Early Medieval Europe and the Western Church(600-1000)

1. Early Medieval Europe and the Western Church(600-1000) (http://nypdgaelicfootball.org/medieval.jpg)

2. Islam in Medieval Europe 1) The accept story to why Muslims invaded Spain is the following: and Christian chief named Julian went to Musa ibn Nusair, the governor of North Africa, with a plea of help to overthrow the Visigoth tyrant Roderick, ruler of Spain. (http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/islam/history/spain_2.shtml) 2) In 711 a raiding party of Arabs and Berbers, acting under the authority of Umayyad caliph in Syria, crosses the strait of Gibraltar and overturned the Kingdom of the Visigoths in Spain. (Bulliet 223) 3) The disunited Europeans where unable to stop the spread of the Muslims through out western Europe. (Bulliet 223) 4) They took over the Iberian Peninsula, and after they pushed of the Christians into the northern mountains, they moved into France. (Bulliet 223) 4) They occupied most of south coast and went as far as Tours (less then 150 miles away from the English Channel). (Bulliet 223) 5) After the Muslims conquered the Iberian Peninsula, they enterd what is now referred to as the Islamic “Golden Age” (http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/islam/history/spain_3.shtml) 6) During the “Golden Age” of Islam libraries , clloeges, oublic baths were established . Literature and arts such as poetry, and architecture flourished. (http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/islam/history/spain_3.shtml ) 7) This “golden Age” was also a period of great religious tolerance. Muslims, Christians, and Jews coexisted together. (http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/islam/history/spain_3.shtml) 8) There were several reason why Christians and Jews where tolerated in Islamic Spain: *Judaism and Christianity were monotheistic faiths, so arguably their members were worshipping the same God *The Christians outnumbered the Muslims *Bringing non-Muslims into government provided the rulers with administrators * Passages in the Qur'an said that Christians and Jews should be tolerated if they obeyed certain rules (http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/islam/history/spain_3.shtml) (http://www.muslimphotos.net/gallery/albums/Spain/Mezquita/thumb_IMG_3632.jpg)

3. The Rise of The Franks (500 – 841) 1)The Franks are a Germanic people that played a minor role in the fall of the Roman Empire. During the time of Roman Empire, the Franks were and ally of Rome, they defended Rome’s Rhine frontier against the Vandals in 406 C.E and then against the Huns in 451 C.E. (http://www.flowofhistory.com/units/birth/5/FC40) 2) In 451 C.E Franks made its first move, they took over northern Gaul, and it was at this time that their first great king emerged, his name was Clovis. (http://www.flowofhistory.com/units/birth/5/FC40) 3) Even though Clovis was only fifteen when he took the throne, he was a ambitious and cunning ruler, he made the decision of converting his empire to Roman Catholicism. (http://www.flowofhistory.com/units/birth/5/FC40) 4) According to legend, Clovis prayed that his armies could defeat the armies of the Germanic tribe know as the Alemani. For what ever reason, the Franks won, and so as he had promised, Clovis converted to Catholicism. (http://www.flowofhistory.com/units/birth/5/FC40) 5) In doing so, Clovis gained an advantage over the many Germanic tribes. (http://www.flowofhistory.com/units/birth/5/FC40) 6) Being a Germanic people, they followed the belief that a father’s land and property must be split equally among his sons. Because of this, Clovis divided the entire kingdom into three parts, each ruled by one of his three sons. (http://www.flowofhistory.com/units/birth/5/FC40) 7) Many civil wars broke out in the kingdom, as Clovis’ sons attempted to united the rest of the kingdom under their rule. (http://www.flowofhistory.com/units/birth/5/FC40) 8) These three kingdoms eventually became know as: Austrasia, Neustria, and Burgundy. (http://www.flowofhistory.com/units/birth/5/FC40) http://www.1st-art-gallery.com/thumbnail/191701/1/Charlemagne-742-814-Received-At-Paderborn-Under-The-Rule-Of-Witikind-In-785.jpg

