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The Latin West

The Latin West. The Latin West. In western Europe, Latin Christianity converts the peoples of many tribes (Goths early on, but other Germanic peoples later: the Magyars and the Vikings) 5 th -11 th century: missionary work and military expedition Muslim pockets in Spain and Sicily

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The Latin West

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  1. The Latin West

  2. The Latin West • In western Europe, Latin Christianity converts the peoples of many tribes (Goths early on, but other Germanic peoples later: the Magyars and the Vikings) • 5th-11th century: missionary work and military expedition • Muslim pockets in Spain and Sicily • Isolated Jewish communities

  3. The Latin West • 1. The birth of Latin Christendom • New Germanic kingdoms = new kind of society • Borrowed from Roman law, but also traditional rule • Unification based in a. Loyalty / Kinship (versus citizenship; b. Common faith (links rulers with subjects); c. Common language (Latin: for worship, learning, diplomacy) • These kingdoms appear in Anglo-Saxon England, Frankish Gaul, Visigothic Spain, Lombard Italy

  4. The Latin West • 1. The birth of Latin Christendom • New Germanic kingdoms = new kind of society • England • Far enough away from Rome that civilization collapses further than other places (5th c. Angle and Saxon invasions define their history) • Fragmentation due to war of Angles and Saxons vs. Roman Britons till 750; 8th c. the three warring kingdoms that dominate are Mercia, Wessex, and Northumbria

  5. The Latin West • 1. The birth of Latin Christendom • New Germanic kingdoms = new kind of society • England • Gaul (France) • 3rd-7th c. Franks produced largest and most powerful kingdom in western Europe • Merovingian Franks in power first (Childeric 460-481; his son Clovis 481-511) • Carolingian Franks take over in the 8th c. (Charles Martel 719-741; his son Pepin the Short 741-768 becomes king of the Franks relying on the Pope’s legitimization)

  6. The Latin West • 1. The birth of Latin Christendom • New Germanic kingdoms = new kind of society • England • Gaul (France) • Spain • Visigoths (mostly Arians); they don’t allow the Franks to conquer Spain • Muslims invade in 711; only in the northwestern part of the peninsula are some able to keep Christianity alive

  7. The Latin West • 1. The birth of Latin Christendom • New Germanic kingdoms = new kind of society • England • Gaul (France) • Spain • Italy • Germanic Lombards (=“long-beards”) control northern and central peninsula 568-774. • Invaded Italy due to weakness of Byzantine attempts at reconquest • Different ethnic tribes: led to lack of unity and strength to come • Constant fight against Byzantine forces and internal strife; eventually overcome by the Franks (Charlemagne)

  8. The Latin West • 2. The spread of Latin Christianity • A spread through missionary work (polytheism and Arianism to monotheism and orthodoxy/catholicity); conventional religion in the cities (the preaching of the bishops); and monastic mission (monasteries become the centers of intellectual life, a change from aristocratic Rome)

  9. The Latin West • 2. The spread of Latin Christianity • A spread through missionary work; conventional religion; and monasticism • Papacy • Byzantium still has political authority in theory • Popes handle local affairs as Byzantium has some violent problems • Gregory the Great (590-604) • No relief from Constantinople • Therefore diplomacy with western kings (friendly ones) • Paves spread of Christianity in Germany and England • Trains clergymen • All this sets the stage for increase in papal power • By 8th c., they seek protection from Frankish kings, no longer Constantinople

  10. The Latin West • 2. The spread of Latin Christianity • A spread through missionary work; conventional religion; and monasticism • Papacy • Irish and Anglo-Saxons • 431: missionaries in Ireland • Patrick (+492) converts all of Ireland • No cities in Ireland; monasteries train the country parsons • Columba (521-597) in Scotland • Missionaries use cross-cultural methods (temples and traditions; calendar conventions)

  11. The Latin West • 2. The spread of Latin Christianity • A spread through missionary work; conventional religion; and monasticism • Papacy • Irish and Anglo-Saxons • Monasticism • Vigorous from the time of Benedict (480-547) and his Rule • Reading the Bible and the classics: a contemplative life • At least two rooms: scriptorium and library • Bede (+735): History of the English Church and People • Promoted some literacy in their domains (with administrative benefits)

