The Formation of Western Europe 800-1500

1. The Formation of Western Europe 800-1500 Section 1

2. Starter Questions What was the largest state in Western Europe at this time? How might England’s geography helped that nation create a strong, independent nation? Why do you think Europe was divided into so many states? Through what political units would a trader pass if he left from Venice and went to Calais using a land route?

3. Setting the Stage Many historians have called this period 500-1000 a “dark age” Magyars and Vikings raided monasteries all over Europe Late 900’s a spiritual revival began, the Church began to rebuild and created new places of worship

4. Religious reformers wanted to return to basic principles of the Christian religion New religious orders were established, these new monasteries gave the Popes the power to reform the Church, expanding its power and authority

5. Problems in the Church/Reform and Church Organisation/New Religious Orders Some priests were illiterate and could barely read their prayers while some were men of questionable morals Many bishops and abbots more interested in the positions rather than their spiritual duties 3 main issues: many village priests married and had families (against Church rulings) Bishops sold positions in the Church (Simony) and Kings decided who bishops would be (Lay Investiture) Why do you think these would be issues?

6. Pope Leo XI and Pope Gregory VII enforced Church laws , and the popes who followed them reorganised the Church continuing the reform policy 11-1200’s Church was almost like a kingdom with the Pope at it’s head Had advisors called the papal Curia, they acted as a court and also decided canon or Church law Diplomats travelled all over Europe dealing with bishops and kings, this is how they gained more influence Church also collected taxes called tithes from every Christian family (one tenth of a family’s income) This money was used to fund social services

7. Friars went all over Europe spreading the Church’s ideas also. They owned nothing and lived on begging Dominic, a Spanish priest, founded the Dominicans, one of the earliest groups of friars. Many of the Dominicans were scholars Another group were founded by Francis of Assisi, the Franciscans. They treated everyone including animals like spiritual brothers and sisters

8. Dominic Francis of Assisi

9. Women were very important in this revival, many joined these new orders These women also lived in poverty and helped the sick and poor like the friars But they were not allowed to travel from place to place to preach

10. Cathedrals: Cities of God

11. Some examples of Gothic Cathedrals still around today http://www.touropia.com/gothic-cathedrals/

12. Most people during this time went to church in small buildings near their homes, big churches were built in cities The church was viewed as a representation of God, so was elaborately decorated Built in a particular style depending on the time period

13. Early 1100’s a new style of church was popular due to more money being available, this is what we now know as Gothic style (like the website pictures) Name came from a Germanic tribe called the Goths These churches were different to previous ones in that they seemed like they were reaching for heaven, they also had much other decorations like carvings, sculptures and stained glass windows designed to inspire Many of these were built in France, with one of the most famous being in Paris, the Catherdral of Notre Dame 500 of these churches were built between 1170 and 1270

14. Gothic Architecture Look at the page with the cut out diagram of a Gothic Cathedral and read through all the information and answer the questions below Come up with 3 questions about elements in the style of Gothic architecture that might affect the sense of height and light inside What stories do you think the stained glass windows tell? What events do you think they might illustrate?

15. The Crusades

16. The Age of Faith also inspired wars of conquest In 1093 the Byzantine emperor Alexius Comnenus sent an appeal to Robert, Count of Flanders for help against the Muslim Turks who he was worried might conquer the capital Constantinople. You can see the letter he wrote in your textbook Pope Urban II also read the letter and decided to issue a call for a “Holy War” or a crusade Over the next 300 years a number of these Crusades were launched

17. Would you join the Crusade? Look at pg 340 of your text Look closely at the images and descriptions and then as a class discuss the Examining the Issues points

18. Look at the map entitled the Crusades 1096-1204 and answer the 3 questions that are related to it

19. Goals of the Crusades The Crusades had economic, social and political goals as well as religious goals Various groups wanted to control Palestine Kings and the Church also saw this as a chance to get rid of knights who were troublemakers Others who took part were younger sons who were not going to inherit their fathers property so they were looking for some land for themselves and an adventure! Merchants also made money from the Crusades by renting out their ships. They also hoped to take control of the key trade routes to India, Asia and China

20. Flow Chart: First and Second Crusades

21. The First and Second Crusades The Pope said that anyone who died while in Crusade were assured of a place in heaven 1097: Three armies gathered outside Constantinople. They were from all over Europe but not prepared for war They knew little about the climate, geography or culture of the Holy Land They had no strategy to capture Jerusalem and couldn’t even decide on a leader They attacked Jerusalem over a one month period and took the city on July 15th 1099

22. The little area the Crusaders had taken was vulnerable to Muslim counterattack Edessa fell in 1144 to the Turks, the second crusade was begun to take back the city but they were unsuccessful 1187: Europeans heard that Jerusalem had fallen to a Kurdish Muslim warrior named Saladin