1 The Two Worlds of Christendom Chapter 16. Medieval Christendom Two halves Byzantine empire ...

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The Two Worlds of Christendom

Chapter 16

Medieval Christendom• Two halves

Byzantine empire Germanic states

• Inherited Christianity from Roman empire• After eighth century, tensions between two halves

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Chapter 16: The Two Worlds of Christendom

Successor States to the Roman Empire, ca. 600 C.E.

The Early Byzantine Empire• Capital: Byzantium• On the Bosporus

Golden Horn• Commercial, strategic value of location• Constantine names capital after himself (Constantinople), moves capital there after 330 C.E.• 1453, falls to Turks, renamed Istanbul

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Chapter 16: The Two Worlds of Christendom

Caesaropapism• Power centralized in figure of emperor • Christian leader cannot claim divinity, rather divine authority• Political rule• Involved in religious rule as well• Authority absolute

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Chapter 16: The Two Worlds of Christendom

The Byzantine Court• Etiquette reinforces authority of emperor

Royal purple Prostration Mechanical devices designed to inspire awe

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Chapter 16: The Two Worlds of Christendom

Justinian (527-565 C.E.)• The “sleepless emperor”• Wife Theodora as advisor

Background: circus performer• Ambitious construction programs

The church of Hagia Sophia• Justinian’s code: codification of Roman law

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Chapter 16: The Two Worlds of Christendom

Byzantine Conquests Effort to reconquer much of western Roman empire from Germanic people Unable to consolidate control of territories Abandon Rome

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Chapter 16: The Two Worlds of Christendom

Muslim Conquests• 7th century, Arab Muslim expansion• Besieged Byzantium 674-678, 717-718• Byzantine defense made possible through use of “Greek fire”

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Chapter 16: The Two Worlds of Christendom

Theme System• Themes (provinces) under control of generals• Military administration• Control from central imperial government• Soldiers from peasant class, rewarded with land grants

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Chapter 16: The Two Worlds of Christendom

The Germanic Successor States• In the west, the last Roman emperor deposed by Germanic Odoacer, 476 C.E.• Administrative apparatus still in place, but cities lose population• Germanic successor states:

Visigoths Ostrogoths Lombards Franks

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Chapter 16: The Two Worlds of Christendom

The Franks• Heavy influence on European development, 5th to 9th centuries• Conversion to Christianity gains popular support• Firm alliance with western Christian church

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Chapter 16: The Two Worlds of Christendom

The Carolingians• Charles “the Hammer” Martel begins Carolingian dynasty• Defeats Spanish Muslims at Battle of Tours (732)

• Halts Islamic advance into western Europe

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Chapter 16: The Two Worlds of Christendom

Charlemagne (r. 768-814)• Grandson of Charles Martel• Centralized imperial rule• Functional illiterate, but sponsored extensive scholarship• Major military achievements

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Chapter 16: The Two Worlds of Christendom

Charlemagne’s Administration• Capital at Aachen, Germany• Yet constant travel throughout empire• Imperial officials: missi dominici (“envoys of the lord ruler”)

Continued yearly circuit travel

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Chapter 16: The Two Worlds of Christendom

Charlemagne as Emperor• Hesitated to challenge Byzantines by taking title “emperor”

Yet ruled in fact• Pope Leo III crowns him as emperor in 800

Planned in advance? Challenge to Byzantium

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Chapter 16: The Two Worlds of Christendom

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The Two Worlds of Christendom

Chapter 16

Economy in Medieval Christendom• Byzantium – economic powerhouse

Agricultural surplus Long-distance trade

• Western Christendom Repeated invasions contribute to agricultural decline 10th century, increased political stability leads to economic recovery

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Chapter 16: The Two Worlds of Christendom

Byzantine Peasantry• Free peasantry kept Byzantium strong

Supported by the theme system• Decline after 11th century

Wealthy accumulated large estates

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Chapter 16: The Two Worlds of Christendom

Manufacturing and Trade in Byzantium• Trade routes bring key technologies, e.g. silk industry• Advantage of location causes crafts and industry to expand after 6th century• Bezant becomes standard currency• Tax revenues from silk route

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Chapter 16: The Two Worlds of Christendom

Byzantium: Urban Society• Aristocrats: palaces• Artisans: apartments• Working poor: communal living spaces• Hippodrome

Chariot races, “greens vs. blues” Politically inspired rioting

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Chapter 16: The Two Worlds of Christendom

How is life in Europe during this time ?

