Western Civilization I HIS-101

1. Western Civilization IHIS-101 Unit 8 – Early Middle Ages, 750-1000

2. The Carolingians • Rise of the Carolingians • Worked to depose the Merovingian dynasty from Frankish lands in the 8th century • Pepin the Short (751-768) • Son of Charles Martel • Was appointed king by Frankish nobility • Also was anointed by Pope Stephen II • First king to be anointed, setting a new precedent • Went to war against the Lombards • Donated the land gained to the pope, helping to further develop the Papal States

3. Coronation of Charlemagne (800)

4. Charlemagne (768-814) • Charlemagne (768-814) • Charles the Great – Carolus magnus • Son of Pepin the Short • Was a warrior king who was also well educated • Expansion of the Empire • United the Frankish Kingdom through armed expeditions • Went on a total of 54 military campaigns throughout Spain, Italy, and Germany • In 773, took control of Italy from the Lombards • In 788, defeated the Bavarians • Wiped the Avars in the Danube River Valley from existence

5. Charlemagne (768-814) • Turned his attention south towards Spain • Began fighting in northern Spain in 778 • Was defeated by the Basques • In 795, established the Spanish March just south of the Pyrenees as a defensive border against the Muslims • Campaigns into German • Fought against the Saxons between the Elbe River and North Sea in northern Germany • In 804, defeated them after 18 campaigns • At its peak, the empire covered most of western and central Europe • Europe will not see another empire of this size until Napoleon

6. Charlemagne’s Empire

7. Charlemagne (768-814) • Governing the Empire • There was no system of public taxation • Depended upon the royal estates to provide necessary resources (food and goods) • Gave loyal nobles lifetime holdings • Count • These were king’s chief representatives in local areas • Descended from the similar position under Merovingians • Included margraves (mark graf) in the border regions • Were a threat to Charlemagne as they had extraordinary power in their local districts

8. Charlemagne (768-814) • Charlemagne wanted to limit the powers of the counts • Moved them to serve outside their own family lands • Periodically rotated them to new regions • Made the offices appointive rather than hereditary • Missidominci – “Messengers of the King” • One lay nobility and one church official • Travel to local districts to keep an eye on the counts • Difficulties of governing • Large distances made it difficult to exercise supervision over local affairs • Depended upon a loyal and powerful local lord • Meant that the king had to be more powerful than the lords

9. Charlemagne (768-814) • Other reforms • Military reforms included the use of new siege technology and new military tactics • Continued the use of the “cavalry revolution” started by Charles Martel • New coinage system using livre,sous, and deniers (1 livre = 20 sous; 1 sous = 12 deniers) • Carolingian Renaissance with advancements in art, literature, and scholarship • Development of the Carolingian minuscule as a writing standard

10. Example of Carolingian minuscule • (c. 1125-1130)

11. Charlemagne and the Catholic Church • Hierarchy of the Catholic Church disintegrated over the course of the 7th century • Many positions were unfilled • Others were filled with unqualified relatives of the royal families • Charlemagne took up the cause of church reform • Appointed qualified officials to church positions and created new ones • Made sure clergy followed their superior and executed their duties • Gained support from the church for his efforts

12. Charlemagne and the Catholic Church • Pope Leo III (795-816) • Had been strongly disliked by Roman nobility • Faction led by the nephew of the previous pope charged him with misconduct, perjury, and adultery • In April 799, was attacked by a gang who attempted to gouge his eyes out and cut off his tongue • Fled to the safety of Charlemagne’s court • Charlemagne provided an armed escort for Leo’s return • The assailants were arrested and charged • However, Charlemagne had to come down with troops in Fall 800 to secure the pope’s position

13. Charlemagne and the Catholic Church • Charlemagne as Emperor • Was crowned as “Emperor of the Romans” by Pope Leo III after mass on December 25, 800 • Historians are unsure if he knew in advance that this was going to happen • Accepted the title as it put him on equal standing with the Byzantine emperor • Title may have been given as a result of the rise of Iconoclasm in the east • Significance: Germanic king crowed emperor by the spiritual leader of western Christendom

14. Louis the Pious • (814–840)

15. Collapse of the Carolingian Empire • Charlemagne died on January 28, 814 • Died shortly after developing pleurisy • None of his descendants had the personality or strength to hold the empire together • Louis the Pious (814–840) • Was the only surviving legitimate son of Charlemagne • Endured numerous wars along the frontier • Also struggled with both the Frankish nobility and his own four sons in a number of civil wars • After his death, sons continued to struggle for control of the empire

