Chapter 16 The Two Worlds of Christendom 2011

Chapter 16 The Two Worlds of Christendom © 2011, The Mc. Graw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 1

Medieval Christendom n Two halves q q n n Byzantine empire Germanic states Inherited Christianity from Roman empire After eighth century, tensions between two halves © 2011, The Mc. Graw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 2

Successor States to the Roman Empire, ca. 600 C. E. © 2011, The Mc. Graw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 3

The Early Byzantine Empire n n Capital: Byzantium On the Bosporus q n n n 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 © 2011, The Mc. Graw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 4

Caesaropapism n n n Power centralized in figure of emperor Christian leader cannot claim divinity, rather divine authority Political rule Involved in religious rule as well Authority absolute © 2011, The Mc. Graw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 5

The Byzantine Court n Etiquette reinforces authority of emperor q q q Royal purple Prostration Mechanical devices designed to inspire awe © 2011, The Mc. Graw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 6

Justinian (527 -565 C. E. ) n n The “sleepless emperor” Wife Theodora as advisor q n Ambitious construction programs q n Background: circus performer The church of Hagia Sophia Justinian’s code: codification of Roman law © 2011, The Mc. Graw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 7

Byzantine Conquests n n n Effort to reconquer much of western Roman empire from Germanic people Unable to consolidate control of territories Abandon Rome q Ravenna © 2011, The Mc. Graw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 8

Muslim Conquests n n n Seventh century, Arab Muslim expansion Besieged Byzantium 674 -678, 717 -718 Defense made possible through use of “Greek fire” © 2011, The Mc. Graw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 9

Theme System n n Themes (provinces) under control of generals Military administration Control from central imperial government Soldiers from peasant class, rewarded with land grants © 2011, The Mc. Graw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 10

The Germanic Successor States n n n Last Roman emperor deposed by Germanic Odoacer, 476 C. E. Administrative apparatus still in place, but cities lose population Germanic successor states: q q Visigoths Ostrogoths Lombards Franks © 2011, The Mc. Graw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 11

The Franks n n n Heavy influence on European development, fifth to ninth centuries Conversion to Christianity gains popular support Firm alliance with western Christian church © 2011, The Mc. Graw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 12

The Carolingians n n Charles “the Hammer” Martel begins Carolingian dynasty Defeats Spanish Muslims at Battle of Tours (732) q Halts Islamic advance into western Europe © 2011, The Mc. Graw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 13

Charlemagne (r. 768 -814) n n Grandson of Charles Martel Centralized imperial rule Functional illiterate, but sponsored extensive scholarship Major military achievements © 2011, The Mc. Graw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 14

Charlemagne’s Administration n Capital at Aachen, Germany Yet constant travel throughout empire Imperial officials: missi dominici (“envoys of the lord ruler”) q Continued yearly circuit travel © 2011, The Mc. Graw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 15

Charlemagne as Emperor n Hesitated to challenge Byzantines by taking title “emperor” q n Yet ruled in fact Pope Leo III crowns him as emperor in 800 q q Planned in advance? Challenge to Byzantium © 2011, The Mc. Graw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 16

The Carolingian Empire, 814 C. E. © 2011, The Mc. Graw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 17

Louis the Pious (r. 814 -840) n n Son of Charlemagne Lost control of courts, local authorities Civil war erupts among three sons Empire divided in 843 © 2011, The Mc. Graw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 18

Invasions n n n South: Muslims East: Magyars North: Vikings q q Norse expansion driven by population pressure, quest for wealth Superior seafaring technology © 2011, The Mc. Graw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 19

The Vikings n n n 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 ninth century q n Constantinople sacked three times Carolingians had no navy, dependent on local defenses © 2011, The Mc. Graw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 20

The Dissolution of the Carolingian Empire (843 C. E. ) and the Invasions of Early Medieval Europe in the Ninth and Tenth Centuries © 2011, The Mc. Graw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 21

Economy in Medieval Christendom n Byzantium – economic powerhouse n n n Agricultural surplus Long-distance trade Western Christendom q q Repeated invasions contribute to agricultural decline Tenth century, increased political stability leads to economic recovery © 2011, The Mc. Graw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 22