Manufacturing and Trade in Western Europe• Invasions and political turmoil disrupt commercial activities• Agricultural innovations

Heavy plow; water mills; special horse collar• Small scale exchange; maritime trade in Mediterranean

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Chapter 16: The Two Worlds of Christendom

Louis the Pious (r. 814-840)• Son of Charlemagne (The Franks)• Lost control of courts, local authorities• Civil war erupts among three sons• Empire divided in 843

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Chapter 16: The Two Worlds of Christendom

Invasions• South: Muslims• East: Magyars• North: Vikings

Norse expansion driven by population pressure, quest for wealth Superior seafaring technology

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Chapter 16: The Two Worlds of Christendom

The Dissolution of the Carolingian Empire (843 C.E.) and the Invasions of Early Medieval Europe in the Ninth and Tenth Centuries

The Vikings• From village of Vik, Norway (hence “Viking”)• Boats with shallow drafts, capable of river travel as well as on open seas• Attacked villages, cities, monasteries from 9th century

Constantinople sacked three times• Carolingians had no navy, dependent on local defenses

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Chapter 16: The Two Worlds of Christendom

Norse Merchant Mariners• Commerce or plunder as convenient• Link with the Islamic world for trade

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Chapter 16: The Two Worlds of Christendom

Western Europe: Rural Society• Concept of feudalism

Lords and vassals Increasingly inadequate model for describing complex society

• Ad hoc arrangements in absence of strong central authorities

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Chapter 16: The Two Worlds of Christendom

Organizing in a Decentralized Society• Local nobles take over administration from weak central government• Nominal allegiances, especially to Carolingian kings• But increasing independence

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Chapter 16: The Two Worlds of Christendom

Lords and Retainers• Formation of small private armies• Incentives: land grants, income from mills, cash payments• Development of other functions

Justice, social welfare

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Chapter 16: The Two Worlds of Christendom

Peasants’ Rights and Obligations• Obligation to provide labor, payments in kind to lord

• Unable to move from land• Fees charged for marrying serfs of another lord

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Chapter 16: The Two Worlds of Christendom

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The Two Worlds of Christendom

Chapter 16

Population Growth in Christendom• During 5th and 6th century, population fluctuations• By 8th century, demographic recovery

Political stability Productive agriculture

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Chapter 16: The Two Worlds of Christendom

Population Growth of Europe, 200-1000 C.E.

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

200 400 600 800 900 1000

Millions

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Chapter 16: The Two Worlds of Christendom

Evolution of Christian Societies• Christianity main source of religious, moral, and cultural authority• Two halves disagree on doctrine, ritual, and church authority• By mid-eleventh century, two rival communities

Eastern Orthodox Roman Catholic

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Chapter 16: The Two Worlds of Christendom

Council of Florence Orthodox and Roman Catholic churches meet to work out a union in 1438. Constantinople fell in 1453.

Pope Gregory I (590-604 C.E.)• “Gregory the Great”• Asserted papal primacy• Prominent theologian

Sacrament of penance: required individuals to confess their sins to priests to atone for sins

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Chapter 16: The Two Worlds of Christendom

The Byzantine Church• Church and state closely aligned• Byzantine emperors appoint patriarchs

Treated as a department of state• Caesaropapism creates dissent in church

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Chapter 16: The Two Worlds of Christendom

Iconoclasm• Emperor Leo III (r. 717-741 C.E.)• Destruction of icons after 726 C.E.• Popular protest, rioting• Policy abandoned 843 C.E.

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Chapter 16: The Two Worlds of Christendom

Asceticism• Hermit-like existence• Celibacy• Fasting• Prayer

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Chapter 16: The Two Worlds of Christendom

St. Basil (329-379 C.E.) and St. Benedict (480-547 C.E.) • Both established consistent rule for monasteries

Poverty Chastity Obedience

• St. Scholastica (482-543 C.E.) Sister of St. Benedict Adapts Benedictine Rule for convents

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Chapter 16: The Two Worlds of Christendom

Monasticism and Society• Social welfare projects

Inns, orphanages, hospitals• Agents in spread of Christianity

Missionaries – Christian cultural zone in western part of Eurasian continent England Northern Germany; Scandinavia

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Chapter 16: The Two Worlds of Christendom

Influence on Slavic Cultures• Saints Cyril and Methodius

Missions in Bulgaria and Moravia Create Cyrillic alphabet

• Slavic lands develop orientation to Byzantium• Prince Vladimir of Kiev converts

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Chapter 16: The Two Worlds of Christendom

Tensions between Eastern and Western Christianity• Ritual disputes

Beards on clergy Leavened bread for Mass

• Theological disputes Iconoclasm Nature of the Trinity

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Chapter 16: The Two Worlds of Christendom

Schism• Arguments over hierarchy, jurisdiction• Autonomy of patriarchs, OR primacy of Rome?• 1054, patriarch of Constantinople and pope of Rome excommunicate each other

East: Orthodox church West: Roman Catholic

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Chapter 16: The Two Worlds of Christendom

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