Chapter Two
The Revival of the Empire: Charlamagne to Henry III
Sam Foley
With Clovis as leader, along with the Merovingian kings, Franks conquered the former Roman Gaul.
Settled in the north-east [country between the Rhine and Paris] and south [where the Burgundians were overthrown and the Visigoths of Toulouse].
They owed their success to their military prowess and their acceptance of Latin Orthodoxy.
Early Merovingian kings adopted traditions of government of the late Roman Empire [weak upon inheritance].
Roman officials [counts] were salaried in lands.
Last survivors of Merovingian dynasty were removed by Charlemagne’s father [Pippin the Short].
Two consequences due to the changed dynasty: the centre of power moved eastward [Aix replaced Paris as the natural centre] and Pippin needed sanction and found it with the Pope, bringing the rulers of orthodox Franks closer to the Patriarch of the west.
“By his wars he so nobly increased the kingdom of the Franks which was great and strong when he inherited it from his father, that the additions he made almost doubled it. Charlemagne’s coronation as emperor: Christmas Day 800.
The initiative came from the Pope, therefore the revived empire was associated with the religious purposes of the Roman church.
Charlemagne died, son Louis [the Pious] took over.
Before Louis’ death, the empire was already beginning to fall. He died in 840.
His three sons fought with each other in an effort to secure a rich portion of their father’s land.
Treaty of Verdun [843] divided Frankish patrimony three ways.
West Francia [France from the Pyrenees to the line of the Somme, the Meuse, and the Rhone] went to the youngest, Charles the Bald. East Francia, Saxony, and Bavaria, and other Frankish lands beyond the Rhine, went to the next brother Lewis. The title of emperor went to the eldest son, Lothar, along with lands known as the Middle Kingdom [lands east and west of the Rhine between the kingdoms of his brothers, Burgundy and Provence [Rhone Valley], all the lands that Charlemagne and Louis the Pious had ruled in Italy; also included Rome, Pavia, and Aix].
When Lothar died, he split his land up between his three sons.
Before the end of Charlemagne’s reign, the Vikings raided.
The West Frankish kingdom received the brunt of their attacks over a sixty-year period.
The Hungarians invaded the eastern kingdom in 862.
Political Unity was out of the question.
The princes, Lothar and Berengar had very little power.
Rulers of eastern and western Francia stayed overwhelmed with maintaining control over their own, leading to division, and creating provinces.
Invaders had been looking for loot, so they stole from churches and monasteries.
919: [Duke of Saxony] Henry crowned king of Germany. His successor, son Otto, won victory over the still invading Hungarians; put a term to the raiding expeditions.
961: Otto crowned king of Lombardy.
962: Otto crowned emperor by Pope John XII.
Otto III succeeded his father when still a child; held impractical ideas which led to disaster.
Conrad II succeeded Henry, proved a strong and successful ruler in Italy and Germany.
When Conrad died, all the Otto III destroyed with over ambition, was restored.
Thursday, March 1, 2007
PENGUIN STUDY GUIDE CH. 13
13th century crusades different from 12th century crusades: Frankish kingdom of Jerusalem and its fortunes no longer an interest; it ceased to function politically
Crusades focused on the ambitions and adventures of the princes of Europe in 13th century
In 1st half of century Franks still controlled most of the towns of the Syrian Coast
Weaknesses:
Could not get unanimous consent on policies
Rivalry of Templars and Hospitallers
Rivalry between the Venetians and the Genoese
Strength of Latins were in Cyprus and Greece
Cyprus important commercial center and advance post where crusaders made their final plans
The king of Cyprus took part in the 5th crusade and fought alongside Louis IX of France in 1249-50
Control of Cyprus important, Franks not strong enough to keep control on their own.
