This is another book that I've rated a bit lower than I probably should have because of the lack of half stars on Goodreads. Can we please get halfstars?
The Song of Roland is great epic poetry, a wonderfully simple story with blood and guts, extreme violence and a great victory. It's also good propaganda. In that way, The Song of Roland is extremely successful. But, much of the complaining about it from modern readers is that it is overly simple and it depicts a very black and white morality: What is Christian is right and what is pagan/Islamic is not. There aren't too many complex characters in the story, which for epic poetry is ok. Charlemagne is the archetype for the godly, good, strong king. King Marsile, his opposite is weak, duplicitous and an archetype for a bad king. Baligant the emir, is a noble enemy worthy of Charlemagne. If Charlemagne only defeated King Marsile, the victory wouldn't have been good enough to write home about. It's like when Alabama beats Alabama A&M. It's supposed to happen. But, when Alabama beats somebody real, the two times a season they are faced with that situation, Alabama gets epics written about it that can reach an audience beyond the sycophantic south. But, I digress.
Roland is the perfect Medieval knight, brave yet pious. His death happens valiantly, but he still has time to get one last kill, pray to God for forgiveness of his sins, and die facing the country he is conquering in his death. I think the most modern character in the sense that he is the most complex is Ganelon, the traitor.
Ganelon, like Roland, has issues with pride. While Roland overcomes his pride to die a noble death, Ganelon succumbs to it and betrays his king for the sake of his own pride. He argues that his actions weren't driven treason but a personal feud with Roland. The fact that he isn't just killed upon returning to the capital, but is forced to undergo a trial by his peers that is decided in a personal combat between one of his liegeman and one that is personally loyal to Charlemagne is the scene I found the most compelling. Pinabel, the noble fighting for Ganelon is seen as good liegeman and because of it only God's intervention in the combat saves his opponent Theirry. Theirry has to win because he is the representative of the righteous Charlemagne and because treachery not only sinks the traitor, but those around him: "He who betrayeth, aye he slayeth himself and other men."
The other figure that I'm all of a sudden intrigued by is Turpin, the warrior archbishop. The Middle Ages is full of holy men doing war and I wouldn't have thought much of it until recently reading a book on Byzantine history. The idea of a warrior priest was rejected by the East. How different would have history been if the whole of the old Roman Empire had embraced the marriage between warriors and priests? How different would it have been if the West had shared the East's natural abhorrence to the concept of a priest carrying a sword? It's interesting how a story can change each time your read it.
Showing posts with label French History. Show all posts
Showing posts with label French History. Show all posts
Friday, September 27, 2019
Thursday, May 23, 2019
England & The Hundred Years' War
From Goodreads
England and The Hundred Years' War (1327 - 1485)
Charles William Chadwick Oman
As far as history books go this one lands firmly in the middle. It's a little dry and covers a lot of ground in a short space. It's a good introduction to the Hundred Years War as told through the English perspective. I think that the French perspective might be a bit more interesting to read as that seems to be where the action was at. Also, because it covered so much ground so quickly it glosses over some of the important things a bit too quickly. That being said, it's probably a good introduction piece for anyone looking to learn a bit more about this war.
England and The Hundred Years' War (1327 - 1485)
Charles William Chadwick Oman
As far as history books go this one lands firmly in the middle. It's a little dry and covers a lot of ground in a short space. It's a good introduction to the Hundred Years War as told through the English perspective. I think that the French perspective might be a bit more interesting to read as that seems to be where the action was at. Also, because it covered so much ground so quickly it glosses over some of the important things a bit too quickly. That being said, it's probably a good introduction piece for anyone looking to learn a bit more about this war.
Sunday, April 30, 2006
Notes on Jones' Kant
(Originally Written April 30, 2006 in Book 3)
Kant & The 19th Century
W.T. Jones
18th Century Philosophers:
-optimistic
- 'Best of all possible worlds'
- 'Whatever is, is right'
Then optimism was shattered. The French Revolution produced Napoleon, the industrial revolution produce over-crowded urban centers and Hume destroyed the basis for knowledge.
Counter scientific movements began.
In steps Kant
Kant
Answers to Hume's critique and shows a priori knowledge of nature is possible, limit science's scope so faith is not squeezed out (two main goals).
Both were accomplished in Kant's "Copernican revolution" of the theory of knowledge.
Theory of Knowledge:
Minds are not contemplators of independent objects. The objects are constructs in which the activity of the mind plays an essential part.
Double thesis - 1) Since cognition includes construction things not in this constructive activity are unknowable. 2) There is a realm of reality that is inaccessible to human minds because they did not participate in its construction.
Post-Kantian philosophers have been either one of two things. Either they agreed with point 1 or point 2.
Why do I love Kant so much?
"[Schopenhauer] resenting - as most subsequent philosophers have - his (Kant's) elaborate, indeed compulsive architectonic, whereby everything is divided into threes and fours and categories and concepts are invented merely to satisfy Kant's craving for symmetry" (Tanner, 2).
Kant & The 19th Century
W.T. Jones
18th Century Philosophers:
-optimistic
- 'Best of all possible worlds'
- 'Whatever is, is right'
Then optimism was shattered. The French Revolution produced Napoleon, the industrial revolution produce over-crowded urban centers and Hume destroyed the basis for knowledge.
Counter scientific movements began.
