Changes

Last week we finished the "ancient world."  After the ancient world was a period of hundreds of years when there was no significant civilization in Western Europe.

Last week we finished the "ancient world."  After the ancient world was a period of hundreds of years when there was no significant civilization in Western Europe.

This class we discuss the growing "Christendom" in Western Europe, including Charlemagne and the Carolingian Court.  We also learn about the rise of Islam in the Middle East, which its expansion to Africa, Spain and Asia.

This class we discuss the growing "Christendom" in Western Europe, including Charlemagne (pronounced SHAR-luh-MAIN) and the Carolingian (pronounced kar-uh-LIN-jee-uhn) Court.  We also learn about the rise of Islam in the Middle East, which its expansion to Africa, Spain and Asia.

==Introduction to the Middle Ages==

==Introduction to the Middle Ages==

The "[[Middle Ages]]" is the 1000-year period between the fall of the western [[Roman empire]] and the "[[Renaissance]]".  As a rough approximation, '''the dates of the Middle Ages are from A.D. 500 to 1500''', even though the Renaissance actually began hundreds of years earlier than 1500 and Rome fell before 500.  "Medieval" is the adjective for "Middle Ages":  for example, "medieval times" means the Middle Ages.

The "[[Middle Ages]]" is the 1000-year period between the fall of the western [[Roman empire]] and the "[[Renaissance]]".  As a rough approximation, '''the dates of the Middle Ages are from A.D. 500 to 1500''', even though the Renaissance actually began hundreds of years earlier than 1500 and Rome fell before 500.  "Medieval" is the adjective for "Middle Ages":  for example, "medieval times" means the Middle Ages.

Both the beginning and end of the Middle Ages occurred in what is now [[Italy]].  The "Middle Ages" is not a complimentary term.  It refers to the 1000 years in world history when there were no spectacular empires, and only a few intellectual breakthroughs.  The Middle Ages were a time of feudalism and chivalry.

Both the beginning and end of the Middle Ages occurred in what is now [[Italy]].  There was almost no centralized government during the Middle Ages; there were no spectacular empires.  The Middle Ages were a time of quiet feudalism and chivalry, and much spiritual growth as Christianity expanded.

Recall that the [[Germanic tribes]] destroyed the Roman empire in the west in the A.D. 400s, and in particular [[Alaric]] the [[Visigoth]] sacked [[Rome]] in A.D. 410.  Many of the Germanic tribes eventually converted to [[Christianity]], but their own customs made the social organization of the Roman empire impossible to maintain.  The networks of roads, water, shipping and agriculture that flourished during the Roman empire began to decay.  There was little obvious scholarship or artistic activity either.  Except for the Carolingian court of [[Charlemagne]] discussed below, there was no kingdom in Europe from the fall of Rome to A.D. 1000.

Recall that the [[Germanic tribes]] destroyed the Roman empire in the west in the A.D. 400s, and in particular [[Alaric]] the [[Visigoth]] sacked [[Rome]] in A.D. 410.  Many of the Germanic tribes eventually converted to [[Christianity]], but their own customs made the social organization of the Roman empire impossible to maintain.  The networks of roads, water, shipping and agriculture that flourished during the Roman empire began to decay.  There was little obvious scholarship or artistic activity.  Except for the Carolingian court of [[Charlemagne]] discussed below, there was no kingdom in Europe from the fall of Rome to A.D. 1000.

Christianity and its new network of churches helped filled the void.  Also, a new method developed for protecting private property and encouraging farming on a local level rather than through a centralized empire:  [[feudalism]].  It arose independently in Western Europe and [[Japan]].

Christianity and its new network of churches helped filled the void.  Also, a new method developed for protecting private property and encouraging farming on a local level rather than through a centralized empire:  [[feudalism]].  It arose independently and simultaneously in Western Europe and [[Japan]]. '''''Mystery: Why the coincidence in unrelated parts of the world?'''

Under the decentralized government during the Middle Ages, a huge church-state network called "Christendom" held influence over all of Europe.  Christendom consisted of a religious hierarchy known as the [[sacerdotium]], and a secular (non-religious) hierarchy known as the [[imperium]].  These corresponded to man's spiritual needs and his worldly or temporal needs.  In Western Europe, the pope of the [[Roman Catholic Church]] ruled over the religious side and an emperor ruled over the secular side, and they were often arguing with each other.  Emperors tried to control church officials and vice-versa.  The Church even had its own armies and cities, and a powerful pope named [[Innocent III]] even asserted the right to resolve disputes between kings.  The pope would [[excommunicate]] (kick out of the Church) kings to show his disapproval, and at times even attempted to remove kings from power.  This all makes for interesting reading and debate.