Latin Emperors of Constantinople weren’t strong enough to make any contribution to the crusades elsewhere
Venetians supported Latin emperor
Not enough, because in 1259 the empire was defeated at Pelagonia, now being ruled by a Greek emperor
The real center of Latin power was in Peloponnese, far from Constantinople
Franks of Greece joined St. Louis in his first expedition
William of Achaea taken prisoner of Pelagonia in 1259, released after Greek recapture of Constantinople
Latin Lordship looked impressive, but was weak because of disunity
Recurring theme in 13th century crusades: uniting Latin east in a great Mediterranean empire
Louis IX was more successful in winning Frankish aristocracy than Frederick II (king consort of Jerusalem)
The fortunes of the crusade had come largely to depend on Charles of Anjou, brother of Louis IX.
Meanwhile…
Ghenghis Khan born 1162, emperor of all Mongols 1206, led Mongolian conquests
Mongol invasions in the 13th century stretched the empire from the Dnieper to the China Sea, overran Russia, Persia, Baghdad, Damascus, Aleppo, but never occupied Hungary, gained control of Syria for a short time
After being driven back from Syria, Mongols contributed to the Greeks Resurgence.
The massacre of countless faithful Muslims struck terror in the whole Islam world.
The Muslims looked for aid in Egypt
After of resurgence of Greece, it led to a reunion of the Greek and Latin churches, but only for six years
Sultans of Egypt had no real interest in the maintenance of the weak Latin Kingdom as a third force in Syria. However, they worried about a Mongol-Christian Alliance from them and from the Greeks at Acre
The West had great hopes that this could be a possibility. Mongols were pagans up until the end of the 13th century.
They toyed with the idea of Christianity, but eventually became Muslim. However, the
West soon learned their only interest was in invasion and conquest, not crusading:
Mongols sent a letter to St. Louis saying that if they did not give them a yearly allowance of money, they would destroy them.
Before the coming of the Mongols, the fifth crusade (1218-1221) almost had chance.
At this time, those in the Syria were having internal quarrels.
The west experimented with a new strategy: directly attacking the powerhouse Egypt.
It worked: Damietta on the Nile was taken, Sultan ready to give back Jerusalem
Crusaders turned down the offer, and the Sultan cut off their bases at the Nile: they were at his mercy and had to give up
In 1229, Frederick II negotiated with Al Kamil of Egypt.
Al Kamil signed a ten year truce and would return the Holy City to the Christians
Frederick’s high-handed treatment of the barons of Syria and his contempt for the High Court led to a civil war between the Frankish aristocracy led by the Ibelins of Beirut, and the imperial legates whom he left to represent him when he returned to Europe.
October, 1244, the Egyptians defeated the crusaders and their Damascus allies at Gaza
Before this the Egyptians mercenaries sacked Jerusalem
Louis IX sailed out to Egypt to try another crusade
Same thing happened as in fifth crusade: Damietta was taken
1250, King’s forced advanced up the Nile
The Egyptian army overwhelmed the king’s forces
Louis and others not killed taken prisoner, Queen Margaret rallied to get Louis and his men back.
Egyptians handed over what was left (not many) of the prisoners and Louis for a ransom. The crusade was over
Still, Louis remained in the east until 1254, trying to get a Christian and Mongol alliance, but he was unsuccessful
Very important events happened during this period: rise of Baibars the Mameluke to be sultan of Egypt, the Mongol invasion of Syria, the Greek reconquest of Contanstinople.
Charles of Anjou, the most powerful Latin prince in Southern Europe, was looked to for another crusade
However, Charles had many enemies in Europe, so he could never be the great crusader Louis was
He conquered through arranged marriages and money:
1267: arranged marriage of daughter Beatrice to Phillip de Courtenay, the heir of Baldwin, emperor of Constantinople
His son arranged to marry Isabella, heir to William of Achaea
Ten years later, Charles bought the hereditary claim of Maria of Antioch for the kingdom of Jerusalem, and was accepted as king by the High Court
By 1281, his rights extended all over the Frankish territories of the east Mediterranean except for Cyrpus
Charles didn’t care about crusading, only political ambitions
He knew the recapture of Constantinople from the Greeks could give him an imperial title
He plans were halted for three reasons:
1. Conradin’s invasion of Italy
2. the last crusade of his brother Louis IX to Tunis in 1269, where the king died of fever
3. Pontificate of Gregory X, who rightly distrusted Charles, and wanted to reunite with the Greeks
1282- Martin IV blesses a crusade against Aragon, calling it “the restoration of the Roman empire unsurpassed by Palaeologus”
The church had become to involved and supported Charles to long to support it now, even though they realized it was for political gain.
