the world of christendom 500-1300 chapter 10. byzantine empire
TRANSCRIPT
The World of Christendom500-1300
Chapter 10
How the empire changed…286 CE: empire splits into eastern and western halves
313 CE: Christianity accepted in empire330 CE: Constantine converted and
reunites the empire395 CE: Empire splits again, eastern half
known as Byzantine Empire476 CE: Fall of the Western Roman Empire800 CE: Holy Roman Empire established in
Rome (in the West)1054 CE: Christianity splits into Roman
Catholicism and Christian Orthodoxy
Difference Between East and WestEast
◦Used Greek◦Architecture had
distinct domes◦Art was mosaic◦Culture more in
common with eastern cultures like Persia
◦Orthodox Christianity
◦Centralized rule
West◦Used Latin◦Culture more a
Germanic/Roman mix
◦Roman Catholic Christianity
◦Decentralized rule
Why did the Eastern half prosper?Geography: Able to defend its
bordersEast had higher population: more
men and supplies for an armyUrbanization in the East
continued to be politically, socially, and economically strong
Strong economy: lucrative trade and productive territory
Justinian (527 to 565)Flourished in trade and arts,
Constantinople rivaling Baghdad for cultural supremacy
Justinian Code◦Codification of Roman law that kept
ancient Roman legal principles alive (based on Twelve Tables)
Flowering of arts and sciences◦Hagia Sophia: large cathedral that
stands today…church turned mosque turned museum
◦Mosaic art that decorated churches
The Church Splits…Byzantium did not consider the pope the
head of their church, secular leaders ruled their church
Over time disagreements continued over…◦ The sacrament of communion◦ Whether priests should marry◦ Use of local languages in the church◦ Nature of God, as in the trinity◦ Placement of icons during worship
The Great Schism: in 1054 the pope excommunicated patriarch of Constantinople, who did the same to the pope
Orthodoxy influenced the east while Roman Catholicism influenced the west
Comparing Roman Catholicism and Christian Orthodoxy
East was more a secular empire with an official state religion, while the West was more a religious empire with submissive political units
Unlike their political structures, Roman Catholicism was highly centralized while Orthodoxy was more localized
Byzantine GRAPES…Geography: allowed prosperityReligious: Christian OrthodoxAchievements: libraries filled with
Greek, Latin, Persian and Hebrew texts
Political: strong central government, hereditary monarchy
Economic: location leads to strong trade (silk from China, artisans of glassware, linen, jewelry, gold)
Social: some social mobility in bureaucracy, army, trade or Church, but rare
The Height of ByzantiumGolden Age during the 10th
century (Macedonian Dynasty)Expanding trade with Western
EuropeMissionary efforts expand
cultural influence◦Eastern Orthodox spreads to Eastern
Europeans such as Bulgars and Serbs
◦Prince of Kiev in Russia converts in 987
Expansion of empire in Bulgaria, Syria and Crete and Cyprus
Challenges to empireIncompetent successors and
struggles for powerSplit in the Church in 1054External threats: Seljuk Turks in
Asia MinorLacking resources for campaigns
against threatening Turks, they turn to the West for help…leading to the Crusades
Western EuropePolitical life in
Western Europe after the fall of Rome
Legacy of RomeCharlemagne 800
CE
The New Kingdoms of the Old Western Empire
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The FranksGermanic tribes settle
throughout western Europe◦Convert to Christianity◦Conflict, alliances, expansion
Franks◦United under King Clovis in late 5th c. ◦Germany through Belgium into
France◦Converted to Roman Catholicism◦When he died, land divided among
sons
Charles MartelFrankish kingdom helped unify
the area under common culture, helping fend off Muslim invasion
Martel led revolt against advancing Muslim armies in 732 defeated them at Battle of Tours
Founded the Carolingian DynastyHis son Pepin had his succession
certified by the pope
CharlemagneCrowned by the pope in 800His empire came to be known as
the Holy Roman Empire after coronation of Otto the Great in 962
Different than earlier Roman Empire
Marked beginning of empire-building in western Europe, especially with the church
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Charlemagne’s Rule◦Focus on arts and
education◦Rule was not absolute
Society structured around feudalism
Local lords held power over local territories
◦Did not levy taxes◦Empire divided among
three grandsons in Treaty of Verdun in 843
FeudalismDecentralized: no ruler
