Western Europe: Middle Ages & Christian Europe

Constructing a Hybrid Civilization

-in place of Stearns, Chapter 10-

• Western Europe on margins of world history for most of postclassical period

• Early Middle Ages = 500-1000

• High Middle Ages = 1000-1300

• Roman collapse brought great change– Combination of Roman heritage &

Germanic culture

• Clovis– First attempt at order

• Viking menace

Early Middle Ages, 500-1000Early Middle Ages, 500-1000

Political Life, 500-1000

Political Life, 500-1000

• Charlemagne– Most famous Carolingian– Greater central control, but exception

to most of period

• Feudalism– Established order through

decentralized hierarchy of obligations

Economic & Social Life, 500-1000

• Manorialism– Relationship b/t serf & lord

– Life of the serf

• Women w/ considerable freedoms

Culture - Catholicism, 500-1000

• Political influence through hierarchy – Pope– Bishops

• Political influence through faith– Pressure rulers

• Role of monasteries

~QUESTION~~QUESTION~

• Assimilation of Vikings

• Agricultural improvements– Moldboard plow– Horseshoes & collar– Three-field system

• Cultural exchange– Crusades

Transitions, 900-1100Transitions, 900-1100

• Catholicism– Crusades– Scholasticism

• Treatment of Jews• Art– Gothic– Vernacular languages

High Middle Ages, 1000-1300High Middle Ages, 1000-1300

Culture, 1000-1300

Politics, 1000-1300

• Growth of central monarch power– England• Norman conquest• Magna Carta

– France & Capetians

– Holy Roman Empire• Least successful

Economics, 1000-1300

• Mediterranean trade– Venice & Genoa

• Northern trade– Hanseatic League

Economics, 1000-1300 – cont.

• Economic growth led to:

– Guilds

– City charters

– Weakening of 3-estates & rise of merchants

ConclusionsConclusions