While Charles fought against the Sicilians, Phillip II tried to dispose of King Peter of Aragon, but failed miserably.
While Phillip and Charles were fighting,
The soldiers of the Sultan of Egypt closed in on the remaining Frankish forts of Syria.
Acre fell May 18 1291.
Jerusalum belonged to no territories now.
The crusades were running out of steam.
Because of what happened in the East, men could no longer view the crusades in the same manner as their elders had.
One benefit of the crusades was it made Europeans more interested in geography and discovering new lands
The crusades were no longer a cherished idea amongst Europeans.
Crusades focused on the ambitions and adventures of the princes of Europe in 13th century
In 1st half of century Franks still controlled most of the towns of the Syrian Coast
Weaknesses:
Could not get unanimous consent on policies
Rivalry of Templars and Hospitallers
Rivalry between the Venetians and the Genoese
Strength of Latins were in Cyprus and Greece
Cyprus important commercial center and advance post where crusaders made their final plans
The king of Cyprus took part in the 5th crusade and fought alongside Louis IX of France in 1249-50
Control of Cyprus important, Franks not strong enough to keep control on their own.
Latin Emperors of Constantinople weren’t strong enough to make any contribution to the crusades elsewhere
Venetians supported Latin emperor
Not enough, because in 1259 the empire was defeated at Pelagonia, now being ruled by a Greek emperor
The real center of Latin power was in Peloponnese, far from Constantinople
Franks of Greece joined St. Louis in his first expedition
William of Achaea taken prisoner of Pelagonia in 1259, released after Greek recapture of Constantinople
Latin Lordship looked impressive, but was weak because of disunity
Recurring theme in 13th century crusades: uniting Latin east in a great Mediterranean empire
Louis IX was more successful in winning Frankish aristocracy than Frederick II (king consort of Jerusalem)
The fortunes of the crusade had come largely to depend on Charles of Anjou, brother of Louis IX.
Meanwhile…
Ghenghis Khan born 1162, emperor of all Mongols 1206, led Mongolian conquests
Mongol invasions in the 13th century stretched the empire from the Dnieper to the China Sea, overran Russia, Persia, Baghdad, Damascus, Aleppo, but never occupied Hungary, gained control of Syria for a short time
After being driven back from Syria, Mongols contributed to the Greeks Resurgence.
The massacre of countless faithful Muslims struck terror in the whole Islam world.
The Muslims looked for aid in Egypt
After of resurgence of Greece, it led to a reunion of the Greek and Latin churches, but only for six years
Sultans of Egypt had no real interest in the maintenance of the weak Latin Kingdom as a third force in Syria. However, they worried about a Mongol-Christian Alliance from them and from the Greeks at Acre
The West had great hopes that this could be a possibility. Mongols were pagans up until the end of the 13th century.
They toyed with the idea of Christianity, but eventually became Muslim. However, the
West soon learned their only interest was in invasion and conquest, not crusading:
Mongols sent a letter to St. Louis saying that if they did not give them a yearly allowance of money, they would destroy them.
Before the coming of the Mongols, the fifth crusade (1218-1221) almost had chance.
At this time, those in the Syria were having internal quarrels.
The west experimented with a new strategy: directly attacking the powerhouse Egypt.
It worked: Damietta on the Nile was taken, Sultan ready to give back Jerusalem
Crusaders turned down the offer, and the Sultan cut off their bases at the Nile: they were at his mercy and had to give up
In 1229, Frederick II negotiated with Al Kamil of Egypt.
Al Kamil signed a ten year truce and would return the Holy City to the Christians
Frederick’s high-handed treatment of the barons of Syria and his contempt for the High Court led to a civil war between the Frankish aristocracy led by the Ibelins of Beirut, and the imperial legates whom he left to represent him when he returned to Europe.
