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World History – Middle Ages (the Second Millennium)

World History – Middle Ages (the Second Millennium)

<br>'''Outline of Lecture: '''

Sixth Lecture

 

'''I. Introduction to the Second Millennium (A.D. 1000s)'''

==Introduction to the Second Millennium (A.D. 1000s)==

The second millennium began in the 1000s with a century of turmoil as Christianity grew larger and Islam began to challenge it.  Two key dates were 1054, when the schism or split occurred between the Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Churches, and 1055, when the Seljuk Turks captured Baghdad in present-day Iraq.  Both events set the stage for a big battle between Christian and Moslem forces in Palestine.

The second millennium began in the 1000s with a century of turmoil as Christianity grew larger and Islam began to challenge it.  Two key dates were 1054, when the schism or split occurred between the Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Churches, and 1055, when the Seljuk Turks captured Baghdad in present-day Iraq.  Both events set the stage for a big battle between Christian and Moslem forces in Palestine.

Capping the end of the 1000s was the capture by the Christians of Jerusalem.  This was the greatest success of the Crusades, which we discuss next.

Capping the end of the 1000s was the capture by the Christians of Jerusalem.  This was the greatest success of the Crusades, which we discuss next.

'''II. Crusades.'''

==Crusades==

The most famous military activity in the feudal period was the “Crusades”, a series of wars covering nearly 200 years, from A.D. 1096-1291.  Only the First Crusade and, to a lesser extent, the Third Crusade were successful.  But the First Crusade alone was immensely successful.  

The most famous military activity in the feudal period was the “Crusades”, a series of wars covering nearly 200 years, from A.D. 1096-1291.  Only the First Crusade and, to a lesser extent, the Third Crusade were successful.  But the First Crusade alone was immensely successful.  

Some Christians fully defend the Crusades, and proudly compare the United States’ invasion of Afghanistan and Iraq to a modern version of the Crusades.

Some Christians fully defend the Crusades, and proudly compare the United States’ invasion of Afghanistan and Iraq to a modern version of the Crusades.

'''III. The Mongols.'''

==The Mongols==

Asia and eastern Europe suffered the scourge of vicious fighters known as the Mongols.  Japan was very fortunate in one key respect:  it is an island enjoying the protections of water against invaders like the Mongols.   

Asia and eastern Europe suffered the scourge of vicious fighters known as the Mongols.  Japan was very fortunate in one key respect:  it is an island enjoying the protections of water against invaders like the Mongols.   

Today about 9 million people speak the Mongol language:  2.7 million in Mongolia; five million in Inner Mongolia; and one million in Russia.  Some in Afghanistan and Turkey are descended from the Mongols.

Today about 9 million people speak the Mongol language:  2.7 million in Mongolia; five million in Inner Mongolia; and one million in Russia.  Some in Afghanistan and Turkey are descended from the Mongols.

'''IV. Nation-States in Europe'''

==Nation-States in Europe==

After the Crusades, the kings and the Catholic Church had much more power and feudalism was weakened.  This set the stage for a rise in power of the nation-states that continue to exist to this day.  Viking invasions, which had contributed to the rise of feudalism, subsided.  The Vikings settled down and converted to Christianity and the threat of foreign invasions was diminished.  With new stability, trade began to flourish once again.  The European population tripled between A.D. 1000 and 1300.   

After the Crusades, the kings and the Catholic Church had much more power and feudalism was weakened.  This set the stage for a rise in power of the nation-states that continue to exist to this day.  Viking invasions, which had contributed to the rise of feudalism, subsided.  The Vikings settled down and converted to Christianity and the threat of foreign invasions was diminished.  With new stability, trade began to flourish once again.  The European population tripled between A.D. 1000 and 1300.   

The Hundred Years’ War, between England and France, lasted from 1337 to 1453.  This war began when the last Capetian king died without leaving a successor, and English King Edward III seized the French throne.  Joan of Arc, a girl who felt called by God to lead the French army, defeated the English at the siege at Orleans in 1430 at the age of seventeen, but was later captured by the English and burned at stake as a heretic in 1431.

The Hundred Years’ War, between England and France, lasted from 1337 to 1453.  This war began when the last Capetian king died without leaving a successor, and English King Edward III seized the French throne.  Joan of Arc, a girl who felt called by God to lead the French army, defeated the English at the siege at Orleans in 1430 at the age of seventeen, but was later captured by the English and burned at stake as a heretic in 1431.

'''V.  Church Philosophers and Architecture'''

==Church Philosophers and Architecture==

While nation-states were growing in Europe, so were universities.  A rapidly-growing number of rich and poor students were instructed in universities in Paris, Oxford, Naples, Padua, Salerno and many others in theology, philosophy, law and medicine.  During the 1100s and 1200s “scholasticism” flourished, which sought to combine logic of the classical philosophers with medieval Christian theology.  The Scholastics were divided into two groups, the realists (preferring the works of Plato) and the nominalists (preferring Aristotle’s teachings).   

While nation-states were growing in Europe, so were universities.  A rapidly-growing number of rich and poor students were instructed in universities in Paris, Oxford, Naples, Padua, Salerno and many others in theology, philosophy, law and medicine.  During the 1100s and 1200s “scholasticism” flourished, which sought to combine logic of the classical philosophers with medieval Christian theology.  The Scholastics were divided into two groups, the realists (preferring the works of Plato) and the nominalists (preferring Aristotle’s teachings).   