  12. The Latin West • 3. Carolingians • Merovingians give way to the Franks, 751 • Pepin’s sons share the kingdom until 771; Charlemagne survives; becomes mightiest ruler in western Europe. • Constant warfare, esp. against polytheistic German tribes: a. spread Christianity; b. protect borders; c. satisfy followers (aristocracy) with new lands and plunder • Result: network of subservient kingdoms and tribute • Coronation 12/25/800ad: an imitation of Rome, and an obligation to protect the Roman Popes; Frankish protection = legitimacy of divine sanction

  13. The Latin West • 3. Carolingians • Merovingians give way to the Franks, 751 • Charlemagne • Carolingian empire • Lack army, navy, civil servants, good roads, communication, money economy … so it’s not exactly Roman empire reborn. • Contrast Byzantium and Muslim caliphates • Result: personal forms of rule rather than institutional ones • Written decrees instead of oral ones (Alcuin (732-804) becomes important) • Administration by “counties” (hence “count”) • Church provides structure for adminstration: Carolingians appoint (and sell) offices

  14. The Latin West • 4. After Charlemagne • Louis the Pious inherits Charlemagne’s throne in 814 • Divides kingdom among his three sons (Treaty of Verdun 843, after years of fighting between Charles the Bald +877 [West Francia], Lothar +855 [Middle Kingdom], Louis the German +876 [East Francia]) • Laws of inheritance further fragment holdings in succeeding generations; Carolingians die out by 987. • Post-Carolingian Europe fragmented as local aristocrats fill the vacuum, but are vulnerable to new invaders.

  15. The Latin West • 5. Invasion and Recovery • By 900, Latin Christianity is limited to Frankish lands, Italy, parts of Germany under Carolingian rule, British Isles, and a little bit of Spain. 9th-10th c. invasions come from polytheistic tribes (Vikings and Magyars) and Muslims (from Africa to Italy); missionary activity continues to convert the West to Christianity.

  16. The Latin West • 5. Invasion and Recovery • Invaders • Magyars and Vikings; 8th-11th centuries. • Some looted and returned home; others settled • Magyars entered from the Eurasian Steppe; plundered and enslaved; finally stopped by Otto I (955) • Finally Christianized (Latin), Christmas Day 1000ad • Vikings = Norsemen = Northmen (Danish, Norwegian, Swedish • Plundered for silver • Eventually wintered on the continental and insular shores; creating communities (and armies): created Viking settlements like Normandy (the conquerors of the English) • Cultural impact: mythology and literature (cf. Beowulf)

  17. The Latin West • 5. Invasion and Recovery • Invaders • Magyars and Vikings; 8th-11th centuries. • Some looted and returned home; others settled • Magyars entered from the Eurasian Steppe; plundered and enslaved; finally stopped by Otto I (955) • Finally Christianized (Latin), Christmas Day 1000ad

  18. The Latin West • 5. Invasion and Recovery • Invaders • Magyars and Vikings; 8th-11th centuries. • Vikings = Norsemen = Northmen (Danish, Norwegian, Swedish • Plundered for silver • Eventually wintered on the continental and insular shores; creating communities (and armies): created Viking settlements like Normandy (the conquerors of the English) • Cultural impact: mythology and literature (cf. Beowulf) • 870: Iceland; 10th c. sagas of Eric the Red etc. • 10th c. Scandinavian kings control the raiders; convert to Christianity and bring their constituency with them

  19. The Latin West • 5. Invasion and Recovery • Invaders • Rulers • Carolingian rule disintegrates, leading to rule by local warlords • Provide protection in a period of anarchy • Kinship and loyalty as virtues give way to dominion of lords over vassals • Vassalage – the personal relationship often came with a grant of land (the fief) • Fief could supply income for weapons and horses, necessary for a knight (12th c. term) • This connection between the fief and the lord-vassal relationship is what we call FEUDALISM

  20. The Latin West • 5. Invasion and Recovery • Invaders • Rulers • Rulers fill the void left by kings: judges over property, inheritance, sentencing criminals, etc. • The vassalage relationship continued down the clientela pyramid (recall clients and patrons from ancient Rome) • Some lords could have competing holdings of land, and some vassals could conceivably have loyalty to more than one lord • Women could inherit (but no military service) • Vassals owe service, including military service, advice, judgment of peers, travel room and board, certain fees, ransom

  21. The Latin West • 5. Invasion and Recovery • Invaders • Rulers • Being king in such an economy was difficult: lords are independent-minded, and feudalism is more real in a local and everyday way than the relationship of king and subject • Loyalty paid off for some lords and the kings who pulled the strings: they were given royal prerogatives by kings (rights to receive fines, collect taxes, etc.: “feudal kingship”) • The necessary myth of the sacred nature of kingship allowed many to hold sway over the lords of the land (with the help of the clergy)

