Western Europe after the Fall of Rome

The Middle Ages

HIS 101 Week 4

Europe, 500

Clovis, King of Franks

Ruled 481 - 511 Conquered remaining Roman governors and various tribes of Gaul United the Franks for the first time Converted to Roman Catholicism Founder of Merovingian Dynasty

Charles Martel
Charles the Hammer ruled as Duke of Franks 732-741 Defeated Emir of Cordoba at Battle of Tours, 732 First standing army in Europe since Rome Introduced heavy infantry and cavalry, brilliant general Founded Carolingian Dynasty Father of Pepin the Short

Charlemagne
Ruled as King of Franks 768 - 814 Charles the Great Expanded Frankish Kingdom greatly Granted imperium by Pope Leo III for his loyalty A knight himself, he solidified the feudal system in Europe

Carolingian Empire, 800

Treaty of Verdun, 843

Charlemagnes 3 grandsons divide Carolingian Empire in 3 parts France created from West Frankish Kingdom Holy Roman Empire (later Germany) from East Frankish Kingdom First empire since Romans a brief entity only, Europe soon divided again

Romanesque Style

Italian City States

Following Fall of Rome, many small city states emerge Never unified into one dominant kingdom Agrarian revolution leads to urbanization Large urban populations Cities become wealthier Urban elites, aristocracy, educated classes and nobility dominate cities Cities begin centuries long vicious cycles of war and competition

Medieval Italy

Norman Invasion of England

Anglo-Saxon tribes of Northern Germany/Scandinavia dominated England since Rome Harold II last Saxon King of England Normans from Northwestern France cross English Channel to take England Normans bring Frankish culture, customs and permanent connection to England

Battle of Hastings, 1066

William the Conqueror defeats Harold II @ Hastings Battle recorded in the Bayeux Tapestry William brought Feudalism to England, altered the language and built the Tower of London

Domesday Book
Commissioned by William I (The Conqueror) in 1086 A Census of the people, lands and wealth of England Stemmed from a desire to charge accurate taxes

Illuminated Manuscripts

Feudalism
Series of reciprocal legal and military obligations among warrior nobility Lord - noble who owned land Vassal - granted possession of the land by the lord Fief - the land Serf - peasants tied to the land, transferred with the land

Bodiam Castle, England

Carcassone, France

Crusades, 1096-1196

Crusaders

Knights Templar
Created in 1096 after First Crusade, ordained by Pope in 1129 Intended to protect Pilgrims to the Holy Land Became fierce soldiers with their own agenda Occupied and excavated the Temple Mount in Jerusalem Non-warriors ran a banking, trade and financial empire Friday the 13th, 1307 Pope Clement V outlawed Templars, arrested Knights and burned at stake

Temple Church, London

Magna Carta
Great Charter signed in 1215 Stemmed from disagreement between Pope Innocent III, King John of England and English Barons Forced King to give up some powers and recognize legal procedures The power of the King was bound by law

Magna Carta
The right of Habeas Corpus most enduring legacy Formed basis of developing English Common Law system Heavily influenced the United States Constitution & Bill of Rights An original 1297 copy on display at National Archives in Washington, DC

Holy Roman Empire

Created with Papal coronation of Charlemagne in 800 A loose religious confederation ruled by local nobility, lacked central authority Reich (empire) was elective monarchy Local electors voted on an Emperor Concordat of Worms 1122 gave Holy Roman Emperor power to invest bishops with secular authority only (early seperation of church & state)

Golden Bull of 1356

Signed by Holy Roman Emperor Charles IV Issued by Reichstag in Nuremberg Regulated and defined election process of Emperor Election & coronation to take place in Frankfurt In effect for 400 years until end of Holy Roman Empire in 1800

Spread of Black Death

Bubonic Plague
Begin in Asia, spread to world along trade routes 75 million killed worldwide, 20 million in Europe Devastated population of Europe 1347 - 1351 Caused persecution of Jews, Muslims, foreigners, Gypsies Hastened the end of Feudal system as serfs die off in large numbers

Spread of Plague in Europe

Hundred Years War

Henry V
Ruled England 1413-1422 Crossed English Channel to attack and invade France Powerful & successful English king during Hundred Years War Victorious over French at Battle of Agincourt Conquered large amounts of French Territory

Battle of Agincourt, 1415

English victory over French as part of Hundred Years War (1337 - 1453) English Kings claimed the French throne Introduced new technology and standing armies Stimulated nationalist spirit

Joan of Arc
Lived 1412 - 1431 Had visions from God telling her to expel English from France Rallied French soldiers and renewed confidence in cause War ends 22 years after her death, France restored Convicted of heresy and burned at the stake, by the French

Europe, 1500

Notre Dame, Paris

Salisbury Cathedral, England

Notre Dame, Chartres

Gothic Cathedral

Began in France in 1100s, called the French Style Gothic was used as an insult Characteristics: ribbed vault, gargoyles, pointed arch, flying buttress Stained Glass windows & sculpture depict Biblical scenes Preceded by Romanesque, followed by Renaissance

Stained Glass Windows

Flying Buttresses

Gothic Vault

Vaults in Salisbury Cathedral

Vaulted Dome, Salisbury

National Cathedral, Washington

Brooklyn Bridge, NYC

Gothic Arches, Brooklyn Bridge