There was outstanding architecture in the Middle Ages, which can be seen in the majestic churches built during that era.  There were two main styles: Romanesque and Gothic.  Romanesque architecture is characterized by thick walls, rounded arches and small windows.  The Gothic style, developed later, consisted of taller, perpendicular structures with long windows, pointed arches and “flying buttresses” (stone supports on the outer walls of churches).  Gothic architecture, with its tall, pointed spires is said to reflect the desire of people of the Middle Ages to grow closer to God, reaching towards heaven and away from the earth.  Tall windows allowed sunlight to illuminate the interior, unlike Romanesque architecture, in which windows were small and interiors were dim.  A particularly stunning example of Gothic architecture is the Notre Dame in Paris, on which construction began in 1163 during the reign of Louis VII, and was completed about 200 years later in about 1345.  The Notre Dame features a beautiful stained-glass “rose window,” another distinguishing characteristic of Gothic churches.

There was outstanding architecture in the Middle Ages, which can be seen in the majestic churches built during that era.  There were two main styles: Romanesque and Gothic.  Romanesque architecture is characterized by thick walls, rounded arches and small windows.  The Gothic style, developed later, consisted of taller, perpendicular structures with long windows, pointed arches and “flying buttresses” (stone supports on the outer walls of churches).  Gothic architecture, with its tall, pointed spires is said to reflect the desire of people of the Middle Ages to grow closer to God, reaching towards heaven and away from the earth.  Tall windows allowed sunlight to illuminate the interior, unlike Romanesque architecture, in which windows were small and interiors were dim.  A particularly stunning example of Gothic architecture is the Notre Dame in Paris, on which construction began in 1163 during the reign of Louis VII, and was completed about 200 years later in about 1345.  The Notre Dame features a beautiful stained-glass “rose window,” another distinguishing characteristic of Gothic churches.

'''VI. The End of the Byzantine Empire and the Expansion of Islam'''

==The End of the Byzantine Empire and the Expansion of Islam==

The end of the Byzantine empire occurred when Mongols invaded in the 13th century, followed by the rise of the Ottoman (Muslim) Turks to power in the 14th century, who replaced the Byzantium empire with their own.  The Ottoman empire then lasted over 600 years, from 1299 to 1923, when it was divided by the victors in World War I.  At the height of its power in the 16th and 17th centuries, the Ottoman empire included Anatolia, the Middle East, portions of North Africa, and much of southeastern Europe.

The end of the Byzantine empire occurred when Mongols invaded in the 13th century, followed by the rise of the Ottoman (Muslim) Turks to power in the 14th century, who replaced the Byzantium empire with their own.  The Ottoman empire then lasted over 600 years, from 1299 to 1923, when it was divided by the victors in World War I.  At the height of its power in the 16th and 17th centuries, the Ottoman empire included Anatolia, the Middle East, portions of North Africa, and much of southeastern Europe.

The Islamic empires participated in international trade (especially the Ottomans and Safavids), but not to the extent that the Europeans were trading.  Technological advancements flourishing in Europe (such as the printing press) were not received well in dar-al Islam (lands under Islamic control).  These factors, combined with prolonged periods of warfare eventually led to the downfall of the Islamic empires.

The Islamic empires participated in international trade (especially the Ottomans and Safavids), but not to the extent that the Europeans were trading.  Technological advancements flourishing in Europe (such as the printing press) were not received well in dar-al Islam (lands under Islamic control).  These factors, combined with prolonged periods of warfare eventually led to the downfall of the Islamic empires.

'''VII.  Africa'''

==Africa==

As we have already seen in this course, language played a central role in defining a society.  This was also true in sub-Saharan Africa (south of the Saharan desert), where the Bantu language was shared by peoples in West Africa prior to 1000 B.C.  Historians refer to the West Africans as “Bantu speakers” who lived along the rain forest on the edge of what is now Nigeria.  The Bantu speakers began migrating to the east and south of Africa around 2000 B.C., and this migration was at its peak between about 700 and 500 B.C.  By A.D. 1000, the migration had ceased and several Bantu kingdoms arose in southern Africa.

As we have already seen in this course, language played a central role in defining a society.  This was also true in sub-Saharan Africa (south of the Saharan desert), where the Bantu language was shared by peoples in West Africa prior to 1000 B.C.  Historians refer to the West Africans as “Bantu speakers” who lived along the rain forest on the edge of what is now Nigeria.  The Bantu speakers began migrating to the east and south of Africa around 2000 B.C., and this migration was at its peak between about 700 and 500 B.C.  By A.D. 1000, the migration had ceased and several Bantu kingdoms arose in southern Africa.

Meanwhile, Christianity had some success in East Africa, and particularly in what is now Ethiopia.  Trade between East Africa and central Africa and the Indian Ocean flourished both under the Muslims in East Africa and, later, the Portuguese.

Meanwhile, Christianity had some success in East Africa, and particularly in what is now Ethiopia.  Trade between East Africa and central Africa and the Indian Ocean flourished both under the Muslims in East Africa and, later, the Portuguese.

'''VIII. Oceania'''

==Oceania==

The name “Oceania” describes the lands of the central and south Pacific, including Australia, New Zealand, Polynesia, Melanesia and Micronesia, and sometimes the Malay Archipelago.  The islands traded with each other, though typically not with faraway lands.   

The name “Oceania” describes the lands of the central and south Pacific, including Australia, New Zealand, Polynesia, Melanesia and Micronesia, and sometimes the Malay Archipelago.  The islands traded with each other, though typically not with faraway lands.