could provide central authority or govern effectively
Lords and monarchs awarded land to loyal followers (vassals)
Vassals guaranteed their fiefs (land) would be governed, law and justice dispensed, crops grown
Sub-infeudationhttp://ashlinbsocialstudies.weebly.com/quest-3-feudalism-and-government.html
Feudal Pyramid◦Monarch, powerful nobles, lesser
nobles, serfsFeudal nobility served as a
military◦Armored cavalry known as knights
(nobles)◦Chivalry: knight was supposed to be
virtuous, Christian warrior who was loyal to lord, treat lower classes with justice and gentlemen to women
◦In reality: code was broken and knights often had violent behavior
ManorsBasic unit of feudal landholdingIf feudalism was the social/political unit of
Europe, manorialism was the economic unitIncluded lord’s residence (castle) and
peasants’ villageSurrounding this were fields of farming and
woodland for gathering food and hunting animals
A Medieval Manor
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SerfsNot technically slaves, but legally
unfreeNot allowed to change residence or
profession without permissionPortion of their crops and livestock had
to be given to lordHad to spend certain number of days:
building roads, clearing forests, farming lord’s fields
Had to pay to use facilities on manorHad to fight as foot soldiers
Remnants of FeudalismOutlasted original purposeSerfdom took centuries to
disappear, especially in central and eastern Europe
Set into place class differences that led to tensions between rich and powerful and poor and powerless
The Power of the ChurchLeader of the Catholic Church was the
pope (bishop of Rome)Hierarchy: priests (monks and nuns),
bishop, archbishops, cardinalsIn the West, the church was very
powerful and saw itself as superior to kings
Heresy, excommunication, and calls for holy wars
Ultimate goal: a united ChristendomOwned vast amounts of landControl over education, thought and
cultureHoly Inquisition (1231)
Spread of Christianity
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Overcrowding sends Vikings pouring from north in 800s to 1100s
Colonized Iceland and Greenland, landed in North America
Terrorized Europe, banded them together
Vikings (800 to 1100)
Impact of VikingsVikings from Scandinavia
◦Their attacks prompted nations to centralize
◦Converted to Christianity and assimilated into common civilization in western Europe because of religion Normandy (1066) and invasion of England Rus and foundation of first Russian state
◦Opened up trade and revived the economy
Crusades
The CrusadesFought by European Catholics
against Muslims of Middle East and North Africa from 1095 to 1291
Motivations◦Religious fervor◦Geopolitical conflict between Europe
and ME◦Europeans’ desire to be more
involved in international trade network (Med to China)
◦Personal ambitions of wealth and land
◦Racial and religious prejudice
The Spark 1095◦Byzantine Emperor asked for
military assistance against Seljuk Turks
◦Pope Urban II called for Crusade to retake Jerusalem at Council of Clermont
Crusaders reached Jerusalem in 1099, butchering almost every Muslim and Jew
1st Crusade a success due to lack of unity among Turks, Arabs, and Muslims
Established Latin Kingdoms
Jerusalem fell back to Muslims in 1187
Fourth Crusade in 1202-1204 turned into a sack of Constantinople
Children’s Crusade failed miserably
In 1291, Europeans abandoned last major outpost in ME
Effects of CrusadesWorsening relationship between Muslim and
Christian worldsGreater awareness of rest of world in
Western EuropeIncreased knowledge of economic wealth:
trade in herbs, spices, foods, and other goods
Contributed to myth of knighthood and chivalry
European unity and papal dominionNew knowledge of: guitar/violin, Arabic
numbers, algebra, cotton papermaking, telescope, surgery, preservation of ancient texts
Crusades◦Fourth Crusade sacking
Constantinople◦Encouraged trade with Muslim
merchants◦Demand for Asian goods increased◦Rise of city-states like Venice and
Genoa◦Reintroduced to goods, technology,
and culture of outside world
Disease (1340s to 1600s)◦Black Plague
Spread along trade routes from SW Asia Population decreased dramatically = labor
shortages and creation of labor saving technology, peasant rebellion and demanding higher wages = weakening of feudal system
Anti-Semitism increased & some Christians questioned faith
Christianity in Asia and Africa
Syncretism: pagan heroes (saints) mediators between God and people, polytheistic holidays incorporated by placing Christian holidays on same day