October, 1244, the Egyptians defeated the crusaders and their Damascus allies at Gaza
Before this the Egyptians mercenaries sacked Jerusalem
Louis IX sailed out to Egypt to try another crusade
Same thing happened as in fifth crusade: Damietta was taken
1250, King’s forced advanced up the Nile
The Egyptian army overwhelmed the king’s forces
Louis and others not killed taken prisoner, Queen Margaret rallied to get Louis and his men back.
Egyptians handed over what was left (not many) of the prisoners and Louis for a ransom. The crusade was over
Still, Louis remained in the east until 1254, trying to get a Christian and Mongol alliance, but he was unsuccessful
Very important events happened during this period: rise of Baibars the Mameluke to be sultan of Egypt, the Mongol invasion of Syria, the Greek reconquest of Contanstinople.
Charles of Anjou, the most powerful Latin prince in Southern Europe, was looked to for another crusade
However, Charles had many enemies in Europe, so he could never be the great crusader Louis was
He conquered through arranged marriages and money:
1267: arranged marriage of daughter Beatrice to Phillip de Courtenay, the heir of Baldwin, emperor of Constantinople
His son arranged to marry Isabella, heir to William of Achaea
Ten years later, Charles bought the hereditary claim of Maria of Antioch for the kingdom of Jerusalem, and was accepted as king by the High Court
By 1281, his rights extended all over the Frankish territories of the east Mediterranean except for Cyrpus
Charles didn’t care about crusading, only political ambitions
He knew the recapture of Constantinople from the Greeks could give him an imperial title
He plans were halted for three reasons:
1. Conradin’s invasion of Italy
2. the last crusade of his brother Louis IX to Tunis in 1269, where the king died of fever
3. Pontificate of Gregory X, who rightly distrusted Charles, and wanted to reunite with the Greeks
1282- Martin IV blesses a crusade against Aragon, calling it “the restoration of the Roman empire unsurpassed by Palaeologus”
The church had become to involved and supported Charles to long to support it now, even though they realized it was for political gain.
While Charles fought against the Sicilians, Phillip II tried to dispose of King Peter of Aragon, but failed miserably.
While Phillip and Charles were fighting,
The soldiers of the Sultan of Egypt closed in on the remaining Frankish forts of Syria.
Acre fell May 18 1291.
Jerusalum belonged to no territories now.
The crusades were running out of steam.
Because of what happened in the East, men could no longer view the crusades in the same manner as their elders had.
One benefit of the crusades was it made Europeans more interested in geography and discovering new lands
The crusades were no longer a cherished idea amongst Europeans.
Wednesday, February 28, 2007
PENGUIN STUDY GUIDE CH. 18
The Penguin History of Medieval Europe
Chapter 18: Politics and Political Society in an Age of Wars
1330-1460
Free Companies and the Influence of Chivalry
• “Without war you cannot live and do not know how to;” Sir John Chandos.
• 14th Century; France versus England wars create dramatic increase in armed forces, despite limited finances.
• ’free companies’ independent bands of soldiers; think of Robin Hood and his Merry Men!
• Had great draw due to the culture of chivalry inherent to the times; adventure and profit. Knights considered high social class worthy of even doing ‘combat with a king’, therefore something to aspire to and stick to—free companies moved on from one battle to another.
• would continue to influence the wars of 14th-15th centuries; as supply of soldiers often exceeded demand, battles would spill over. Even The 100 Year War (France vs. England) was seen as a series of battles of territory/lordship rather than a war of 2 nations.
Dynastic Wars and the Lords that Fought Them
• Most lordships/dominions were inherited. The right to own land and govern the inhabitants was not sovereign; it could be bought, sold, won or lost. Lords could make grants of land to others in their favor, or gain land through marriage. Competition resulted.
• All this combined with the surge of free companies equaled constant states of insecurity. The soldiers did not often leave with the lords until hired out again, adding to the confusing political landscape.
• Ex: King Edward III’s quest for the French crown and subsequent dukes’ invasions of Italy to win Naples from Duke Louis, who in turn was promised the kingdom of Adria, territory of the Pope of Rome—by the Pope of Avignon!