In steps Kant
Kant
Answers to Hume's critique and shows a priori knowledge of nature is possible, limit science's scope so faith is not squeezed out (two main goals).
Both were accomplished in Kant's "Copernican revolution" of the theory of knowledge.
Theory of Knowledge:
Minds are not contemplators of independent objects. The objects are constructs in which the activity of the mind plays an essential part.
Double thesis - 1) Since cognition includes construction things not in this constructive activity are unknowable. 2) There is a realm of reality that is inaccessible to human minds because they did not participate in its construction.
Post-Kantian philosophers have been either one of two things. Either they agreed with point 1 or point 2.
Why do I love Kant so much?
"[Schopenhauer] resenting - as most subsequent philosophers have - his (Kant's) elaborate, indeed compulsive architectonic, whereby everything is divided into threes and fours and categories and concepts are invented merely to satisfy Kant's craving for symmetry" (Tanner, 2).
Monday, April 24, 2006
Luther timeline
(Originally written April 24, 2006 in 3 Subject)
European Religious History
Luther is teaching at Wittenburg University. He begins to tackle the theological implications of the New Testament. At the time of Luther scholasticism and humanism are opposite points in the intellectual and religious world. Catholic disagreements among theologians were commonplace at the time he posted the 95 Theses. Luther expects that each of his thesis will be debated against by Papal legates, not be ignored or lead to his expulsion. Pope Leo X sees Luther's 95 theses as the ramblings of a drunken German. The Church has a stronghold on all heresies, making them nearly non-existent.
95 Theses
-Luther fears that indulgences are replacing the repentant lifestyles that Jesus requires. Luther does not reject the sacrament of penance entirely, he is upset because it is being misunderstood by the laity.
-Luther states that Pope cannot pardon all sins. The Pope can only forgive the sins committed against the sin. Only God can forgive sins committed against God.
-Luther challenges the concept of purgatory.
-Indulgences cause people to believe their sins are forgiven so they won't be contrite and thus, be lost.
-Wrote to inform the Pope how the theology in his name is being corrupted.
The Archbishop of Mainz, who bought the office asks the theologians of the University of Mainz what they thought about the 95 theses. Pope Leo X doesn't see the 95 theses as being any particularly big deal. He orders the Augustinians to get ahold of and control Luther, an Augustinian himself. Frederick the Wise (the elector and ruler over the territory Luther is living in) protects Luther because he is enjoying the attention that his region is getting on account of Luther. Luther is declared a heretic by a Dominican in 1518 and ordered to be extradited to Rome. The Pope states he has this power because the Papacy has jurisdiction over all clerics. Frederick the Wise disagrees and claims authority over Luther because of his professorship in his district, thus giving Frederick jurisdiction. He orders that the trial of Luther must be done in Germany and he can appeal to the Holy Roman Emperor.
Luther then asks for a trial among German theologians. Frederick approves of this. The Pope is forced to back down because the Holy Roman Emperor will die soon and wishes to influence Frederick and the other German electors to elect an emperor favorable to Pope Leo X. The Pope sends Papal legates to the trial but orders them not to engage in the debate and only say "submit to the Pope". The Papal legate however condemns Luther without him even speaking, but he is not formally excommunicated. After this Luther realizes that he is getting Frederick into a dangerous situation and offers to leave the territory. Frederick decides however to protect Luther until the matter is settled.
The Holy Roman Emperor dies in 1519. The Leipzig Disputation (Leipzig University was a very staunchly Catholic place) refuses to debate the theses and only continues to demand that Luther submit to the Pope. Luther then challenges the Papal authority. He declares that the Papacy does not have the authority it claims to have. Luther declares himself more orthodox than the Leipzig University and the Catholics there. Leipzig then declares Luther to be a Hussite (Jan Hus).
Luther however knew neither Hus nor Wycliffe but agreed with some of their points. Luther placed the Bible over the traditions of the Church and above the Church fathers. He taught that justification came solely by grace through faith.
Luther begins to realize that he may have to denounce the Pope's authority outright. Meanwhile Charles V, the king of Spain, is elected the Holy Roman Emperor (being the grandson of the former Holy Roman Emperor). This gives Charles dominion over Spain, Burgundy, Germany and the Netherlands. The lands of Charles completely surround France, leaving King Francis I to feel threatened by Charles V. In 1520 Luther releases documents writing to the German princes (electors) to take responsibility in Church reform, further angering the Pope.
European Religious History
Luther is teaching at Wittenburg University. He begins to tackle the theological implications of the New Testament. At the time of Luther scholasticism and humanism are opposite points in the intellectual and religious world. Catholic disagreements among theologians were commonplace at the time he posted the 95 Theses. Luther expects that each of his thesis will be debated against by Papal legates, not be ignored or lead to his expulsion. Pope Leo X sees Luther's 95 theses as the ramblings of a drunken German. The Church has a stronghold on all heresies, making them nearly non-existent.
95 Theses
-Luther fears that indulgences are replacing the repentant lifestyles that Jesus requires. Luther does not reject the sacrament of penance entirely, he is upset because it is being misunderstood by the laity.
-Luther states that Pope cannot pardon all sins. The Pope can only forgive the sins committed against the sin. Only God can forgive sins committed against God.
-Luther challenges the concept of purgatory.
