Transcript Medieval Pwr Pt SCHS-1

Byzantine Empire
Byzantine Basics
• Continuation of Eastern portion of
the Roman Empire (the West fell
in 476 to Germanic invasions)
• Ruled by caesaropapist ruler
(combining secular and religious
authority in one person)
Compare and Contrast:
The West (Europe) v. Byzantines
• West = breakdown of Roman
society, law, custom, language
• Byzantine East = retain Roman laws,
customs, urban-centered life, &
Greek language
• Both = Christian, BUT
– Great Schism = 1054; final division
between Eastern Orthodox (led by
patriarch) and Roman Catholic (led by
pope) Christianity
Byzantine Achievements
• Capital at Constantinople =
very cosmopolitan
• Hagia Sophia Cathedral (“Scared
Wisdom”)
• Emperor Justinian (500s CE): “The
Lawgiver” (systematically compiled Roman
Law); re-conquered parts of Italy & N.
Africa in Western Rome (draining the
economy, unfortunately!)
• Empress Theordora- Co-Leader?
• Art = Religious Icons
• Converted Russia to Orthodox Christianity
Byzantium Under Pressure
• Invaded by Abbasid Islamic forces in
late 600’s
• Strong gov’t control of economy
(capital enriched at expense of rural
areas)
• Conquered in 1453 by Ottoman Turks
(Central Asians converted to Islam)
The Middle Ages: 476-1450
Europe in the 500s CE
Effects of the Roman Empire’s Collapse
-Population reduced by over 25%
-Lack of centralization in government – strong local
elites took control of smaller areas
- Christianity provided limited unity throughout
Europe
- New Germanic rulers of disunited kingdoms tried
to retain some aspects of Rome (they admired it!)
- Germanic people become the “dominant peoples”
The Medieval Catholic Church
Roman Catholic church filled the vacuum of the
collapse of Roman Empire
Monasticism: monks & nuns living together in
organized communities
 poverty, chastity, and obedience.
 provided schools
 monasteries = inns, hospitals, refuge
 libraries & copying books- seen as a
religious calling
 monks  missionaries
A Medieval Monk’s Day
The Power of the Medieval Church
church controlled 1/3 of the land
in Western Europe.
 tithe  1/10 tax given to the
church.
Canon law: The Law of the Church
Pope Crowned Charlemagne
Holy Roman Emperor: Dec. 25, 800
-First in western Europe
to have the title emperor
in over 300 years
-Symbolizes the papal
authority over secular
authority
-Charlemagne used the
church and authorities to
accomplish
Christianization
-Europe briefly
experienced some unity
under his rule
The Government Structure of
Medieval Western Europe
Feudalism
• A political and social system based on
loyalty, land, and military service.
-Occurs due to weakness in the centralized
government
- As central authority breaks down, people look
to local leaders for protection
90%
Serf: Landless peasant who offers labor in
exchange for protection
Fief: A grant of land in return for a pledge to
provide military service
The Economic System of
Medieval Western Europe
Manorialism
• A localized economic system
• Needed products were made on a
large land estate called a Manor
• Barter was common
• Trade was not as prominent
Life on the Medieval Manor
Serfs at work
The Late Middle Ages
-Increasing stability and security
in Western Europe
-Climate change (warmer!)
-Population grew from 35 million
people to 80 million people by
1340
-Growth of trade due to
agricultural expansion
Changes During the Late Middle Ages
• Populations of cities and towns grew
• New sources of power (wind &
water) increased production
• Trade picked up in the
Mediterranean
• Groups of people organized
themselves into guilds
• Nunnerys
Medieval Guilds
Guild
Halls
Associations of Craftsmen controlling trades (ex:
shoe makers, stained glass makers, etc.)
 Controlled
membership
apprentice  journeyman  master
craftsman
 Controlled quality of the product & prices
• The Pope can be judged by no one
• The Roman church has never erred
and never will err till the end of time
• The pope alone can depose and
restore bishops
• He alone can call general councils and
authorize canon law
• He can depose emperors
• He can absolve subjects from their
allegiance
• All princes should kiss his feet
Popes vs. Kings
• Relationship between the Church
and State became more tense as
Kings began to centralize control
• Pope Gregory VII vs. Henry IV of
France (HRE)
• Investiture Controversy
– Issues over appointments
– Papacy over the crown?
Magna Carta, 1215:
ENGLAND
 English Kings had
the most difficulty
centralizing control
“Great Charter”
 kings had to
consult a council of
advisors to tax
 Rights of NOBILTY
Christian Crusades
Pope Urban II: Preaching a Crusade
-Series of “Holy Wars” with
a goal to recapture the Holy
Lands (E. Mediterranean)
from Muslims
-Viewed as being done at
God’s command and
authorized by the Pope
-Results: Europe came into
contact with more advanced
civilizations to the East,
trade picked up, more luxury
goods flowed into Europe
Feudalism
Structure