4. The Rise of The Franks 9) Clovis’ three sons were not great leaders like their father, they made few attempts to unite the divided kingdom. They did nothing of real importance, and simply let the kingdom to slowly fall apart. (http://www.flowofhistory.com/units/birth/5/FC40) 10) New officials called mayors of the palace emerged to rebuild the Frankish estate. (http://www.flowofhistory.com/units/birth/5/FC40) 11) One of these mayors was Pepin of Heristal, he reunited the previously divided Frankish Kingdom, and laid down the foundation for one of the Middle Ages most renown dynasties, the Carolingians. (http://www.flowofhistory.com/units/birth/5/FC40) 12) Some of the factor that allowed the Frankish Kingdom to resurge under the Rule of the Carolingian family were: * The decline of the neighboring Germanic Kingdoms * Another factor that allowed the Franks to resurge was the us of the stirrup in warfare. * The third factor that helped out the Franks, was that they where natural allies with the Catholic Church, which often aided them (http://www.flowofhistory.com/units/birth/5/FC40) 13) Despite the fact that the many other Germanic Kingdoms had fallen, The Franks had one opponent left, The Muslims of the Iberian Peninsula. (http://www.flowofhistory.com/units/birth/5/FC40) 14) The Muslims, united and inspired by their new religion, rapidly spread across Europe, and a century after the death of Mohamed, the prophet of the Islamic faith, the Muslims where raiding southern Parts of Gaul. (http://www.flowofhistory.com/units/birth/5/FC40) 15) In 733, Charles Martel, mayor of that part of Gaul, turned back the Muslims at the battle of the Tours (http://www.flowofhistory.com/units/birth/5/FC40) 16) Pepin the Short, son of Charles Martel, made a bargain with the pope, he would turn back the Lombard, who where invading Italy, in return for the Popes blessing so he may become king of the Frankish Kingdom. After hw received his blessing he shaved the kings long hair, and send him to a monastery, he then took the throne, and established the Carolingian dynasty. (http://www.flowofhistory.com/units/birth/5/FC40) http://www.1st-art-gallery.com/thumbnail/191701/1/Charlemagne-742-814-Received-At-Paderborn-Under-The-Rule-Of-Witikind-In-785.jpg

5. Charlemagne 1) Charlemagne is considered the most legendary historical figure of the medieval period. (http://www.flowofhistory.com/units/birth/5/FC40) 2) There are three aspects of Charlemagne's reign that make him the legendary historical figure he is, these are his conquest, his attempts to revive Roman culture, and the revival of the Roman imperial title. (http://www.flowofhistory.com/units/birth/5/FC40) 3) Through his reign Charlemagne constantly campaign to expand the borders of his ever growing empire. (http://www.flowofhistory.com/units/birth/5/FC40 ) 4) Charlemagne's empire consisted of France, Germany, Austria, half of Italy , the Low Countries, and Denmark. (http://www.flowofhistory.com/units/birth/5/FC40 ) 5) During the time when he came into power, there where only very few government officials, this made it extremely difficult to rule efficiently. (http://www.flowofhistory.com/units/birth/5/FC40 ) 6) He established a government, however it did not last long. (http://www.flowofhistory.com/units/birth/5/FC40 ) 7) Modern historians argue whether the influence that Charlemagne had on medieval Europe was a barbaric or civilized influence. (http://www.flowofhistory.com/units/birth/5/FC40 ) 8) The most celebrated moment in the reign of Charlemagne is when the Pope crowned him holy Roman Emperor. (http://www.flowofhistory.com/units/birth/5/FC40 ) (http://img238.imageshack.us/img238/4184/charlemagne768814th5.jpg)

6. Medieval Economy 1)The rulers of the Germanic Kingdoms cared little for the urban-based civilizations of the Romans. (Bulliet 224) 2)Change was different among the different regions, but the most evident change was that most cities lost population, some great cities lost so much people, that they became villages. (Bulliet 224) 3) Thatched house appeared through out the land, and in once mighty Roman cities. The many public building that where made by the Romans fell in to a dire state of disrepair. (Bulliet 224) 4) During this time trade with the across the Mediterranean did not completely stop, some shipment from Egypt and Syria arrived on occasion. Most the kingdoms of western Europe however, came to rely upon their limited resources. (Bulliet 224) 5) The way wealth flowed change drastically from the time of the Roman Empire. (Bulliet 224) 6) The Roman governor where replaced by Germanic landlord. The landlords valued riches and resource of their own land, unlike the Romans. (Bulliet 224) 7) A self sufficient economy became more valuable than a large one. (Bulliet 224) 8) The warfare and political instability of this period made country houses highly vulnerable to pillaging. Due to isolation and political fragmentation le d some farmers into becoming warrior to protect their land, others swore their loyalty to landlord that had enough military power to protect them. (Bulliet 224) 9) In both the north and the south, the center of agricultural was the manor. A proper and self sufficient manor possessed all of the following: Fields, gardens, grazing land, fish ponds, a mill, a church, workshops, and a village where the peasants that where depended on the landlord lived. (Bulliet 224) 10) Manor life reflected personal status. (Bulliet 224) (http://nypdgaelicfootball.org/medieval.jpg

