Western Europe in the Western Europe in the “Dark Ages”“Dark Ages”

330 CE to 1000 CE330 CE to 1000 CE

Were they dark?Were they dark?

Dark Ages or Middle Dark Ages or Middle Ages?Ages?

Dark AgesDark Ages Gibbon’s book Gibbon’s book The The

Decline and Fall of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire Roman Empire (1788)(1788) set the toneset the tone

Roman/ Greek Roman/ Greek civilization was bestcivilization was best

Barbarians were Barbarians were forces of darknessforces of darkness

No culture or unified No culture or unified society in Europesociety in Europe

Middle AgesMiddle Ages Newer understandingNewer understanding Medium aevium Medium aevium – latin – latin

for middle agefor middle age– Source of English word Source of English word

medievalmedieval Seen as a time of Seen as a time of

change rather than change rather than declinedecline

Society is fragmented – Society is fragmented – local cultures flourishlocal cultures flourish

Church and KingsChurch and Kings

ChurchChurch Was granted favours Was granted favours

by by Roman Roman Emperors/Kings Emperors/Kings – landland– exemption from taxesexemption from taxes– immunity in courtsimmunity in courts– positions in courtspositions in courts

In return church In return church helped kings secure helped kings secure control of territorycontrol of territory

KingsKings Got a supply of Got a supply of

educated educated administrators from administrators from ChurchChurch

In return kings would In return kings would enforce laws that enforce laws that prohibited other prohibited other religionsreligions

You scratch my back, I’ll scratch yours.

Monasticism Monasticism and Saintsand Saints

MonasteriesMonasteries grew 400 -700 CE grew 400 -700 CE – centres of education, literacy and centres of education, literacy and

learninglearning

Rule of St. Benedict Rule of St. Benedict – Reformed conduct Reformed conduct

SaintsSaints– performs miracles as evidence of a performs miracles as evidence of a

special relationship with Godspecial relationship with God– Must be canonized after deathMust be canonized after death

St. Augustine St. Augustine – wrote “Confessions” wrote “Confessions”

ideas of ethics, self knowledge, and the ideas of ethics, self knowledge, and the role of free will role of free will

– Wrote treatise allowing violence against Wrote treatise allowing violence against heretics – the “just war”heretics – the “just war”

MerovingiansMerovingiansLong Haired KingsLong Haired Kings

Clovis IClovis I - 481 CE - 481 CE – United Franks & expanded United Franks & expanded

territoryterritory– Converted to & spread Converted to & spread

Christianity Christianity – Built churches & monasteriesBuilt churches & monasteries

Salic LawSalic Law – Financial value to everyone Financial value to everyone – Trial by oath and ordealTrial by oath and ordeal

ArtArt– Metalwork, Cloisonné enamelMetalwork, Cloisonné enamel– Glasswork and ivory carvingsGlasswork and ivory carvings– Illuminated manuscriptsIlluminated manuscripts

Decline Decline – mid 7– mid 7thth century century– Kings became figureheadsKings became figureheads

Carolingian DynastyCarolingian Dynasty Charles Martel Charles Martel (the Hammer)(the Hammer)

– Mayor, not king Mayor, not king – More powerful than kingsMore powerful than kings– Expands empire of FranksExpands empire of Franks

Pepin the Short Pepin the Short (son of Martel)(son of Martel)

– Pope Leo declares him kingPope Leo declares him king– Pepin seizes land for PopePepin seizes land for Pope

now Papal statesnow Papal states

– Establishes Establishes Pope as King-makerPope as King-maker Kings as protectors of PapacyKings as protectors of Papacy

Charlemagne & Holy Roman Charlemagne & Holy Roman EmpireEmpire

Charlemagne – 771-Charlemagne – 771-814 CE814 CE– Restores Pope Leo III to Restores Pope Leo III to

powerpower– Leo crowns him Emperor Leo crowns him Emperor

of the Romans 800 CEof the Romans 800 CE

Holy Roman Empire Holy Roman Empire Includes much of Europe for 700 yearsIncludes much of Europe for 700 years

Charlemagne’s LegaciesCharlemagne’s Legacies

Church ReformsChurch Reforms– New liturgy & Latin Bible New liturgy & Latin Bible

translationstranslations– Sermons in vernacular Sermons in vernacular

– PreachingPreaching manualsmanuals

Impact Impact – Latin common language of empireLatin common language of empire– The most scholarship since RomeThe most scholarship since Rome

ScholarshipScholarship– Latin standard, new Latin standard, new

textbooks, new textbooks, new pronunciationpronunciation

– Carolingian Carolingian minisculeminiscule

Treaty of Verdun – 843 CE

End of the Holy Roman Empire1600 CE

After CharlemagneAfter Charlemagne

Slaves and SerfsSlaves and Serfs

SerfsSerfs– Rural slavesRural slaves– Provided labour for Provided labour for

land owner land owner – Received protection Received protection

from land ownerfrom land owner

Slaves Slaves – Conquered peoplesConquered peoples– Varied treatmentVaried treatment

Slave dress

Tapestry depicting serfs

WomenWomen

Active in Monastic Active in Monastic movementmovement

Radegund – Queen Radegund – Queen of Franks in 500sof Franks in 500s– Founded Founded

monasteries monasteries – Had a relic of the Had a relic of the

crosscross Irene – Emperor of Irene – Emperor of

Byzantium 780Byzantium 780

IberiaIberia 711 Moors 711 Moors

invade invade

Christian Christian reconquista reconquista

790-1250790-1250

British IslesBritish Isles Angles & Saxons invadeAngles & Saxons invade

Britons flee to Cornwall Britons flee to Cornwall and Wales -Arthur?and Wales -Arthur?

Alfred the Great 9Alfred the Great 9thth C C

Danes invade & settleDanes invade & settle

Venerable Bede 673Venerable Bede 673

Ireland saves civilizationIreland saves civilization

Vikings Vikings traders to pirates to settlers traders to pirates to settlers

Modern LanguagesModern Languages

Vernacular Vernacular languages develop languages develop written workswritten works

Old EnglishOld English FrenchFrench GermanGerman Norse Norse

Oldest surviving textin Old English

Beowulf 7th – 10th century

The Dark Ages The Dark Ages

Were they really dark?Were they really dark?

Class DebateClass Debate