and commercial growth, increasing agricultural production, increased population and a revitalized social life.

The result: Kings were more powerful and there was more order and security and the church has blended faith and reason.

What might be some problems that accompany success? Agricultural production could not keep up with the demand for

food With little knowledge of fertilizers and land conservation, the quality of

the topsoil was getting worse. A shortage of food from 1301 – 1314 existed and famine across Europe

between 1315 – 1317 People scavenged, people died and were left where they fell, to decay

and rot. Starvation and malnutrition were common for the rest of the century.

The Black (Bubonic) Plague Weakened by an already malnourished population,

Europe was vulnerable to the Black Plague which is thought to have struck Mongolia in 1331, travelled through Russia and to Sicily in 1347. An estimated 20 Million Europeans died (1/3rd of the

population). Church Leaders considered the plague as a divine

punishment for human sins. There was no cure. People left their sick children and parents to die. Panic led people to lawlessness and religious practices that

would have otherwise been thought insane People beat themselves and each other with sticks and whips in

an effort to please God, who they believed had sent the plague as punishment.

Art took the form of decaying flesh, open graves with worm eaten bodies, dancers made to appear as if they were dead and scenes of hell.

As in other dark times throughout history, a minority group was blamed. Who were they?

Jews were accused of poisoning the drinking water. Jews were massacred and burned to death.

With millions of deaths, prices of some goods decreased and some increased.

Peasant Protests – France and England In 1323 the nobility imposed Old Manorial

obligations on the free peasants. They revolted/fought against the soldiers who were plundering the country side. Where has this happened before, in history?

The peasants revolted for 5 years and were eventually beaten.

Similar revolts were occurring in England and France, with peasants being abused by aristocrats that believed they were superior, as decided by God.

The Hundred Years War was also taking place and making things worse.

The Hundred Years War: 1337 – 1453 English Kings ruled parts of France and later most of

northern France. English soldiers had the Longbow (weapon) which increased

their speed and efficiency at killing French soldiers. During periods of truce, soldiers roamed the French

countryside killing and stealing. Has this ever happened at other periods in history?

The English thought they were about to conquer all of France when a peasant girl, Joan of Ark (1412 – 1431) is credited with inspiring French troops to again “fight the good fight”.

She was captured, imprisoned, condemned as a heretic and a witch and burned at the stake.

During the Hundred Years War, French Kings introduced new taxes and spent the money to build professional and loyal armies which eventually led to their independence.

The introduction of gunpowder and heavy artillery led to the end of the war, resulted in the destruction of vast tracts of farmland and deaths of thousands of farmers.

Do you see a pattern between the wars of the previous 1000 years and those in 12th – 14th Centuries and it’s effects upon the people?

What are the common themes?Will this ever happen again?