The Foundation of Christian Society in

Western EuropeBy Basil Kuriappuram, Jack Sheehan and Troy Mauriello

Part OneSearch for Political Order

Foundation for Development of European Society

• After the disruption of invasions and depopulation, the people of western Europe restored order.

• Began a process of economic recovery, did not large cities or generate a powerful economy.

• Built an institutional framework that enabled the Christian church to provide religious leadership.

Germanic Successor States• In 476 C.E Germanic General Odoacer deposed the

last of Roman Emperors.• By the late 5th Century a series of Germanic

Kingdoms were successor states and put in place of the Roman empire

• Visigoths – Spain• Otrogoths – Italy – Until Justinian's resassertment

in the 530s’• Lombards – Italy - after departure of Justinian's

forces• Angles and Saxons established kingdoms in Britain

The Franks• Influenced the political, social and

cultural development of western Europe

• Constructed society based on the agricultural resources of Europe

Clovis (481-511)• Under Clovis the Franks became a military

and political power in western Europe.• In 486 Clovis led his forces on a campaign

to wipe out the last of Roman authority• Organized campaigns against peoples

whose states bordered the Franks• Transformed the Franks into the most

powerful and dynamic states in western Europe

Reason for Rapid Rise• Originally most invaders were

polytheists, but as the settled around the Roman Empire, many converted to Christianity. (accepted Arian Christianity which was popular at the time)

• As a result the Franks gained the allegiance of the pope and the western Christian church, thus strengthening them.

After Clovis…• Franks lost much authority after

Clovis’ death• His successors ruled until the early

8th century• Frankish Kings were displaced by

aristocratic Carolingians

Carolingian Empire• Takes name from founder, Charles Martel (known as

Charles the Hammer for military skill)• In 732 at Battle of Tours Charles Martel turned back

a Muslim army that had ventured from Spain• Victory persuaded rulers of Spain it was not worth it

to further venture into western Europe• Never was king but served as deputy for the last of

Clovis’ descendants• In 751 his son Charlemagne claimed his thrown

Charlemagne• Ruled from 768-814• High point of Frankish society• Temporarily reestablished centralized rule

(like King Harsha)• Barely literate, but very intelligent (could speak Latin,

understood Greek, and conversed with other educated men)

• Maintained relations with the Byzantine Empire and Abbasid Caliphate

• By the time of his death, he had extended rule to northeastern Spain, Bavaria, and Italy

• Capital – Aachen• Spent most time traveling to maintain authority

Missi Dominici• Charlemagne's’ Counts often had

other ambitions• To bring them under control

Charlemagne instituted officials known as missi dominici (envoys of the ruler) who traveled every year to all local jurisdictions and reviewed the local authorities

Charlemagne the Emperor?• Charlemagne hesitated to call

himself emperor because it would challenge the authority of the Byzantine Emperors

• Finally accepted the title in the year 800

• Attended religious services on Christmas Day in Italy, and there was crowned Emperor by Pope Leo III

Main Reasons for Decline and Fall of Carolingian Empire

• Internal disunity• Constant invasions

Louis the Pious• Charlemagne's son Louis the Pious

reigned from 814-840• He kept the empire together, but lacked

the strong will and military skills of his father, and lost control of his counts

• After his death, his three sons often argued the inheritance of the empire, and in 843 they split the empire into three portions

Invasions• Three groups of Invaders, Muslims,

Magyars, and Vikings• Muslims- came from south, raided towns,

villages, churches, etc, in Mediterranean Europe

• Magyars- came from east, expert horseman, raided settlements in Germany, Italy, and southern France

• Vikings – came from north, began mounting raids in northern France

Norse Expansion• Began around 800 due to population pressure

in Scandinavian lands, and as resistance to Christian missions to abolish pagan gods

• Developed set of shipbuilding and seafaring skills that allowed them to travel safely and reliably through the ocean

• Established settlements in Shetland Islands, Faeroes, Iceland and Greenland.

• Most used seafaring skills for commercial opportunity or to seek land to cultivate

The Vikings• Used maritime skills for raiding and

plundering• Used shallow boats that could cross

heavy seas but also navigate rivers• Coordinated movements and timed

attacks based on tides

Regional Authorities in Western Europe

• Carolingian Empire did not have a navy, thus no protection to vulnerable sites in the Empire and became chief casualty of the invasions

• Thus, in the 9th century western Europe made an initiative to increase regional and local authorities

• Different areas responded to the situation in different ways• England – King Alfred (reigned 871-899) made an effort to unite the

Saxons and Angles into one large order, and also built a navy to challenge the Vikings.

• Germany – local lords took matters into their own hands, In 955 Otto I of Saxony defeated a large Magyar army near Augsburg, ending the Magyar threat. Lead his armies into Italy to help protect the papacy, and in 962 the pope proclaimed him emperor.