-Indulgences cause people to believe their sins are forgiven so they won't be contrite and thus, be lost.
-Wrote to inform the Pope how the theology in his name is being corrupted.
The Archbishop of Mainz, who bought the office asks the theologians of the University of Mainz what they thought about the 95 theses. Pope Leo X doesn't see the 95 theses as being any particularly big deal. He orders the Augustinians to get ahold of and control Luther, an Augustinian himself. Frederick the Wise (the elector and ruler over the territory Luther is living in) protects Luther because he is enjoying the attention that his region is getting on account of Luther. Luther is declared a heretic by a Dominican in 1518 and ordered to be extradited to Rome. The Pope states he has this power because the Papacy has jurisdiction over all clerics. Frederick the Wise disagrees and claims authority over Luther because of his professorship in his district, thus giving Frederick jurisdiction. He orders that the trial of Luther must be done in Germany and he can appeal to the Holy Roman Emperor.
Luther then asks for a trial among German theologians. Frederick approves of this. The Pope is forced to back down because the Holy Roman Emperor will die soon and wishes to influence Frederick and the other German electors to elect an emperor favorable to Pope Leo X. The Pope sends Papal legates to the trial but orders them not to engage in the debate and only say "submit to the Pope". The Papal legate however condemns Luther without him even speaking, but he is not formally excommunicated. After this Luther realizes that he is getting Frederick into a dangerous situation and offers to leave the territory. Frederick decides however to protect Luther until the matter is settled.
The Holy Roman Emperor dies in 1519. The Leipzig Disputation (Leipzig University was a very staunchly Catholic place) refuses to debate the theses and only continues to demand that Luther submit to the Pope. Luther then challenges the Papal authority. He declares that the Papacy does not have the authority it claims to have. Luther declares himself more orthodox than the Leipzig University and the Catholics there. Leipzig then declares Luther to be a Hussite (Jan Hus).
Luther however knew neither Hus nor Wycliffe but agreed with some of their points. Luther placed the Bible over the traditions of the Church and above the Church fathers. He taught that justification came solely by grace through faith.
Luther begins to realize that he may have to denounce the Pope's authority outright. Meanwhile Charles V, the king of Spain, is elected the Holy Roman Emperor (being the grandson of the former Holy Roman Emperor). This gives Charles dominion over Spain, Burgundy, Germany and the Netherlands. The lands of Charles completely surround France, leaving King Francis I to feel threatened by Charles V. In 1520 Luther releases documents writing to the German princes (electors) to take responsibility in Church reform, further angering the Pope.
Wednesday, April 19, 2006
Renaissance Popes & Martin Luther
(Originally Written April 19, 2006 in 3 Subject)
European Religious History
Problems in the Renaissance Church:
1. Simony
2. Clerical Marriage
-Priests with wives or concubines
-upper Church officials with concubines and children
-Popes known to have illegitimate children
3. Nepotism
-Nepotism leads to the building of Clerical Dynasties
4. Pluralism (having two positions simultaneously)
-An unfortunate, but sometime necessary evil in some cases on account of the black death
-Non-residency of bishops in their bishoprics
Renaissance Popes
-Council of Constance (1411-1414)
-Reformation
-Most Renaissance Popes are looked cross-eyed at by the people for various religious issues
Systux IV - Nepotism, but begins the building of the Sistine Chapel and commissions Michaelangelo
Innocent VIII - (worst example of the Renaissance Popes) - 16 illegitimate children, which is widely known. Continues the Papal trend of centralizing Papal authority by creating 52 new administration jobs
Alexander VI (1492-1503)
-Buys the Papacy
-Borgia, son of Alexander VI, is sent in military action to divide the Papal States into his own familial lands
Julius II (1503-1513) - Leads the Papal army against his own enemies, dubbed "The Warrior Pope"
-Erasmus of Roderdam wrote "Julius Exclusivis" as a satire of Julius II
-Julius II did however commission the building of St. Peter's Basilica
Leo X (1513-1521)
-1st Medici Family Pope
-Pope during Martin Luther's 95 thesis posting
-Leo X was made Archbishop at age 8 and a Cardinal at age 13 by the Medici family
Problems in the Holy Roman Empire
- Holy Roman Empire elects its emperor with the 7 princes (7 noble families)
-Because of elections, Germany cannot consolidate power like France and England. Emperors are also unable to ensure dynastic succession.
-This sets the tables for Martin Luther to shake up the world.
1)All of Europe has a looming presence in the east. The ottoman Empire is the most powerful empire in the region (Turkey & Greece). The Pope and the Holy Roman Empire have the most to worry about because the Holy Roman Empire is not consolidated and the Pope already has problems with the Ottomans, the Holy Roman Empire, The French King, the French Catholic Church and various others in Europe.
2)The Printing Press: Luther's crew is better with this new invention than the Pope's Catholic Brigade.
3)Literacy is on the rise because of the Renaissance ideal of education and emphasis on public schools.
4) Luther appeals to the German princes to overthrow the Catholic Church, who are politically estranged from the Papacy.