16. Collapse of the Carolingian Empire • Treaty of Verdun (843) • Divided the empire amongst Louis’ three surviving sons • Charles the Bald (843-877) received the western Frankish kingdom (develop into modern France) • Louis the German (843-876) received the eastern lands (develop into modern Germany) • Lothair (840-855) received both the title of Emperor and the “Middle Kingdom” which included the Netherlands, the Rhineland, and northern Italy • Continued collapse • Descendants continued to struggle for power • Exacerbated by external attacks

17. Frankish kingdoms after the Treaty of Verdun (843)

18. Invasions of the 9th and 10th Centuries • Europe faced invasions from three entities over the course of the 9th and 10th centuries • Included Muslims, Magyars, and the Vikings • The latter two would be assimilated into Christian European civilization • Muslims • Expansion into southern Mediterranean began in the 9th century • Raided southern coasts • Took the island of Sicily in 827 and threatened Rome • Destroyed Carolingian defenses in northern Spain • Led raids into southern France

19. Invasions of the 9th and 10th Centuries • Magyars • Originally hailed from western Asia • Moved into the Carpathian Basin c. 895 • The Árpád dynasty led raids into Germany, France, and Italy between 898-920 • Expansion was checked by Otto I of the Germans at the Battle of Lechfeld (955) • By the 10th century they were converted to Christianity • Created the kingdom of Hungary (c. 1000) • First king, Stephen I (c. 1000-1038), was later canonized by the Church

20. St. Stephen I • (c. 1000-1038)

21. The Vikings • Vikings • Germanic people based in Scandinavia • They mark the final wave of Germanic migration • Was a warrior class society known for its superior ship building • Viking raids • Began in the 790s as sporadic, small-scale raids • Became more regular and devastating in the 9th century • Sacked towns and villages, defeating small armies • Brought sense of fear to northern Europe • Local priests would encourage populations to change their behavior as God was angry with them

22. The Vikings • Expansion • Began establishing winter settlements throughout Europe • Norwegian Vikings moved into Ireland and western England • Danish Vikings moved into eastern England and the Rhineland • In 911, Frankish king Charles the Simple gave one of the Viking rulers, Rollo, the Duchy of Normandy • This was in return for Rollo converting to Christianity • Set a precedence as more kings allowed the Vikings to settle • Became protectors against other Viking attacks • Ruled principalities in Scotland, Ireland, Normandy and Russia

23. The Vikings • Explorers • The Vikings were know for their explorations throughout the north including Russia to the east • In 860, they began exploring the north Atlantic • Discovered Iceland in 874 • Eric the Red (950 - c. 1003) • Born in Norway • Parents were exiled to Iceland on charges of manslaughter • Eric was banished from Iceland for murder in 982 • Decided to travel west to Greenland • By this point, a number of Vikings had already been to Greenland • Created the first permanent settlement there in 985

24. The Vikings • Leif Eriksson (c.970 – c.1020) • Son of Erik the Red • According to the Saga of the Greenlanders, traveled west of Greenland in 1000 • Helluland(“Land of the Flat Stones”) - Baffin Island • This was the first land he came to in his exploration • Markland (“Tree-land”) - Labrador • Eriksson’s crew cut down many trees to bring back to Greenland • Vinland (“Land of the Grapevines”) - Newfoundland • His crew spent the winter here • Viking settlement at L’Anse Aux Meadows (c. 11th century)

25. Viking Expansion

26. The Vikings • Norman Conquest of England (1066) • With the death of King Edward the Confessor (1042-1066), there was no clear succession for the throne of England • Some believe it was to be William, Duke of Normandy, while others say it was Harold Godwinson • Harold took the throne as Harold II • William responded by invading England • Battle of Hastings (October 14, 1066) • Harold II died in battle, supposedly shot through the eye with an arrow • Decisive Norman victory • William took the throne as William I, better known as William the Conqueror

27. The Vikings • Norman Conquest marks the end of the Viking Era • Expansion came to a close in the 10th century • Combination of greater monarchical control in the northern countries and the expansion of Christianity • Vikings were assimilated into European culture and religion • Conversion to Christianity was forced through the use of brutal tactics, especially in Norway • Impact • As monarchs were not able to stop the Viking invasions, people turned to their local nobility for help • In turn, nobility took greater control over local governments, creating anew political and military order

