9-GREEN

The Middle Ages

From Decay to Rebirth

450-1300 AD

-How historical and cultural developments of middle ages still affect us today

-Women and the middle ages

-1071-1127: William IX music, poetry, arts… Courts of Eleanor and daughters: music, literature, courtly love Guys not to be RUDE to the LADIES… ehem.. Men learned to be courteous and use manners. (LOL)

-1137- marries Louis VII- two girls, but NO sons

-Marriage is annulled, she remarries Henry Plantagenet – they DO have sons

-LOTS of important women in the Middle Ages—

-Middle Ages- Historical Background

-FALL OF ROME TO THE RENAISSANCE

-Collapse of roman structures to beginning of new.. renewal of interest in classical (Greek, Latin)

A New European Structure

-Roman Empire divided into East & West in 3rd century AD

-Northern Germanic tribes pushed at Roman boundaries

-Population boom led to mass migration from Germany to Rome with much violence

  • Called Volkerwanderung

The Germanic Contribution

-Various Germanic tribes (The Lombards, Visigoths, and Ostrogoths) settled in Italy

-Franks in France

-Individual kingdoms ended Roman rule

The Code of Chivalry

-Middle Ages emerges from Feudalism

-Knights serve the king

  • Knights were horsemen, skilled in metallurgy, and were good fighters

-In the Code, knights are loyal to lords and offer their services

-During the Crusades, knights fought for god

-The code of Chivalry is idealistic

The Birth of Feudalism

  • Vassalage is when 1 lord swears allegiance to another for privileges/ “feuds”
  • Germanic tribes quickly converted to Christianity
  • Latin now was made the official language of the Western Church

Feudalism and Peasants

  • Feudal System included peasants
  • Peasants served lords in exchange for protection
  • They contributed by raising livestock and growing food…………………..

The Moors Threaten Europe

  • Moors or Muslims take most of Spain (AD 711)
  • Charles Martel defeated Moors. Stopped advance. (AD 732)
  • Islam, Christianity struggled against one another.

A New Stability: The Reemergence of Learning

  • Christmas 800 A.D. – Charlemagne crowned Holy Roman Emperor
  • Represented the integration of Germanic people into European society.
  • Used this title (Holy Roman Emperor) to link the Ancient Roman Empire was an attempt to create a unified political order

A Crusade

  • Christian rulers looked to Jordan and Israel for holy lands
  • Pope Urban II urged knights to win back Holy Land

A Powerful Sermon

  • Urban attempted Crusade after successful speech
  • Failed as had little support
  • Followed by several other Crusades

Stirrings of Nationalism

  • Nationalism causes conflict between Catholic Church and kingdoms
  • Conflict changes political landscape
  • 1302: Dante expressed dislike for Church’s worldliness in Inferno

The Impact of the Crusades

  • Crusaders returned with new spices, textiles, and other products
  • A merchant class was created
  • New cities of learning grew, along with the rise of universities

Transformation of Medieval Life

-Gothic Cathedral-

  • Development of Gothic Style was rebirth of spiritual expression
  • Expressed brilliance of stonemasons
  • Stone towers, flying buttresses, stained-glass windows
  • Expressed multi-colored heaven of sunlight
  • Commerce = New capital = stimulates quest for knowledge and literature
  • Explorers search for better trade routes (expand knowledge)
  • Entered the Renaissance or rebirth

Literature in Native Languages

  • Latin: Language of religion, scholarship and government
  • Not Understood by Communities
  • Culture existed side by side
  • High Culture: Latin
  • Popular Culture: Vernacular

Reforms in Latin

-Latin reformed as vernacular literature arose

-Under Charlemagne, monks made new writing style called the Carolingian miniscule

  • Neater and easier to read

-Latin grammars helped to standardize the language

A New Kind of Vernacular Epic

-Oral tradition was evolving

  • New kind of epic – long, narrative, heroic poems (Germanic)

-These epics, unlike others, had irregular verse and were performed before battle (not written)

Epic Heroes for Different Nationalities

-Spanish story of My Cid: described Spanish war hero

-French story of Roland: described tragedy of Roland

-Described conflicts between Moors and Christians

Icelandic Sagas

-9th – 11th century

-Conflicts between Europeans and Viking raiders

-1066: Norman (Viking) Army conquered Europe

-Vikings settle in Iceland

-Literature: Njals saga and Egils saga

  • Oral traditions and fictionalize historical events

Troubadour Poetry

-Group of poets write in Provencal

-Troubadour= Trobar= to find or invent

-Theme of poetry was known as courtly love

-Courtly love =praise unattainable lady

-Courtly Love and the Status