European Religious History
Problems in the Renaissance Church:
1. Simony
2. Clerical Marriage
-Priests with wives or concubines
-upper Church officials with concubines and children
-Popes known to have illegitimate children
3. Nepotism
-Nepotism leads to the building of Clerical Dynasties
4. Pluralism (having two positions simultaneously)
-An unfortunate, but sometime necessary evil in some cases on account of the black death
-Non-residency of bishops in their bishoprics
Renaissance Popes
-Council of Constance (1411-1414)
-Reformation
-Most Renaissance Popes are looked cross-eyed at by the people for various religious issues
Systux IV - Nepotism, but begins the building of the Sistine Chapel and commissions Michaelangelo
Innocent VIII - (worst example of the Renaissance Popes) - 16 illegitimate children, which is widely known. Continues the Papal trend of centralizing Papal authority by creating 52 new administration jobs
Alexander VI (1492-1503)
-Buys the Papacy
-Borgia, son of Alexander VI, is sent in military action to divide the Papal States into his own familial lands
Julius II (1503-1513) - Leads the Papal army against his own enemies, dubbed "The Warrior Pope"
-Erasmus of Roderdam wrote "Julius Exclusivis" as a satire of Julius II
-Julius II did however commission the building of St. Peter's Basilica
Leo X (1513-1521)
-1st Medici Family Pope
-Pope during Martin Luther's 95 thesis posting
-Leo X was made Archbishop at age 8 and a Cardinal at age 13 by the Medici family
Problems in the Holy Roman Empire
- Holy Roman Empire elects its emperor with the 7 princes (7 noble families)
-Because of elections, Germany cannot consolidate power like France and England. Emperors are also unable to ensure dynastic succession.
-This sets the tables for Martin Luther to shake up the world.
1)All of Europe has a looming presence in the east. The ottoman Empire is the most powerful empire in the region (Turkey & Greece). The Pope and the Holy Roman Empire have the most to worry about because the Holy Roman Empire is not consolidated and the Pope already has problems with the Ottomans, the Holy Roman Empire, The French King, the French Catholic Church and various others in Europe.
2)The Printing Press: Luther's crew is better with this new invention than the Pope's Catholic Brigade.
3)Literacy is on the rise because of the Renaissance ideal of education and emphasis on public schools.
4) Luther appeals to the German princes to overthrow the Catholic Church, who are politically estranged from the Papacy.
Friday, March 17, 2006
The Avignon Papacy & Investiture Crises
(Originally written March 17, 2006 in 3 Subject Book)
European Religious History
Struggles between kings and popes
Investiture Contest/Controversies
-Henry IV of German vs. Pope Gregory VII
Kings vs. Popes
1) Over Investiture
John of England (1199-1216)
-lost Normandy to the French King, Philip Augustus (1204)
-excommunicated by Pope Innocent III over investiture controversy involving the Archbishop of Canterbury
2) Over Taxation of the Clergy
-Edward I of England (1290's)
-Philip IV (Philip the fair) of France (1285-1314) vs. Pope Boniface VIII (1294-1303)
- Papal Bull, 1296: the laity cannot tax the clergy
- Philip IV ignores the bull
- Pope Boniface VIII backed down, kings now have to ask permission to tax the clergy
3) Over Courts
- Battle between Philip IV & Pope Boniface VIII
- Boniface VIII issued bull, Unam Sanctum
-Philip IV's response:
-Used lawyers trained in Roman Law
-Roman Law: king is sovereign in all matters in his territory
-Philip IV planned to kidnap Boniface VIII and bring him to trial in France
-Caused the Crisis of the 14th Century (The Avignon Papacy)
The Crisis of the 14th Century
The Avignon Papacy (1305-1378)
-"The Babylonian Captivity of the Church"
-Pope Clement V (1305-1314) through Pope Gregory XI (1370-1378)
-Pope Gregory died in Rome in 1378 bringing an end to the Avignon Papacy
-Led to the Great Schism (1378-1417)
European Religious History
Struggles between kings and popes
Investiture Contest/Controversies
-Henry IV of German vs. Pope Gregory VII
Kings vs. Popes
1) Over Investiture
John of England (1199-1216)
-lost Normandy to the French King, Philip Augustus (1204)
-excommunicated by Pope Innocent III over investiture controversy involving the Archbishop of Canterbury
2) Over Taxation of the Clergy
-Edward I of England (1290's)
-Philip IV (Philip the fair) of France (1285-1314) vs. Pope Boniface VIII (1294-1303)
- Papal Bull, 1296: the laity cannot tax the clergy
- Philip IV ignores the bull
- Pope Boniface VIII backed down, kings now have to ask permission to tax the clergy
3) Over Courts
- Battle between Philip IV & Pope Boniface VIII
- Boniface VIII issued bull, Unam Sanctum
-Philip IV's response:
-Used lawyers trained in Roman Law
-Roman Law: king is sovereign in all matters in his territory
-Philip IV planned to kidnap Boniface VIII and bring him to trial in France
-Caused the Crisis of the 14th Century (The Avignon Papacy)
The Crisis of the 14th Century
The Avignon Papacy (1305-1378)
-"The Babylonian Captivity of the Church"
-Pope Clement V (1305-1314) through Pope Gregory XI (1370-1378)
-Pope Gregory died in Rome in 1378 bringing an end to the Avignon Papacy
-Led to the Great Schism (1378-1417)
Monday, March 13, 2006
Christianity in Feudalism
(Originally written March 13, 2006 in book 24)
Class Notes
Western Empires Barbarian Rulers
Britain controlled by the Angles & Saxons
Gaul controlled by the Franks
Italy controlled by the Ostrogoths
Spain controlled by the Visigoths
North Africa controlled by the Vandals
The conversion of Clovis (Frankish King) of the Merovingians to Catholicism allies the Roman Emperor (in Constantinople), the Bishops and the Merovingians.
