Western+Europe

10.1 Day 1 - Notes //-// Began in a corner of Western Asia known as Judea as an offshoot of Judaism and received it's //"//big break" when Constantine, emperor of the Roman Empire, decided to adopt it as the the main religion; from there it spread to other parts of Western Europe - Power and influence of the Catholic Church continued to grow after the collapse of the Roman Empire, because people sought guidance from the church during a politically unstable period in European history (the Dark Ages) - Religious figures continued to focus on religious teachings, avoiding and discouraging advancements in education (the clergy were the few educated people in Western Europe at the time), science and technology - Christianity became authority figures and were the only ones to have access to information about the world outside of Europe, thereby heavily influencing the beliefs, attitudes, and actions of those living in Europe. - Political leadership (kings like Ostrogoths, Franks, and Visigoths), all converted to Christianity in order to maintain more control over populous - Because religion intermingled with politics, Christianity helped to create laws during dark ages that induced forced worship, increased 'tithes', and repression of non-Christian religions. - Also lead to Crusades, attack on Middle East in attempt to regain Holy land //**Reign of Charles Martel & Viking Raids** (600 - 755)// //-// Scandinavians Vikings launched raids in and around the North Sea between 490-600 because of favorable weather conditions (warm weather trend), overpopulation in their homeland (not enough farmland) and a culture that did not discourage pillaging. - In Britain and northern mainland of continental Europe, monasteries were often pillaged because they contained valuables and were unprotected - Some slaves were also captured during raids - Began Carolingian Dynasty in France, most powerful kingdom in Europe at the time - Grandfather of Charlemagne, one of the greatest European rulers of all time - Pioneered new military technology like stirrups for swords and heavy infantry, giving the Franks an unprecedented advantaged during early European warfare - Charlemagne crowned king of Frankish Empire in 771; begins expansion period of Frankish empire; eventually crowned first Holy Roman Emperor by the church - Expands Frankish kingdom to the east, encapsulating areas formerly held by Germanic tribes and pushing as far east as some Slavic lands, including Slovenia and Croatia - The Pyrenees mountain range provided a buffer zone between France and al-Andalus, the portion of the Iberian peninsula that was controlled by Spanish Moors - Pushed south into Italy, including papal states as part of Frankish kingdom - Freed Rome from the Lombards and established new, independent papal states, giving the Franks the title of "protectors of the church" - Jews given some freedoms under Charlemagne; allowed to prosper in the banking business although some Christians gain unfavorable view of Jews - After the death of Louis II and the partition of the Frankish Empire, lack of clear leadership and political instability gives way to Feudalism, a system of political organization that evolved in Western Europe in the 8th and 9th centuries - "Feudalism - political and economic system of Europe based on holding of all land in fief or fee and the resulting relation of lord to vassal and characterized by homage, legal and military service of tenants, and forfeiture." - Economic system discouraged unification and urbanization - Lowest people in social ladder, serfs, essentially became property of their feudal lords (continued in some ways until French Revolution of late 18th century) - Christianity continued to be a dominant force in Europe, spreading to almost all politically organized groups in Europe - Barbarism and raids discontinued