PeriodizationPeriodizationPeriodizationPeriodization

Early Middle Ages: 500 – 1000

High Middle Ages: 1000 – 1250

Late Middle Ages: 1250 - 1500

Europe in the 6cEurope in the 6cEurope in the 6cEurope in the 6c

Charlemagne: 742 to 814Charlemagne: 742 to 814Charlemagne: 742 to 814Charlemagne: 742 to 814

Charlemagne’s EmpireCharlemagne’s EmpireCharlemagne’s EmpireCharlemagne’s Empire

Pope Crowned CharlemagnePope Crowned CharlemagneHoly Roman Emperor: Dec. Holy Roman Emperor: Dec.

25, 80025, 800

Pope Crowned CharlemagnePope Crowned CharlemagneHoly Roman Emperor: Dec. Holy Roman Emperor: Dec.

25, 80025, 800

The Carolingian RenaissanceThe Carolingian RenaissanceThe Carolingian RenaissanceThe Carolingian Renaissance

Carolingian MinisculeCarolingian MinisculeCarolingian MinisculeCarolingian Miniscule

Charlemagne’s Empire Charlemagne’s Empire Collapses:Collapses:

Treaty of Verdun, 843Treaty of Verdun, 843

Charlemagne’s Empire Charlemagne’s Empire Collapses:Collapses:

Treaty of Verdun, 843Treaty of Verdun, 843

FeudalismFeudalismFeudalismFeudalismA political, economic, and social system based on loyalty and military service.

Pope Urban II: Preaching a Pope Urban II: Preaching a CrusadeCrusade

Pope Urban II: Preaching a Pope Urban II: Preaching a CrusadeCrusade

Setting Out on CrusadeSetting Out on CrusadeSetting Out on CrusadeSetting Out on Crusade

Christian Crusades: East and Christian Crusades: East and WestWest

Christian Crusades: East and Christian Crusades: East and WestWest

Holy Roman EmpireHoly Roman Empire

Holy Roman EmpireHoly Roman Empire• Not necessarily Holy, but deferred to Not necessarily Holy, but deferred to

and “protected” the Popeand “protected” the Pope

• Not necessarily Roman, but GermanNot necessarily Roman, but German

• Not necessarily an Empire, but a Not necessarily an Empire, but a collection of German “Principalities” collection of German “Principalities” (from “Prince”)(from “Prince”)

• Christianity the unifying force all over Christianity the unifying force all over EuropeEurope

• ““Excommunication” and “Interdict” Excommunication” and “Interdict” kept kings and princes in linekept kings and princes in line

Holy Roman EmpireHoly Roman Empire• Otto the GreatOtto the Great

– Used clergy to offset power of nobles. Used clergy to offset power of nobles. Built up monasteries and allied with Built up monasteries and allied with abbots.abbots.

– Crowned King in 936, crowned emperor Crowned King in 936, crowned emperor in 962 after invasion of Italyin 962 after invasion of Italy

• Henry IVHenry IV– Lay investiture problems – banned by Lay investiture problems – banned by

Pope in 1075Pope in 1075– Concordat of Worms – veto power of Concordat of Worms – veto power of

PopePope

Frederick I “Barbarossa”Frederick I “Barbarossa”• First to call lands “Holy Roman First to call lands “Holy Roman

Empire” after elected by German Empire” after elected by German princesprinces

• Invaded Italy’s rich cities; merchants Invaded Italy’s rich cities; merchants and Pope vs Barbarossaand Pope vs Barbarossa

• 1176 – crossbow-wielding Lombard 1176 – crossbow-wielding Lombard League soldiers at Legnano League soldiers at Legnano defeated Feudal Knights – 1defeated Feudal Knights – 1stst time! time!

• Weakening of “king” in Germany, but Weakening of “king” in Germany, but strengthening of lands in France and strengthening of lands in France and England…England…

The Rise of European The Rise of European Monarchies:Monarchies:

EnglandEngland

The Rise of European The Rise of European Monarchies:Monarchies:

EnglandEngland

William the Conqueror:William the Conqueror:Battle of Hastings, 1066Battle of Hastings, 1066

(Bayeaux Tapestry)(Bayeaux Tapestry)

William the Conqueror:William the Conqueror:Battle of Hastings, 1066Battle of Hastings, 1066

(Bayeaux Tapestry)(Bayeaux Tapestry)

Evolution of England’s Evolution of England’s Political SystemPolitical System

Evolution of England’s Evolution of England’s Political SystemPolitical System

Henry I:

William’s son.

set up a court system.

Exchequer dept. of royal finances.

Henry II:

established the principle of common law throughout the kingdom.

grand jury.

trial by jury.

Magna Carta, 1215Magna Carta, 1215Magna Carta, 1215Magna Carta, 1215

King John IKing John I

Runnymeade

“Great Charter”

monarchs were not above the law.

kings had to consult a council of advisors.

kings could not tax arbitrarily.

The Beginnings of the British The Beginnings of the British ParliamentParliament

The Beginnings of the British The Beginnings of the British ParliamentParliament

Great Council:

middle class merchants, townspeople [burgesses in Eng., bourgeoisie in Fr., burghers in Ger.] were added at the end of the 13c.

eventually called Parliament.

by 1400, two chambers evolved:

o House of Lords nobles & clergy.

o House of Commons knights and burgesses.

The Rise of European The Rise of European Monarchies:Monarchies:

France France

The Rise of European The Rise of European Monarchies:Monarchies:

France France

Feudalism meets MonarchyFeudalism meets Monarchy• English Kings (Plantagenets) own English Kings (Plantagenets) own

lands in France (Aquitaine, for lands in France (Aquitaine, for example).example).

• Are Kings of England vassals to the Are Kings of England vassals to the French Crown (Capetians)?French Crown (Capetians)?

• Tough questions, when England and Tough questions, when England and France are gaining identities as France are gaining identities as “Frenchmen” and “Englishmen” “Frenchmen” and “Englishmen” rather than “Franks” or “Angles” or rather than “Franks” or “Angles” or “Saxons” or “Burgundians.”“Saxons” or “Burgundians.”

Gothic Architectural StyleGothic Architectural StyleGothic Architectural StyleGothic Architectural Style

Pointed arches.

High, narrow vaults.

Thinner walls.

Flying buttresses.

Elaborate, ornate, airier interiors.

Stained-glass windows.

“Flying” Buttresses

Commerce and NationalismCommerce and Nationalism• Rise of a commercial class leads to a Rise of a commercial class leads to a

strengthening of trade and commerce.strengthening of trade and commerce.

• Goods and ideas exchanged, time of Goods and ideas exchanged, time of “revolution” away from feudalism and “revolution” away from feudalism and to nation-states with powerful to nation-states with powerful commercial interestscommercial interests

• Along with destruction of Feudal Along with destruction of Feudal chivalry on the Crusades, new trade chivalry on the Crusades, new trade means that change is on the wing!means that change is on the wing!

• Europeans ready to join the world.Europeans ready to join the world.

Medieval UniversitiesMedieval UniversitiesMedieval UniversitiesMedieval Universities

Medieval TradeMedieval TradeMedieval TradeMedieval Trade

Medieval GuildsMedieval GuildsMedieval GuildsMedieval Guilds

Guild Guild HallHall

Guild Guild HallHall

Commercial Monopoly:

Controlled membership apprentice journeyman master craftsman

Controlled quality of the product [masterpiece].

Controlled prices