The Merovingians defeat the Arian Germanic tribes in southern Gaul. The Visigoths (Spain) convert to Catholicism out of their best interest.
The Roman Catholic Emperor recognizes Clovis as the ruler of Gaul.
The Ostrogoths are defeated by Justinian and are driven out of Italy.
Between 500 - 1000 in Continental Europe we see increasingly decentralized government and a move to rural society
Political stability in the west is obtained by forming a small clan around a great warrior.
500-1000
The political system was feudalism (which is debatable, but serves to identify it)
Political center is no longer the big city; it is the castle.
Feudalism: King controls all the land in his territory, wars are fought on horses with your own house and weaponry.
Only form of wealth is land.
Economic collapse at fall of Rome.
Knights are given a plot of land to fight for a king, which is formed by serfs.
Barons are given large grants of land by the king. The Barons give loans to lower nobility.
Process of Feudalism:
Kings give Barons land
Barons give Kings knights
Barons give the lower nobility land
Lower nobility serve as knights under the Baron and fight for the king
A good king can control the powerful lords under them
500-1000: decentralization, collapse and feudalism
A miniature ice age occurs in this time, causing lower agricultural output and thus, famine
Peasants farm for the nobles. The nobility is the knights. The military is a military-aristocracy.
The king has homage paid to him by the high nobility.
High nobility (Dukes and Barons) are obligated to provide the king with a certain number of mounted knights. They have to dish out some of their lands granted to secure said number of fucking knights.
Wars occur on every level. King vs. King, Barons vs. Barons, Nobility vs. Nobility.
The knights under are obligated to serve their higher ups.
Economic Feudalism
Manorialism
The knights, the lower nobility, the nobility, the barons and dukes all have land. This land is worked by the peasants. The peasants do not fight in war or own land. They owe their lord their labor, and a certain percentage of their crops and their tithe to the Church.
Trade is facilitated by bartering goods.
The peasant class grows between 500-1000 in order to finance the nobility and warring aristocracy.
The late 800's see the Norseman and Hungarian tribes wreak havoc upon the feudalistic system. The local lords have to fight and take back power from the king to survive.
These lords in turn became more powerful and the kings cannot reel them back in. It takes generations for the kings to reign in power.
Feudalism is not a caste system. Knights can rise higher and obtain land or more land. Noblemen can become Barons.
When missionaries come into these feudal territories they face the sever political instability, dealt with poor people and sometimes a lord may be a pagan and kill the missionary.
Ireland
410 - Romans leave Britain
430 - Patrick converts Ireland. Britain reverts to Paganism out of the political instability
563 - Columba (Irish missionary to Britain)
Class Notes
Western Empires Barbarian Rulers
Britain controlled by the Angles & Saxons
Gaul controlled by the Franks
Italy controlled by the Ostrogoths
Spain controlled by the Visigoths
North Africa controlled by the Vandals
The conversion of Clovis (Frankish King) of the Merovingians to Catholicism allies the Roman Emperor (in Constantinople), the Bishops and the Merovingians.
The Merovingians defeat the Arian Germanic tribes in southern Gaul. The Visigoths (Spain) convert to Catholicism out of their best interest.
The Roman Catholic Emperor recognizes Clovis as the ruler of Gaul.
The Ostrogoths are defeated by Justinian and are driven out of Italy.
Between 500 - 1000 in Continental Europe we see increasingly decentralized government and a move to rural society
Political stability in the west is obtained by forming a small clan around a great warrior.
500-1000
The political system was feudalism (which is debatable, but serves to identify it)
Political center is no longer the big city; it is the castle.
Feudalism: King controls all the land in his territory, wars are fought on horses with your own house and weaponry.
Only form of wealth is land.
Economic collapse at fall of Rome.
Knights are given a plot of land to fight for a king, which is formed by serfs.
Barons are given large grants of land by the king. The Barons give loans to lower nobility.
Process of Feudalism:
Kings give Barons land
Barons give Kings knights
Barons give the lower nobility land
Lower nobility serve as knights under the Baron and fight for the king
A good king can control the powerful lords under them
500-1000: decentralization, collapse and feudalism
A miniature ice age occurs in this time, causing lower agricultural output and thus, famine
Peasants farm for the nobles. The nobility is the knights. The military is a military-aristocracy.
The king has homage paid to him by the high nobility.
High nobility (Dukes and Barons) are obligated to provide the king with a certain number of mounted knights. They have to dish out some of their lands granted to secure said number of fucking knights.
Wars occur on every level. King vs. King, Barons vs. Barons, Nobility vs. Nobility.
The knights under are obligated to serve their higher ups.
Economic Feudalism
Manorialism
The knights, the lower nobility, the nobility, the barons and dukes all have land. This land is worked by the peasants. The peasants do not fight in war or own land. They owe their lord their labor, and a certain percentage of their crops and their tithe to the Church.
Trade is facilitated by bartering goods.
The peasant class grows between 500-1000 in order to finance the nobility and warring aristocracy.