• France – development of decentralized order, each Count withdrew allegiance from the central government, and ruled their own territories. Counts collected taxes, organized armed forces, built castles, and provided justice.

Part TwoEarly Medieval Society

Lords• Grant of land (fief)• Resources

Vassals• Oath of Fealty• Loyalty• Obedience• Respect• Counsel• Military service

Obligations of Lords and Vassals

Serfs• Beginning in mid 7th century, rulers recognized categories

of individuals who were neither fully slave nor fully free, known as Serfs

• Usually had to work certain lands, and had to pass those rights to their children, as long as they observed their obligations to their land lords.

• Obligations include labor services and a rent of some kind• Males usually worked three days in the fields and

provided planting and harvesting services• Women usually churned butter, made cheese, brewed

beer, spun thread, wove cloth, or sowed clothes• Serfs had rare opportunity to move to other lands

Manors• Manors were large estates consisting of

fields, meadows, forests, agricultural tools, domestic animals, and sometimes lakes or rivers.

• The lord of the manor was a political or military figure.

• His deputies and himself would provided government, administration, police services, and justice for the manor.

Economy of Medieval Europe

• Invasions disrupted the European economy, and the economic activity was slower than in other areas of the world.

• Economic centers shifted from the Mediterranean to the north, especially France

• Tools did not travel well, as small wooden plows would break on the harder northern surface.

Heavy Plow

The heavy plow was introduced in the 8th century.Often hitched to horses and oxen (as seen here), the plow increased agricultural production.

Horse Collar

The horse collar, with the heavier plow was introduced to allow faster horses to pull the heavy plow.

Rural Society• A surplus of agricultural in Medieval

Europe was large enough to support manors and those in them, but was not sufficient enough to support large cities.

• Few towns• Towns were mainly economic hubs for

the areas around them, instead of the vibrant centers they used to be.

Mediterranean Trade• Trade did not disappear in medieval Europe• Maritime trade flourished in the Mediterranean• Christian merchants from Italy and Spain traded across

boundaries with the Muslims of Sicily, Spain, and north Africa

• By 1000 C.E food crops from the Islamic world were also in Europe. (wheat, rice, spinach, artichokes, eggplant, lemons, limes, oranges and melons)

• Norse seafarers caused trade to flourish in the North and Baltic Seas

• Norse merchants arrived at ports from Russia to Ireland carrying various products from various areas of the world

European Population• 200 C.E – 36 Million• 400 C.E - 31 Million• 600 C.E – 26 Million• Gradually recovered after 600• 800 C.E – 29 Million• 900 C.E – 32 Million• 1000 C.E – 36 Million

Part ThreeFormation of Christian

Europe

Franks and the Church• Beginning with Clovis’s conversion, the Franks won the

support of the church• The Church provided them with educated and literate

individuals who could provide political services• The Franks viewed themselves as protectors of the

papacy, and Charlemagne mounted a campaign to destroy the Lombards who had threatened the church

• Charlemagne created a school at his capital Aachen, where he had the most prominent scholars make copies of the Bible and Latin literature, and taught Christian doctrine.

• Charlemagne ordered monastaries to provide eduation and build schools

Spread of Christianity• Charlemagne would sometimes spread Christianity by

military force• Between 772-804 he waged a war against the

Saxons(pagan people inhabiting northern Germany)• Along with his political goals he insisted they convert

to the Roman Christian faith, in which the Saxons violently resisted

• In the end Charlemagne won, and the Saxons acknowledged and replaced their pagan traditions with Christian traditions

Pope Gregory I (590-604)• In late 6th century, the Lombards had a hold on the

Italian peninsula troubling Rome and the Roman Church• Pope Gregory mobilized local resources and organized

Rome’s defense, allowing it to survive.• He also reasserted papal primacy which says the Pope

is the ultimate authority in the church.• Strongly emphasized the penance sacrament.

( Confession of sins)• Gregory made Roman Christianity look appealing and

had people converted in western Europe.• He aimed an effort at the ruler of England, and by the

7th century he established a foothold in England.

St. Benedict• St. Benedict of Nursia (480-547) strengthened the

Monasticism movement• provided discipline and a sense of purpose for the

movement• In 529, created a set of regulations known as Benedict’s

Rule for the community he founded at Monte Casino near Rome.

• Required monks to live communal, celibate, lives under the direction of the abbot.

• Poverty, chastity, and obedience are important virtues• The sister of St. Benedict, St. Scholastica (482-543)

adapted her brothers guide into one for women in convents

Monasticism and Society• Provided order on the countryside• In France and Germany, Abbots would

dispatch teams to clear forests, and prepare land for cultivation

• Monasteries served as inns for travelers• Served as orphanages• Provided medical treatment• Set up schools• Served as a source of literate, educated and

talented people

THE END