Chapter 20Western Europe During the High

Middle Ages

The Holy Roman Empire Otto I of Saxony takes advantage of decline

of Carolingian Empire to establish kingdom in north Germany, mid 10th century CE

Pope John XII names Otto Emperor of Holy Roman Empire, 962 CE

Think: if the Pope crowns you, who has the power, you, or the Pope? Hence the problem with the “holy” “Roman” “Empire”

The Regional States of Medieval Europe about 1250 CE

Tensions between Emperors and the Church

Investiture Contest (1100’s ish) Pope Gregory VII says only he can choose Excommunicates Emperor Henry IV

(Germany) German people (read rogue princes) take

opportunity to rebel Quashed with difficulty

Regional Monarchies: France Capetian France

Hugh Capet succeeds last Carolingian Emperor, 987 CE

ELECTED by the Lords – what precedent does that set? Why is it an important detail?

Regional Monarchies: England Normans in England

Descendants of Vikings, settled in France

Invade England in 1066 under William the Conqueror

Dominate Angles, Saxons, and other Germanic groups

Why would the English HATE the Normans more than other

invaders/conquerors?

Bayeux Tapestry: Primary Source

The Norman Invasion

Italy

Series of ecclesiastical states, city-states, and principalities

Papal State directly controlled by Pope,

Italy – (or at least the land that will become Italy)

By 12th century, city-states increasingly displace church control in northern Italy

Normans invade southern Italy, displace Byzantine and Muslim authorities

Iberian Peninsula Muslims control Iberian peninsula, 8th-12th

centuries From 11th century on, Christian conquest of

Spanish Muslim territories Late 13th century, Muslims remain only in

Granada

Growth of the Agricultural Economy Increasing development of arable lands

Minimized threat of invading nomads Clearing of swamps, forests

Improved agricultural techniques Crop rotation New crops, esp. beans Horseshoes, horse collars (horses faster than

oxen)

European Population Growth, 800-1300 CE

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

800 CE 1000 1100 1200 1300 CE

Millions

Revival of Towns and Trade When food supplies increase what Specialization of labor Mediterranean Trade

Italy well-positioned for sea trade Italian colonies established in major ports of

Mediterranean, Black seas

Better business Letters of credit

Resurgence of European TradeResurgence of European Trade

Innovation Alert: The Horse collar has arrived!

http://www.machine-history.com/node/482

http://www.humanist.de/rome/harnessing/collar-ma.html

The Hanseatic League “Hansa,” association

of trading cities Trade in Baltic and

North seas Poland, nothern

Germany, Scandinavia

Trade Routes of the Hanseatic LeagueTrade Routes of the Hanseatic League

Social Change If you remember nothing else from this PP,

please memorize this slide!!! The Three Estates

Those who pray: clergy Those who fight: knights/nobility Those who work: peasants

Oversimplification of complex social reality

Chivalry Code of conduct for nobles Sponsored by Church to

minimize fighting among Christians

Technically, knight to dedicate his efforts to promotion of Christianity Protection of women

Troubadors Class of traveling poets,

minstrels, entertainers Spread of cultural ideas

to Europe Eleanor of Aquitaine

(1122-1204) major supporter

Popularization of idea of romantic love, refinement of European knights

Independent Cities Additions to class of

“those who work” Merchants, artisans,

physicians, lawyers, etc.