The late 800's see the Norseman and Hungarian tribes wreak havoc upon the feudalistic system. The local lords have to fight and take back power from the king to survive.
These lords in turn became more powerful and the kings cannot reel them back in. It takes generations for the kings to reign in power.
Feudalism is not a caste system. Knights can rise higher and obtain land or more land. Noblemen can become Barons.
When missionaries come into these feudal territories they face the sever political instability, dealt with poor people and sometimes a lord may be a pagan and kill the missionary.
Ireland
410 - Romans leave Britain
430 - Patrick converts Ireland. Britain reverts to Paganism out of the political instability
563 - Columba (Irish missionary to Britain)
Friday, February 24, 2006
Recovery in England & Germany
(Originally written February 24, 2006 in Book 24)
Class Notes
Recovery and Revival
Western Europe AD 1000 - 1200
Early Middle Ages (AD 500 - 1000)
-Decentralized Government
-Spain: Visigoths
-Gaul: Franks: The highpoint of Frankish kings is Charlemagne; A.D. 800
-Feudalistic government
-Feudalism is threatened by the Scandinavian tribes at the end of the reign of Charlemagne
-Scandinavian tribes convert similarly to the Germanic tribes
-Germanic kings worked hard to consolidate large "kingdoms" through feudalism. After generations of consolidating the Scandinavian invasion causes everyone to break ties to their lords and defend their lords and defend their own land. This causes further political instability and more decentralized of government.
-The Danes (Scandinavian) caused serious problems in Anglo-Saxon Britain. The Norsemen set up a strong kingdom in Normandy (Northern France). Britain suffers constant invasion from the Danes and Normans.
-The Scandinavians completely destroy the stability that Charlemagne created.
Political Recovery of England
End to invasion
-Norse/Viking
Alfred the Great of Wessex
- consolidating rule and fighting vikings 879-896
- brings scholars from the Carolingians
Edgar (959-975)
-Unified Anglo-Saxon monarchy
- Centralization of government, reestablishes stability by conquering the Vikings
Harold Bluetooth
Swein Forkbeard conquered England in 1014, son Cnut followed him in 1016
Last Anglo-Saxon king: Edward the Confessor
-William the Conquerer, a Norman conquered Britain in 1066
Political Recovery of Germany
Political recovery stems from an economic revival (which coincides with the miniature ice age lifting and important technological advancement)
End of Invasions
-Magnus (Hungarian)
Otto I
- Battle of Zechfeld, 955
- Supported missions to Scandinavia and Slavs
- Anskar, bishop of Bremen and Hamburg
- Strong alliance with bishops and abbots
- New bishoprics (diocese) along eastern border: gave bishops authority to collect revenues and call men to arms.
- Bishops in this area answered to the German king.
In 962 the Pope crowns Otto I as the first Holy Roman Emperor since Charlemagne.
Charlemagne's Empire Post-Death
Divided between Charles (France), Lothar, and Louis (Germany)
France expands westward, Germany eastward and squeeze out the Lothar Kingdom.
Class Notes
Recovery and Revival
Western Europe AD 1000 - 1200
Early Middle Ages (AD 500 - 1000)
-Decentralized Government
-Spain: Visigoths
-Gaul: Franks: The highpoint of Frankish kings is Charlemagne; A.D. 800
-Feudalistic government
-Feudalism is threatened by the Scandinavian tribes at the end of the reign of Charlemagne
-Scandinavian tribes convert similarly to the Germanic tribes
-Germanic kings worked hard to consolidate large "kingdoms" through feudalism. After generations of consolidating the Scandinavian invasion causes everyone to break ties to their lords and defend their lords and defend their own land. This causes further political instability and more decentralized of government.
-The Danes (Scandinavian) caused serious problems in Anglo-Saxon Britain. The Norsemen set up a strong kingdom in Normandy (Northern France). Britain suffers constant invasion from the Danes and Normans.
-The Scandinavians completely destroy the stability that Charlemagne created.
Political Recovery of England
End to invasion
-Norse/Viking
Alfred the Great of Wessex
- consolidating rule and fighting vikings 879-896
- brings scholars from the Carolingians
Edgar (959-975)
-Unified Anglo-Saxon monarchy
- Centralization of government, reestablishes stability by conquering the Vikings
Harold Bluetooth
Swein Forkbeard conquered England in 1014, son Cnut followed him in 1016
Last Anglo-Saxon king: Edward the Confessor
-William the Conquerer, a Norman conquered Britain in 1066
Political Recovery of Germany
Political recovery stems from an economic revival (which coincides with the miniature ice age lifting and important technological advancement)
End of Invasions
-Magnus (Hungarian)
Otto I
- Battle of Zechfeld, 955
- Supported missions to Scandinavia and Slavs
- Anskar, bishop of Bremen and Hamburg
- Strong alliance with bishops and abbots
- New bishoprics (diocese) along eastern border: gave bishops authority to collect revenues and call men to arms.
- Bishops in this area answered to the German king.
In 962 the Pope crowns Otto I as the first Holy Roman Emperor since Charlemagne.
Charlemagne's Empire Post-Death
Divided between Charles (France), Lothar, and Louis (Germany)
France expands westward, Germany eastward and squeeze out the Lothar Kingdom.