because of adoption of Christianity, which discouraged its practice - Christian crusades in the 11th and into the 12th centuries would bind the people of Europe together under one common religious group, in addition to increasing trade with Asia, and benefiting from cultural exchange with Muslims (new advancements in technology, science etc.) - Fact that church transcended political organizations helped to give people sense of purpose, thus expanding the German, Byzantine, and Holy Roman Empires - Holy Roman Empire began spread after the appointment of Otto I the Great and because of the fact that it had considerable influence on Christian authorities - Expanded into Low Countries, Kingdom of Burgundy, Bohemia, Austria, and Italy - Pope unable to stop its expansion because Italy fell into chaos and HRE saved the church from collapse (therefore, HRE emperors had considerable influence over the church - Nevertheless, HRE remained heavily decentralized --> eventually would contribute to the decline of empire - Effects of the Crusades --> Senseless and violent wars, undermining of Church's moral authority, distrust of Christians, opened way for Muslim conquests in Europe, Asian influence (economically, culturally, and technologically), and increased Anti-Semitism - Normans (the Norse who settled in Northern France) invade England in 1066 and become the ruling class in England (William the Conqueror, Battle of Hastings etc.) - First step towards democracy since Roman times; wealthy class fed up with king ---> marched into London and forced the king to sign Magna Carta, ensuring certain rights for select individuals within England The Golden Horde was able to dominate Europe because... - They were forced west due to unusually dry weather in their Asian homelands - They had superior military technology because of their nomadic tendencies (picked up new technologies while traveling) - They had strength in numbers because they forced subjugated people to "join or die" - They learned diplomacy and political maneuvering (they knew a lot about science and government philsophy) - They invaded at a time when Europe was weak, still feeling the effects of the Black Death Plague - Black Death kills an estimated 75 million people in Europe (amounting to approximately half of the population) between 1347 - 1341; caused by bacterium in rats in Central Asia; spread to Europe after Mongols spread it to Arabs (traders spread it to port cities across southern Mediterranean); death rate notably higher in south (some cases 80% mortality) and in cities (where people had weak immune systems, were overcrowded, and lived in squalid conditions); continued to plague Europe, although on a smaller scale, until 19th century - Social Consequences of the Black Death: increased persecution of Jews, peasant revolts, papal authority weakens, and lower-class becomes more powerful and less naive 10.2 - Manorialism media type="custom" key="7555865" width="160" height="160" The manorial system was an economic and social structure that detailed the relationship between a landlord (fief) and his laborers. The laborers were usually obligated to pay part of their agricultural harvest and work on building repairs (on the "manor") in exchange for some form of justice and protection. Serfs lived in extremely harsh conditions, having to starve off feelings of hunger and having to work with limited agricultural technology. Still, they were not slaves, and were able to own and inherit property.
 * Impact of Christianity** (490-600)
 * The Rise of the Franks** (755-850)
 * Feudalism** (840 - 967)
 * Christianity and the High Middle Ages & Expansion of Holy Roman Empire** (967 - 1060)
 * Effects of the Crusades, Norman conquest of England and Magna Carta** (1060-1240)
 * Why the Golden Horde was able to dominate Europe and the Black Death Plague** (1240 - 1350)