Under the decentralized government of the Middle Ages, a huge church-state network called "Christendom" held influence over all of Europe.  Christendom consisted of a religious hierarchy known as the [[sacerdotium]], and a secular (non-religious) hierarchy known as the [[imperium]].  These corresponded to man's spiritual needs and his worldly or temporal needs.  In Western Europe, the pope of the [[Roman Catholic Church]] ruled over the religious side and an emperor ruled over the secular side, and they were often arguing with each other.  Emperors tried to control church officials and vice-versa.  The Church even had its own armies and cities, and a powerful pope named [[Innocent III]] even asserted the right to resolve disputes between kings.  The pope would [[excommunicate]] (kick out of the Church) kings to show his disapproval, and at times even attempted to remove kings from power.  This all makes for interesting reading and debate.

   

   

There were other threats to peace.  Foreigners from Asia known as "[[Mongols]]" were vicious warriors who seemed invincible.  And there was terrible disease:  the [[Bubonic Plague]] was probably the worst disease in all of history, killing a large percentage of the European population.

There were other threats to peace.  Foreigners from Asia known as "[[Mongols]]" were vicious warriors who seemed invincible.  And there was terrible disease:  the [[Bubonic Plague]] was probably the worst disease in all of history, killing a large percentage of the European population.

From Gaul a leader emerged named Charles Martel (popularly known as "Charles the Hammer").  He ruled the Franks from A.D. 719-741 and, as his nickname suggests, he expanded he territory.  He was the one who saved Christian Europe by crushing the Muslim invasion at the Battle of Tours in 732.   

From Gaul a leader emerged named Charles Martel (popularly known as "Charles the Hammer").  He ruled the Franks from A.D. 719-741 and, as his nickname suggests, he expanded he territory.  He was the one who saved Christian Europe by crushing the Muslim invasion at the Battle of Tours in 732.   

Charles' son had the humorous name "Pepin the Short."  Despite the name, he was also a brilliant leader of the Franks.  Pepin conquered territory around Rome and then gave it as a gift to the pope.  The pope returned the favor with the "Donation of Pepin," laying the foundation for the Papal States, which were territories under the control of the pope.  Charles Martel and Pepin's family were the Carolingian (pronounced kar-uh-LIN-ee-uhn) dynasty that ruled the Franks from 751 all the way to 987.

Charles' son had the humorous name "Pepin the Short."  Despite the name, he was also a brilliant leader of the Franks.  Pepin conquered territory around Rome and then gave it as a gift to the pope.  The pope returned the favor with the "Donation of Pepin," laying the foundation for the Papal States, which were territories under the control of the pope.  Charles Martel and Pepin's family were the Carolingian dynasty that ruled the Franks from 751 all the way to 987.

Pepin's son (and Charles Martel's grandson) was Charlemagne (A.D. 742-814), who became the most famous member of the family.  The name "Charlemagne" (pronounced SHAR-luh-MAIN) is from the Latin "Carolus Magnum," which means "Charles the Great."  He conquered the territory once held by the Roman empire in his attempt to reestablish it; he educated children in palace schools; and he created the "missi dominici" (king's officials) to watch over his empire.  His revival of education became known as the Carolingian Renaissance, a brief period of progress or light in what is otherwise criticized as the Dark Ages.   

Pepin's son (and Charles Martel's grandson) was Charlemagne (A.D. 742-814), who became the most famous member of the family.  The name "Charlemagne" is from the Latin "Carolus Magnum," which means "Charles the Great."  He conquered the territory once held by the Roman empire in his attempt to reestablish it; he educated children in palace schools; and he created the "missi dominici" (king's officials) to watch over his empire.  His revival of education became known as the Carolingian Renaissance, a brief period of progress or light in what is otherwise criticized as the Dark Ages.   

Charlemagne was a well-educated Christian known to be highly intelligent and a promoter of arts and learning.  He served king of the Franks from A.D. 768 until his death in 814.  The Franks were offended by a practice of another Germanic tribe, the Saxons, whereby they would leave their dead out on funeral pyres to be consumed by animals.  This seemed contrary to the Christian faith in the resurrection, and for 35 years Charlemagne attempted to forcibly convert the Saxons to Christianity.  But the Saxons would revert to paganism after every conversion, until Charlemagne made paganism a crime against the state.  Critics say that Charlemagne treated non-Christians badly, and cite an example of how Charlemagne ordered 4,500 Saxons to be beheaded after they destroyed one of his armies.

Charlemagne was a well-educated Christian known to be highly intelligent and a promoter of arts and learning.  He served king of the Franks from A.D. 768 until his death in 814.  The Franks were offended by a practice of another Germanic tribe, the Saxons, whereby they would leave their dead out on funeral pyres to be consumed by animals.  This seemed contrary to the Christian faith in the resurrection, and for 35 years Charlemagne attempted to forcibly convert the Saxons to Christianity.  But the Saxons would revert to paganism after every conversion, until Charlemagne made paganism a crime against the state.  Critics say that Charlemagne treated non-Christians badly, and cite an example of how Charlemagne ordered 4,500 Saxons to be beheaded after they destroyed one of his armies.