Wednesday, February 15, 2006
Clovis & Charlemagne
(Originally written February 15, 2006 in Book 24)
Test: Birth of Christianity to AD 1000
Conversion of the Franks
Baptism of Clovis
Under the Roman Empire the Church developed a hierarchy and a powerful influence in the West.
When the Germanic invaders came the Church was severely damaged.
Early Church spreads through conversions of individuals and families. During the Germanic period the Church is faced with tribal and ethnic groups who make tribal decisions. The Church must convert the whole tribe or ethnic group.
Clovis cannot, even being leader, convert his tribe by converting. The tribe must convert as a decision of the whole tribe.
In order to convert whole tribes the Bishops have to change tactics. They are forced to choose their theological battles.
To rebuild the destroyed Church in the West the Bishops are placed in charge of a certain territory and charged with converting the people of their territory.
Church Hierarchy
Bishop - bishopric/diocese
Head Priest - Parish
Individual Priest - Church
Numerous churches pop up all over during the "dark ages" as the Church tried to Christianize the population of the fallen part of the West. Bishops can't afford it so local Barons begin to plant churches and place priests in them. This is good but unfortunately some of the priests put into power are illiterate peasants.
The Church gains converts by the chieftains and kings. The chieftains and kings gain stability of the Catholic population when they convert and learn literacy, administration techniques and access to Roman Law (Justinian Code).
Charlemagne, a Carolingian
Charlemagne and the Carolingians came to power in December 25, 800.
Gained much territory
Waged a long and brutal war against the Angles and Saxons
First Germanic king to establish a centralized palace at Aachen
Charlemagne struggles with being an independent leader and Constantinople thinking they are in control.
This struggle is one of the causes of the West/East split of the Church
Claims to be the Roman Emperor of the West
Charlemagne's bones are near the altar in Aachen. They are a relic.
A relic is a part of a holy person's body that has been preserved for pilgrimage purposes.
Charlemagne is one of the important people in Church History for spreading Christianity in Frankia.
Spreads literate priests throughout Frankia.
Establishes a learning center to spread a more uniform version of Christianity (Carolingian Renaissance)
Germanic kings feel that a single religion was needed for stability
Charlemagne encourages growth of monasteries
Monks in these monasteries are charged with copying manuscripts (by hand). They are why we have classical works: i.e. Cicero, Plato, etc.
Test: Birth of Christianity to AD 1000
Conversion of the Franks
Baptism of Clovis
Under the Roman Empire the Church developed a hierarchy and a powerful influence in the West.
When the Germanic invaders came the Church was severely damaged.
Early Church spreads through conversions of individuals and families. During the Germanic period the Church is faced with tribal and ethnic groups who make tribal decisions. The Church must convert the whole tribe or ethnic group.
Clovis cannot, even being leader, convert his tribe by converting. The tribe must convert as a decision of the whole tribe.
In order to convert whole tribes the Bishops have to change tactics. They are forced to choose their theological battles.
To rebuild the destroyed Church in the West the Bishops are placed in charge of a certain territory and charged with converting the people of their territory.
Church Hierarchy
Bishop - bishopric/diocese
Head Priest - Parish
Individual Priest - Church
Numerous churches pop up all over during the "dark ages" as the Church tried to Christianize the population of the fallen part of the West. Bishops can't afford it so local Barons begin to plant churches and place priests in them. This is good but unfortunately some of the priests put into power are illiterate peasants.
The Church gains converts by the chieftains and kings. The chieftains and kings gain stability of the Catholic population when they convert and learn literacy, administration techniques and access to Roman Law (Justinian Code).
Charlemagne, a Carolingian
Charlemagne and the Carolingians came to power in December 25, 800.
Gained much territory
Waged a long and brutal war against the Angles and Saxons
First Germanic king to establish a centralized palace at Aachen
Charlemagne struggles with being an independent leader and Constantinople thinking they are in control.
This struggle is one of the causes of the West/East split of the Church
Claims to be the Roman Emperor of the West
Charlemagne's bones are near the altar in Aachen. They are a relic.
A relic is a part of a holy person's body that has been preserved for pilgrimage purposes.
Charlemagne is one of the important people in Church History for spreading Christianity in Frankia.
Spreads literate priests throughout Frankia.
Establishes a learning center to spread a more uniform version of Christianity (Carolingian Renaissance)
Germanic kings feel that a single religion was needed for stability
Charlemagne encourages growth of monasteries
Monks in these monasteries are charged with copying manuscripts (by hand). They are why we have classical works: i.e. Cicero, Plato, etc.
Monday, February 13, 2006
Christianity in Feudalism
(Originally written on February 13, 2006 in Book 24)
Western Empire's Barbarian Rulers
Britain controlled by Angles & Saxons
Gaul controlled by the Franks
Italy controlled by the Ostrogoths
Spain controlled by the Visigoths
North Africa controlled by Vandals
The conversion of Clovis (Frankish King) of the Merovingians to Catholicism allies the Roman Emperor (in Constantinople) to the bishops and Merovingians.
The Merovingians defeat the Arian Germanic tribes in Southern Gaul. The Visigoths (Spain) convert to Catholicism out of their best interest.
The Roman Emperor recognizes Clovis as the ruler of Gaul.
The Ostrogoths are defeated by Justinian and are driven out of Italy.
Between 500-1000 in Continental Europe we see an increasingly decentralized government and a move to a rural society.