Guilds Late 11th century,

charters of integration

Urban Women New economic

opportunities for women Dominated needle trade Representation in wide

variety of trades Admitted to most guilds

Some guilds for women only

Cathedral Schools Early middle ages – little

education High middle ages (1000-

1300 CE) increasing wealth makes education possible

Schools based in cathedrals

Curriculum of Latin writings

Aristotle’s Back! Latin translations of Byzantine Greek texts

circulate in Europe Jewish and Muslim scholars provide other

translations from Arabic translations St. Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274), major

proponent of Scholasticism Synthesis of Christianity and Aristotle University of Paris

Religious Movements Rebellion against perceived materialism of

Roman Catholic Church St. Dominic (1170-1221) and St. Francis

(1182-1226) create orders of mendicants Vows of poverty

Popular preachers Religious zealots, very opposed to heretical

movements

Medieval Expansion of Europe Atlantic and Baltic

Colonization Scandinavians explore North

Atlantic Ocean Iceland, Greenland, Vinland

(Canada) Canadian settlements do not

succeed

Kings of Denmark nominally convert to Christianity, Sweden and Finland follow

The medieval expansion of Europe, 1000 – 1250 CE

Crusading Orders Religious Christians form military-religious

orders Templars, Hospitallers, Teutonic Knights

Religious vows of opposition to Islam, paganism

Founded churches and monasteries

The Reconquest of Sicily and Spain Sicily taken by

Muslims in 9th century, reconquered by Normans in 11th century Slow displacement of

Islam Opportunity for cross-

cultural fertilization

The Beginning of the Crusades Pope Urban II calls for

liberation of Jerusalem from Muslim control, 1095

Salvation promised for casualties

Peter the Hermit raises popular frenzy, mob destroyed on way to Jerusalem

15th century painting of Pope Urban II at the Council of Clermont, where he preached an impassioned sermon to take back the Holy Land.

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

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

Reasons For the Crusades Pope believed they would increase his power

and stop them from fighting one another. Crusaders promised their sins would be forgiven

for their participation. Nobles hoped to gain wealth and land. Many saw it as a chance for travel and

excitement. Serfs hoped to escape feudalism.

The First Crusade 1096-1099 more

organized expedition Captures Jerusalem,

largely due to poor Muslim organization

Salah al-Din (Saladin) recaptures Jerusalem in 1187

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ERKDI-exAoE

A chronicler, Radulph of Caen wrote: 

"Some people said that, constrained by the lack of food, they boiled pagan adults in cooking-pots, impaled children on spits and devoured them grilled." These events were also chronicled by Fulcher of Chartres, who wrote: 

"I shudder to tell that many of our people, harassed by the madness of excessive hunger, cut pieces from the buttocks of the Saracens already dead there, which they cooked, but when it was not yet roasted enough by the fire, they devoured it with savage mouth."[1] 

Albert of Aix remarked that "the Christians did not shrink from eating not only killed Turks or Saracens, but even dogs..."("Nam Christiani non solum Turcos vel Sarracenos occisos, verum etiam canes arreptos(...)")[2]

Later Crusades and their Consequences

Five crusades by mid-13th century, none successful

Fourth Crusade destroys Constantinople, 1202-1204

Yet Crusades provide direct contact with Muslim ideologies, trade Aristotle, “Arabic” numerals, paper production

For the first decade of the Crusades, the Crusaders pursued a policy of terror against Muslims and Jews that included mass executions, the throwing of severed heads

over besieged cities walls, exhibition and mutilation of naked cadavers, and even cannibalism.

Impact of the Crusades Increased Anti-Semitism Increased Trade Weakened the Power of the Church Weakening of Feudalism Increase in Learning

Exposed to Muslim advancements in math, science, literature, art and geographical knowledge

The evolution of a city: London http://

www.xtimeline.com/timeline/History-of-London

Go to this website, find evidence of these factors: Invasions Disease Agriculture Commerce Transportation Labor

What effect did the Little Ice Age likely have on London?

http://lostcityoflondon.co.uk/2013/11/24/londons-little-ice-age-and-the-great-frost-fairs/

Extrapolate this information into commerce, disease, invasion etc. What effects could we anticipate from our knowledge base?

So what happened to other cities as a result of the Middle ages? Cordoba Timbuktu Paris Baghdad Beijing Delhi Constantinople

Research your favorite city from the list. How did events, culture, climate, trade, and other factors ‘change’ the city from 1000 to 1500?