10.3 Feudalism

media type="custom" key="7555891" The military and political system of feudalism helped to define political organization in Western Europe during the Middle Ages. It consisted of serfs (the lowest agricultural workers), vassals (landowners who were indebted to some kind of higher authority), and nobles (who could rule over a whole number of vassals and create large, but mostly decentralized regional kingdoms). This system of political organization, although primitive by the standards of places like China and the Islamic world, provided some impetus for Western Europe in terms of trade and social interaction (people were not limited to the confined spaces of their manors).

10.4 Magna Carta media type="custom" key="7559067"http://dholmqvistapwhp6.wikispaces.com/Western+Europe Magna Carta was a document that wealthy aristocrats forced King John of England to sign in 1215, which granted certain members of the English population (most notably the wealthy members of society that forced John to sign it in the first place) rights that could not be infringed upon by the king. This later gave way to the development of British parliament.

10.5 ESPIRIT CHART - Western Europe Civilization: Western Europe Time Period - 500 - 1400 - However, towards the medieval period (around the 10th century), inter-continental trade begins to pick up, especially in Italy, where **merchants and bankers start to become rich** (wool from England, lumber from Scandinavia, metal/other manufactured goods from Low Countries) - Guilds were created to protect the interests of craftsmen, and inhibit capitalist greed within their respective trades || - The "three estates" = most privileged individuals in society (church, nobles, urban leaders) - Serfs lived on agricultural estates called manors and were expected to contribute part of their harvest to the land owner/noble - Serfs were still independent and free from control of their lords (they weren't slaves like in Eastern Europe) --> later in the medieval age, conditions gradually improved, as more trade and better technology facilitated better living standards - Women continued to see decreased roles as Europe continued to develop (especially those living in urban areas) || - Regional lords held decentralized control over large swaths of lands; had vassals, knights, and serfs that reported to them - Frankish and Germanic kingdoms arise as a result (Caroligians, Charles Martel, Charlemagne) - Almost all of Western European leaders converted to Christianity in order to gain stronger control over peasantry - Iberian peninsula controlled by Muslim Moors, but were expelled by Christians by 1492 (after Charles Martel stopped their invasion of Europe at the battle of Tours) - Magna Carta (1215) forced King John to recognize certain rights of nobility; indicative in power struggle between leaders and rich aristocratic class || - Viking raids throughout the North Sea continued to hamper the development of cohesive economic and political system in Western Europe (stop after they converted to Christianity) - Crusades were holy wars fought by Christians in effort to regain holy land; soldiers motivated by thoughts of heaven + salvation, in addition to battlefield glory and monetary gain (1st crusade, called upon by Pope Urban II considered to be the most successful, next turned out to be less so) || - Clergy and church officials became only source of information about outside world (clergy were almost the only educated people in Western Europe during the Dark Ages) - Organization of the Christian church unparalleled by any political institution in Europe - Pope involved in power struggles later on with stronger regional lords and Holy Roman Emperors - Religious scholars continued to discuss and debate reason vs. faith (Peter Abelard vs. Bernard of Calirvaux) and its place in religion || - Scholasticism --> dominant philosophical medieval approach ---> grounded in reason and logic - Languages start to develop; French and English (both had Latin and Germanic roots) - Thomas Aquinas (Italian Monk) - "published a host of Summas that used careful logic to eliminate all possible objections to truth as revealed by reason and faith" || - Moldboard plow helped peasants to till their farmland deeper, making their farming more efficient and effective ||
 * E || - Economic system based on local, subsistence farming (usually, these goods never left the premises of the manor that they were farmed on)
 * S || - Social structure based on systems of feudalism and manorialism; kings and wealthy landlords on the top, other vassals immediately below them, knights next in line, and serfs (peasants) on the bottom
 * P || - Europe in the Dark Ages tied together politically by system of feudalism
 * I || - Norman invasion of England by William the Conqueror in 1056 brought political system of feudalism to the British mainland
 * R || - Christianity became powerful force in Europe in the absence of political organization after the fall of Rome
 * I || - Gothic style of architecture began to dominate in Europe, replacing older classical (namely Roman) building styles
 * T || - Three field system allowed peasants to keep their fields full of nutrients while still remaining productive

10.6 The Decline of Medieval Synthesis Notes Shift in traditional post classical characteristics of Medieval Europe (available land dwindled, famine, disease, slow shift in social structure) --> Hundred Year's War between France and England (results in strain on resources for both countries, and ultimate French victory) --> less reliance on local armies (outdated defensive tactics like fortified castles no match for cannon and gunpowder)---> development of concept of chivalry; kings preferred to use paid armies --> Catholic Church became a less powerful force in Europe (often times had to bow to the pressure of traditional political leadership; French leaders relocated the papacy to Avignon, France in the 14th century before returning it to Rome); new ideas of devotion to God placed less emphasis on church (instead personal relationships stressed - clergy not as important) ---> Breakdown of intellectual and artistic synthesis; blend of rationalism and religion no longer feasible; artistic sculptures and other types of architecture placed less emphasis on religious themes Legacy of the post classical west ---> Middle Ages traditionally seen as lull between "glory of Rome and glitter of modern Europe" ---> But was also period of "growing dynamism" - population, trade (and intellectual exchange), and intellectual activity increased during the Middle Ages, and laid foundations for later achievements (during the Renaissance and onward) ---> Crusades suggested the expansionist spirit of Western Europeans