Political stability in the west is obtained by forming a small clan around a great warrior.
500-1000
The political system was feudalism (which is debatable, but serves to identify it).
The political center is no longer the big city, but the castle.
Feudalism - king controls all the land in his territory, wars are fought on horses with your own horse and weaponry.
Only form of wealth is land.
The Economic collapse at the fall of Rome.
Knights are given a plot of land to fight for the king, which is farmed by serfs.
Barons are given large grants of land to the king. The Barons give land to the lower nobility.
Process of Feudalism
The Kings give Barons the land
The Barons give Kings knights
The Barons give lower nobility land
The lower nobility serve as knights under the Baron and fight for the king
A good king can control the powerful lords under them.
500-1000: decentralization, collapse and the rise of feudalism
A miniature ice age occurs in this time, causing lower agricultural output and thus, famine.
Peasants farm for the nobles. The nobility is the knights. The military is a military-aristocracy.
The king has homage paid to him by the high nobility.
The high nobility (Dukes & Barons) are obligated to provide the king with a certain number of mounted knights. They have to dish out some of some of their land granted to secure the said number of fuckin knights.
Wars occur on every level. King vs King, Barons vs Barons, Nobility vs. Nobility.
The knights under are obligated to serve their higher ups.
Economic Feudalism
Manorialism
The knights, the lower nobility, the nobility, the barons and dukes all have land. This land is worked by the peasants. The peasants do not fight in war or own land. They owe their lord their labor, a certain percentage of their crops and their tithe to the Church.
Traders facilitated by bartering goods.
The peasant class grows between 500-1000 in order to finance the nobility and warring aristocracy.
The late 800's see the Norsemen and Hungarian tribes wreak havoc upon the feudalistic system. The local lords have to fight and take back power from the king to survive.
These lords in turn become more powerful and the kings cannot reel them back in. It takes generations for the kings to reign in power.
Feudalism is not a caste system. Knights can rise higher and obtain land or more land. Noblemen can become Barons.
When missionaries come into these feudal territories they face the sever political instability, dealt with poor people and sometimes a lord may be pagan and kill the missionary.
Ireland
410 Romans leave Britain
430? Patrick (British missionary to Ireland) converts Ireland. Britain reverts to paganism out of the political instability.
563 Columba (Irish missionary to Britain)
Western Empire's Barbarian Rulers
Britain controlled by Angles & Saxons
Gaul controlled by the Franks
Italy controlled by the Ostrogoths
Spain controlled by the Visigoths
North Africa controlled by Vandals
The conversion of Clovis (Frankish King) of the Merovingians to Catholicism allies the Roman Emperor (in Constantinople) to the bishops and Merovingians.
The Merovingians defeat the Arian Germanic tribes in Southern Gaul. The Visigoths (Spain) convert to Catholicism out of their best interest.
The Roman Emperor recognizes Clovis as the ruler of Gaul.
The Ostrogoths are defeated by Justinian and are driven out of Italy.
Between 500-1000 in Continental Europe we see an increasingly decentralized government and a move to a rural society.
Political stability in the west is obtained by forming a small clan around a great warrior.
500-1000
The political system was feudalism (which is debatable, but serves to identify it).
The political center is no longer the big city, but the castle.
Feudalism - king controls all the land in his territory, wars are fought on horses with your own horse and weaponry.
Only form of wealth is land.
The Economic collapse at the fall of Rome.
Knights are given a plot of land to fight for the king, which is farmed by serfs.
Barons are given large grants of land to the king. The Barons give land to the lower nobility.
Process of Feudalism
The Kings give Barons the land
The Barons give Kings knights
The Barons give lower nobility land
The lower nobility serve as knights under the Baron and fight for the king
A good king can control the powerful lords under them.
500-1000: decentralization, collapse and the rise of feudalism
A miniature ice age occurs in this time, causing lower agricultural output and thus, famine.
Peasants farm for the nobles. The nobility is the knights. The military is a military-aristocracy.
The king has homage paid to him by the high nobility.
The high nobility (Dukes & Barons) are obligated to provide the king with a certain number of mounted knights. They have to dish out some of some of their land granted to secure the said number of fuckin knights.
Wars occur on every level. King vs King, Barons vs Barons, Nobility vs. Nobility.
The knights under are obligated to serve their higher ups.
Economic Feudalism
Manorialism
The knights, the lower nobility, the nobility, the barons and dukes all have land. This land is worked by the peasants. The peasants do not fight in war or own land. They owe their lord their labor, a certain percentage of their crops and their tithe to the Church.
Traders facilitated by bartering goods.
The peasant class grows between 500-1000 in order to finance the nobility and warring aristocracy.
The late 800's see the Norsemen and Hungarian tribes wreak havoc upon the feudalistic system. The local lords have to fight and take back power from the king to survive.
These lords in turn become more powerful and the kings cannot reel them back in. It takes generations for the kings to reign in power.
Feudalism is not a caste system. Knights can rise higher and obtain land or more land. Noblemen can become Barons.
When missionaries come into these feudal territories they face the sever political instability, dealt with poor people and sometimes a lord may be pagan and kill the missionary.
Ireland
410 Romans leave Britain
430? Patrick (British missionary to Ireland) converts Ireland. Britain reverts to paganism out of the political instability.
563 Columba (Irish missionary to Britain)
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