MIDDLE AGESOut of the “Light”

FACTORS THAT LED TO COLLAPSE OF ROME AND HAN CHINA

Corrupt governments in both empires Infighting among political elites Empires too large in area to manage Invasions from hostile nomadic tribes

Spread of Christianity

Council of Nicaea: sets basic tenets of Christianity

Eastern Orthodoxy develops after the schism between that church and the Catholic Church

Church develops in power during the Middle Ages in Europe

Christianity Unites Medieval Europe

Middle Ages seen as the “Age of Faith” Missionaries spread Christianity Shared beliefs in Christianity bond the people of

medieval Europe Church provided stability and security in times of

frequent wars At the local level, the church was the religious and

social center. People met there for service, and social gatherings

Performed social services such as caring for the sick and the poor. The Church operated most hospitals in medieval

Europe.

East-West Schism of 1054

2 Empires (Rome/Byzantine); 2 Popes Christian Church splits over…

use of leaven or unleavened bread Power of the Pope and Rome’s role

Excommunicated each other

Christian World

Great Schism 1378-1417

Authority of the pope as head of the Church challenged by… John Wycliffe, who believes that God is sole

authority, Jan Huss, who believes the authority of the

Bible is higher than the pope’s authority. Beginning of challenges to the authority of the

Catholic Church that leads to the Reformation.

Roman Catholic v. Eastern Orthodoxy

Roman Catholic Eastern Orthodoxy

• Strict hierarchy• Latin• Priests celibate• No divorces; only

annulments

• Patriarch and other bishops lead the church as a collective group

• Services conducted in Greek or local languages

• Priests may marry• Divorce is allowed

under certain circumstances

Byzantine Empire Constantine relocates the capital of the Eastern

Roman Empire to Byzantium and renames it Constantinople

Justinian constructs the Hagia Sophia (pronounced ay-uh Sophia) along with numerous other grand churches throughout his empire to show the close connection between church and state

Missionary Saints Cyril and Methodius Christianize Slavs to the north of the empire and develop the Cyrillic language to promote religion to the Slavs

Important Political Impacts

Authority in medieval Europe based on the Church

Charlemagne crowned emperor by Pope Leo III shows the close connection between church

and state Creates the Holy Roman Empire Links Church and government

Church creates a system of justice, canon law, to regulate people’s conduct

Feudalism

Reciprocal military obligations between members of the warrior nobility in Medieval Europe Lords grant parcels of land known as fiefs to lesser

knights who are known as vassals, who in turn, provide military service to the lord. Chivalry and fealty between a lord and the vassal relationship

Contributing factors-Fall of the Roman Empire leaves a gap in protection and services to people-invaders (Muslims & Vikings) overrun communities, people turn to lords for their protection

Manorialism

Manorialism – Smallest economic, social unit revolving around an estate, controlled by a lord, who gives land and protection to his serfs, who in turn give him their services. Land = wealth Characteristics – Manors were self-sufficient where serfs

raised and produced nearly everything needed for that community.

The open field system allowed several families of serfs to farm strips of the same parcel of land. Living conditions for serfs were generally harsh on manors.

Contributing factors – Model of villas in the Roman Empire used to manage rural economies; decline in overland and sea trade after the fall of the Roman Empire

Magna Carta1215Political ideas – Limited power of the nobilityLegal ideas – No one is above the law

Thomas Aquinas: (1225-1274) Truth is known through reason and faith

Moors, Islam, and Spain

Moors (Muslims from North Africa) occupy Spain for over 700 years and promote a golden age in art, literature, science, and mathematics

Defeat by the Franks at Tours in 732 stops the Muslim invasion of Europe

Preserve Roman/Greek knowledge and advance mathematics and science

Reconquista drives out the Muslims in the late 1400s

Inquisition in Spain leads to torture and expulsion of Muslims and Jew

Crusades

Nine official Crusades in to the Middle East Recapture Jerusalem Pope told Christians its ok to kill non-Christians Pogroms against Jews and Orthodox too Casualties weakened the feudal nobility

Impacts Failure lessened the power of the Pope Mistrust of West by Muslims Trade in spices and other goods from Southwest

Asia lead to European desire for new trade routes Desire for spice begins the Era of Exploration

Black Death 1348-50 Bubonic plague brought from China on trade ships

Fleas on rats Most devastating pandemic in human history Wiped out 30-60 of Europe’s population World population went from 450 to 350-375 million

Social Impacts Collapse of manorial system as productivity ends and

serfs leave in search of work; peasant Rebellions grow in response to nobles’ refusal to

increase wages Church loses prestige as it is unable to stop the

plague through prayer and intervention

Map of the Plague

100 Years War

Emergence of nationalism and monarchs as national leaders in England and France

Instability in England after the Hundred Years War leads to the War of the Roses, which strengthens Parliament since it is called frequently by King Edward III to increase taxes to finance this new war

Democracy advanced as Parliament gains greater “power of the purse”