7. Society of Early Medieval Europe 1) Because Europe reverted back to a self suficient economy, the potential for personal achivement droped greatly. (Bulliet 225) 2) The emerging ruling class composed of lords and nobles where able to reap great benefits due to the self suficient economy. (Bulliet 225) 3) During the Germanic migrations (and later among the Vikings) men would answer the call to arms made by warchiefs. They lived of their share of the loot. (Bulliet 225) 4) However, as settlements grew, so did the importance of agriculture, so the calls of the war chiefs became increasingly difficult to answer. (Bulliet 225) 5) Out of those who did answer the war chiefs call, many where horsemen. At this point in time, simply because you where horse man did not mean you where a noble. By the tenth century however I was mainly nobles that rode horses into battle, and in time landholding became synonious with military duty. (Bulliet 225) 6) In their attempt to understand the traditional system in which land was given as well as what obligations came with obtaining land, medieval lawyers created what they called Feudalism. (Bulliet 225) 7) Feudalism is the system in which kings and lords that have give it to their vassal in return of sworn military duty. Recent historians have come to the conclusion that feudalism was simply and oversimplification of the relations between landowners and serfs. (Bulliet 225) 8) By the eleventh century the knight had become the symbol of medieval warfare. (Bulliet 225) 9) A grant of land obtained through military service became known as a fief, these fiefs where given to vassals. By the tenth century however, these fiefs could be inherited if the proper form of military service continued to provided. (Bulliet 225) (http://nypdgaelicfootball.org/medieval.jpg

8. The Western Church 1) In order for the Pope to increase his political influence, he made allies with many Germanic kings.(Bulliet 228) 2) The Pope was the one who gave Pepin the Short the authority and blessing to overthrow the Frankish king, and to take the throne. It was because of this that both Pepin and his son, Charlemagne, where supporters of the papacy. (Bulliet 229) 3) The relationships between Popes and Kings where highly strained. Popes as well as kings viewed them selfs as the ultimate authority in the land. (Bulliet 229) 4) In an attempt to increase his influence, the Pope crowned several Germanic princes as “Holy Roman Emperors”, they where chosen to be secular powers that would safeguard the interest of the Vatican. (Bulliet 229) 5) However, crowing the Emperors did not give the Pope political superiority, and the influence of the “Holy Roman Empire” did not extend pass the Rhine River. (Bulliet 229) 6) One conflict that happened between the Germanic Kings and the papacy, was that the Bishops that owned land and owned military service refused to give it, this lead to an attempt to override “canon law”. (Bulliet 229) 7) In the eleventh century the Cardinals selected Hildebrand, and Italian monk as Pope. He expressed his views of the papacy in a group of letters he wrote. (Bulliet 229) 8) The claims made by Pope Gregory VII outraged many lords and monarchs that had invested- that is coffering a ring and staff as symbols of authority on bishops and abbots in their lands. (Bulliet 229) 9) In 1122 at the town of Worms, Germany, Emperor Henry V renounced his right to chose bishops and abbots or bestow spiritual symbols upon them. In return Pope Calixtus II permitted the emperor to invest papally appointed bishops and abbots with any lay rights or obligations before their spiritual consecration. (Bulliet 229) http://moses.creighton.edu/harmless/bibliographies_for_theology/Images/Vatican_St_Peters.jpg

9. Bibliography Books 1) Bulliet, Richard. The Earth and its People. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 2005 Websites 2) Butler, Chris. “The Rise of the Franks”. Flow of History. 10/ 19/ 09 http://www.flowofhistory.com/units/birth/5/FC40. 3) BBC. “Islamic History”. BBC.co.uk. 10/19/09 http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/islam/history/spain_3.shtml. http://www.ag.ndsu.edu/foodwise/images/books.jpg

10. Ye Oldie Quiz-eth 1) The Romans Empire was extremely successful and prosperous, it established trade with other civilizations in order to supplement the lack resources in Europe. Even though the Roman Empire fell, the framework of their trade networks (roads, ports, etc.) remained, yet why did the Germanic people that inherited Roman lands reverted back to a subsistence based economy ? A) The Romans depleted the few resource in Europe, making it impossible for the Germanic to utilize the Roman trade network due to a lack of an economic base. B) The change was cause by simple cultural differences. C) The Post- Roman era was marked by political fragmentation, making it impossible to maintain Roman roads and economic infrastructure. D) The Germanic landlords found the riches in their own lands much more appealing then exotic goods. 2) What was the main cause of tension between the papacy and the lords and monarchs of the Germanic Kingdoms. A) The Popes believed that they where the ultimate authorities, which is what lord and kings though of them selves, and thus both the papcy and the monarchs had to fight over power. B) The Pope wanted to control not only the church, but also the many Germanic Kingdoms. C) The claims made by Pope Gregory VII. D) The compromises made by Pope Calixtus II and Emperor Henry V. 3) Which was NOT a way in which the Roman Catholic church and/or the papacy attempted to gain secular influence and/or contrict the power of lords and Monarchs. A) By crowning Holy Roman Emperors to safeguard their interest. B) Through the claims made by Pope Gregory VII C) The agreement made by Emperor Henry V and Pope Calixtus II. D) By not allowing lords and monarchs to be able to appoint people to ecclesiastical jobs. (http://nypdgaelicfootball.org/medieval.jpg