Byzantine Peasantry n Free peasantry kept Byzantium strong q n Supported by theme system Decline after eleventh century q Wealthy accumulated large estates © 2011, The Mc. Graw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 23

Manufacturing and Trade in Byzantium n n Trade routes bring key technologies, e. g. silk industry Advantage of location causes crafts and industry to expand after sixth century Bezant becomes standard currency Tax revenues from silk route © 2011, The Mc. Graw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 24

Manufacturing and Trade in Western Europe n n Invasions and political turmoil disrupt commercial activities Agricultural innovations q n Heavy plow; water mills; special horse collar Small scale exchange; maritime trade in Mediterranean © 2011, The Mc. Graw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 25

Norse Merchant Mariners n n Commerce or plunder as convenient Link with the Islamic world for trade © 2011, The Mc. Graw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 26

Byzantium: Urban Society n n Aristocrats: palaces Artisans: apartments Working poor: communal living spaces Hippodrome q q Chariot races, “greens vs. blues” Politically inspired rioting © 2011, The Mc. Graw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 27

Western Europe: Rural Society n Concept of feudalism q q n Lords and vassals Increasingly inadequate model for describing complex society Ad hoc arrangements in absence of strong central authorities © 2011, The Mc. Graw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 28

Organizing in a Decentralized Society n n n Local nobles take over administration from weak central government Nominal allegiances, especially to Carolingian kings But increasing independence © 2011, The Mc. Graw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 29

Lords and Retainers n n Formation of small private armies Incentives: land grants, income from mills, cash payments Formation of hereditary class of military retainers Development of other functions q Justice, social welfare © 2011, The Mc. Graw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 30

Peasants’ Rights and Obligations n n n Obligation to provide labor, payments in kind to lord Unable to move from land Fees charged for marrying serfs of another lord © 2011, The Mc. Graw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 31

Population Growth in Christendom n n During fifth and sixth century, population fluctuations By eighth century, demographic recovery q q Political stability Productive agriculture © 2011, The Mc. Graw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 32

Population Growth of Europe, 200 -1000 C. E. © 2011, The Mc. Graw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 33

Evolution of Christian Societies n n n 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 q q Eastern Orthodox Roman Catholic © 2011, The Mc. Graw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 34

Pope Gregory I (590 -604 C. E. ) n n n “Gregory the Great” Asserted papal primacy Prominent theologian q Sacrament of penance © 2011, The Mc. Graw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 35

The Byzantine Church n n Church and state closely aligned Byzantine emperors appoint patriarchs q n Treated as a department of state Caesaropapism creates dissent in church © 2011, The Mc. Graw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 36

Iconoclasm n n Emperor Leo III (r. 717 -741 C. E. ) Destruction of icons after 726 C. E. Popular protest, rioting Policy abandoned 843 C. E. © 2011, The Mc. Graw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 37

Asceticism n n Hermit-like existence Celibacy Fasting Prayer © 2011, The Mc. Graw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 38

St. Basil (329 -379 C. E. ) and St. Benedict (480 -547 C. E. ) n Both established consistent rule for monasteries q q q n Poverty Chastity Obedience St. Scholastica (482 -543 C. E. ) q q Sister of St. Benedict Adapts Benedictine Rule for convents © 2011, The Mc. Graw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 39

Monasticism and Society n Social welfare projects q n Inns, orphanages, hospitals Agents in spread of Christianity q q q Missionaries – Christian cultural zone in western part of Eurasian continent England Northern Germany; Scandinavia © 2011, The Mc. Graw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 40

Influence on Slavic Cultures n Saints Cyril and Methodius q q n n Missions in Bulgaria and Moravia Create Cyrillic alphabet Slavic lands develop orientation to Byzantium Prince Vladimir of Kiev converts © 2011, The Mc. Graw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 41

Tensions between Eastern and Western Christianity n Ritual disputes q q n Beards on clergy Leavened bread for Mass Theological disputes q q Iconoclasm Nature of the Trinity © 2011, The Mc. Graw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 42

Schism n n n Arguments over hierarchy, jurisdiction Autonomy of patriarchs, or primacy of Rome? 1054, patriarch of Constantinople and pope of Rome excommunicate each other q q East: Orthodox church West: Roman Catholic © 2011, The Mc. Graw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 43