  22. The Latin West • 5. Invasion and Recovery • Invaders • Rulers • East Francia (German empire) 10th-11th c. • Germanic tribes, led by a Frankish official (duke) till 919 • Dukes of Saxony were kings after this; sought to acquire other duchies, appointed family to high church offices • Greatest of the Saxon kings: Otto I (the great) 936-973 • Supported missionary work in Scandinavia and Slavic lands • Pope crowned him in 962 • German empire in 1030’s: Germanic duchies, northern Italy, Burgundy (collectively known as “Holy Roman Empire”) • Patronized literati, a period known as the “Ottonian Renaissance”

  23. The Latin West • 5. Invasion and Recovery • Invaders • Rulers • East Francia (German empire) 10th-11th c. • West Francia (France) 10th-11th c. • Capetians take over after the Carolingians, 987. • Began around Paris (Hugh Capet’s feudal domain); under his rule, all of West Francia becomes known as “France” • Elevated as “king of West Francia” at a ceremony with prayers from the Archbishop: a precedent of secular and religious synergy (protection and legitimization) • Robert II the Pious, Hugh’s son, crowned shortly after his own coronation; miraculously heals skin diseases with “the king’s touch”

  24. The Latin West • 5. Invasion and Recovery • Invaders • Rulers • East Francia (German empire) 10th-11th c. • West Francia (France) 10th-11th c. • England 10th-11th c. • Extensive damage by Vikings; Alfred the Great (king of Wessex) defeats them in 879 and establishes law code • Alfred and successors cooperate with nobility; broad base of support in local units of government (shires) • Monarchy also enjoys support of the Church • Inspires literacy (learning Latin); A-S and Latin literature flourish under Alfred (Anglo-Saxon Chronicle is an impt history) • Norman invasion 1066 connects England and the continent (William vs. Harold)

  25. The Latin West • 5. Invasion and Recovery • Invaders • Rulers • Conversion • Kings and chiefs converted, and then their people • Monks came after, and Christian princes established new bishoprics (these become cultural centers, attracting members of the upper classes) • Conversion compels tribes to abandon polygamy • 14th c.: polytheism disappears in Scandinavia • New bishoprics in Slavic lands (Poland, Bohemia, Hungary) ensure Latin Christianity there (instead of Eastern)

  26. The Latin West • 6. The Crusades • Origins • Mid-11th century Seljuk Turks converted to Islam and pressured Byzantine empire • Alexius Comnenus (Byzantine emperor) requested military assistance • Armed pilgrimage to the Holy Land begins with Pope Urban II (1088-1095) preaching the news that Muslims in the East (Palestine) were persecuting Christians and ransacking holy places (pilgrimage sites) • Mission: take, retake, and protect Christian Jerusalem (11th-13th centuries) • Instead of Western mercenaries, Alexius receives a volunteer army of 100,000 who don’t exactly want to help their Byzantine brothers • Peter’s People’s Crusade (poor and homeless) • Pope Urban’s sermon on penance: a confusion of pilgrims and Crusaders: armed pilgrims who receive special rewards from the Church • Some join knightly orders (quasi-monastic): e.g. Templars: end up exercising political influence and gaining wealth • Other reasons to go to war: promise of booty, piety, population of young men of fighting age

  27. The Latin West • 6. The Crusades • Origins • Warfare • First Crusade: 1095-1099 successful due to Muslim weakness and Christian strength: Arabs were already fighting Turks; Shi’ites and Sunnis were divided • Christians establish “Latin Principalities” (fortresses in the East); Muslims captured Edessa leading to 2nd Crusade • Second Crusade: 1147-1149 failed in the East; succeeded in the West (King of Portugal retakes Lisbon from Muslims) • 1187 Sultan of Egypt and Syria Saladin recaptures Jerusalem; Third Crusade: 1189-1192 assembles great army, led by most powerful kings in Europe: Frederick Barbarossa (German emperor), Richard the Lion-Heart (king of England), Philip Augustus (king of France) • Frederick drowned on the way there; Philip went home; Richard negotiated a truce with Saladin (then got kidnapped)

  28. The Latin West • 6. The Crusades • Origins • Warfare • Significance • Huge waste of time, money, and human life • Expansion of trade and economic contacts • Profit for Italian cities (Genoa, Pisa, Venice) • Continuing ideal of the Crusader (age of exploration)

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