28. William the Conqueror • (1066-1087) • From the Bayeux Tapestry (1476)

29. Legacy of the Carolingians • The legacy of the Carolingians • Had created a sense of a united, Christian Europe • Collapsed due to invasions in the 9th and 10th centuries • Emergence of new political divisions • England • Had not be under control of the Carolingians • Had been a mass of small kingdoms • Changed with unification that began under Alfred the Great • Strong state was created through the effective use of government administration and trade

30. England • Alfred the Great (871-899) • Originally was the king of Wessex • Unified local governments and codified the laws • Built up the army to protect England from Viking invaders • Set up government based on the Carolingian model • King Edgar (959-975) • Kingship was elective but it was chosen through Alfred’s line • England by this point was a powerful centralized monarchy with a strong administration • By 1000, England had the most advanced administrative government in western Europe

31. East Francia • Saxon kings of Germany (East Francia) • They also built their kingdom on the Carolingian model • Royal power based on conquest rather than trade and administration • Conrad I (911-918) • First non-Carolingian ruler • Had been Duke of Franconia and was elected king • Struggled to keep power away from other dukes • Henry the Fowler (919-936) • Had been Duke of Saxony when he was elected king • First to use high church officials as administrators • Created a unified eastern German kingdom

32. East Francia • Otto I (936-973) • Most famous of the Saxon kings • Successfully invaded northern Italy in 951 • Defeated the Hungarians at the Battle of Lechfeld (955) • Otto as Holy Roman Emperor (962-973) • Otto was crowned by Pope John XII after securing the latter’s position in the Papal States • First guarantor for the protection of the Papal States since the Carolingians • His crowning traditionally marks the beginning of the Holy Roman Empire

33. East Francia • Otto focused on strengthening control of the church • In 963, Pope John organized an alliance against Otto • Otto marched on Rome and deposed of the pope • Forced the election of Poe Leo VIII • John returned to Rome and deposed of Leo • When John died, Benedict V was elected as the new pope • Done without Otto’s consent • Otto returned to Rome in 964 to overthrew Benedict • Leo VIII was returned to the papacy

34. Holy Roman Empire (c. 1000)

35. West Francia • During the 9th and 10th centuries, the Carolingian kings struggled with the nobility for power • Counts very often ignored the demands of the kings • When the last Carolingian king died, Louis V (“the Lazy”), the counts elected a new king • Hugh Capet (987-996) • Family controlled the Ile-de-France around Paris • When elected, the counts planned to control him • Counts figured that he would live off of his personal lands and not bother them • Made Paris the center point of French civilization • The Capetian dynasty lasted until 1792 in France

36. Hugh Capet • (987-996)

37. Manorial System • Expansion of the manorial system • Manor was an agricultural estate operated by a lord • It was worked on by peasants • Lord provided protection • In return, peasants gave up their freedom, became tied to the land, and provided labor services • Transformation of slaves • This was the basic agricultural unit of the early Middle Ages • Slavery was no longer an option for land owners as it was now looked down upon • Helped slaves out by establishing them on small parcels of land • In return, they were to work the land and provide food for the lord

38. Manorial System • Transformation of free peasants • Small farmers needed protection and food in case of bad harvests • Were willing to give up their freedom to get both • Status of serf • Could not be bought and sold • Were subject to their lords in numerous ways • Required to provide labor, pay rents, and were subject to the lord’s jurisdiction • By the 9th century, 60% of the population had become serfs

39. Michael III (842-867)

40. Zenith of Byzantine Civilization • “Golden Age of Byzantine Civilization” • Empire was able to rebound after losing territory in the 7th and 8th centuries • Continued to flourish even with more invasions and internal issues in the 9th century • Peaked in the 10th century • Michael III (842-867) • Made reforms to education, church, military, and economy • Also a period of intellectual renewal • Faced attacks from the Bulgars and the Arabs • Main problem came from the Photian Schism

41. Zenith of Byzantine Civilization • Photian Schism (863-867) • Conflict between the pope of the western church and the Patriarch of Constantinople • Began with Pope Nicolas I who condemned the appointment of a layman, Photius, as the new patriarch • Nicholas deposed of Photius in 863 at a synod in Rome • Photius responded by excommunicating the pope for accepting a revised version of the Nicene Creed • This led to an even greater division between eastern and western churches • Final break between the churches occurs in 1024

42. Zenith of Byzantine Civilization • Macedonian Dynasty (867-1081) • Was not only able to successfully defend the empire but went on the offensive • Also able to reestablish domestic order • Military reforms • Created new themes • Civil governors became military leaders of their areas • Civilian population became soldiers • Economic reforms • Supported free farmers from consolidation by landed aristocracy • Expanded trade relations with western Europe, focusing on silk and metal work