• Duke John of Lancaster’s efforts to win Castile and ‘to build castles in Spain’ due to inherent rights of his wife as daughter of a former king.
Battles of Spain
• Mid-13th Century; Castile and Aragon were the 2 main Christian kingdoms after the Reconquest from the Muslims. Andalusia was the only Moorish territory left. Castile largely fought over by nobility.
• Alfonso XI’s defeat of Moorish invaders in 1340 and son Pedro II’s reign of 1349-69 reinstated power of monarchy.
• Pedro’s brother Henry driven out of Castile to France, then returned in 1366 as head of French free companies. For 20 years on Castile and the Anglo-French war would be entangled.
• 1367 Battle of Najera Pedro and the Black Prince defeat Henry—but with no money to pay soldiers, Pedro is killed a year later by Henry and the French.
• Castilian efforts to appease French powers as well as continued competition over crown causes serious damage to Spain. However, Aragon manages to avoid war while serving Frederic, king of Sicily. This eventually leads to increased trading power amongst Mediterranean ports when the soldiers take over Aragonese Sicily for themselves.
Free Companies of Italy
• Free companies played an even larger role in Italy than in Spain, between native companies and German mercenaries intent on taking over. The Anglo-French War continued to complicate things.
• Soldiers referred to as ‘condotierres’.
• Only the richest Italian cities like Florence, Milan, and Venice were able to afford condotierres, then swallow up the small and poor cities.
• Condotierres could become despots, and vice versa. Money was the key. Ex: Cosimo de Medici of Florence, 1389-1464, obtained office and ruled the city by wealth. Condotierro Francesco Sforza, 1401-66, came to rule Milan by serving the Visconti and marrying a duke’s daughter.
• By 1401 all of central Italy could’ve been devastated by condotierre, but the deaths of Milanese Giangaleazzo Visconti (1402) and King Ladislas of Naples (1414) disorganized the soldiers. This lead to 5 main powers of Italy—Venice, Milan, Naples, Florence, and the Papacy. All were largely independent military states within Italy.
Burgundy and France
• By acquiring so many lordships, Burgundy became a near-independent power from France. Philip the Bold (1363-1404) and his son John the Fearless (1404-19) secured Burgundy’s power through marriage and English alliance, while still keeping influence in France.
• John would attract soldiers to fight for his lordship. However, his successor Philip the Good would prove too ambitious in his battles with France, Switzerland, and Lorraine, losing 2 armies then dying himself in 1477.
• After these defeats, Burgundy was weakened and divided between France’s Louis XI and Maximilian of Austria.
• Burgundy is yet another example of how free companies could both make and break a state. The influence of chivalry would leave its mark on the culture—look at the court life of Versailles and the emphasis on both aristocracy and militia. Everything from politics to arts and fashion would be affected by the romance of chivalry.
Chapter 18: Politics and Political Society in an Age of Wars
1330-1460
Free Companies and the Influence of Chivalry
• “Without war you cannot live and do not know how to;” Sir John Chandos.
• 14th Century; France versus England wars create dramatic increase in armed forces, despite limited finances.
• ’free companies’ independent bands of soldiers; think of Robin Hood and his Merry Men!
• Had great draw due to the culture of chivalry inherent to the times; adventure and profit. Knights considered high social class worthy of even doing ‘combat with a king’, therefore something to aspire to and stick to—free companies moved on from one battle to another.
• would continue to influence the wars of 14th-15th centuries; as supply of soldiers often exceeded demand, battles would spill over. Even The 100 Year War (France vs. England) was seen as a series of battles of territory/lordship rather than a war of 2 nations.
Dynastic Wars and the Lords that Fought Them
• Most lordships/dominions were inherited. The right to own land and govern the inhabitants was not sovereign; it could be bought, sold, won or lost. Lords could make grants of land to others in their favor, or gain land through marriage. Competition resulted.
• All this combined with the surge of free companies equaled constant states of insecurity. The soldiers did not often leave with the lords until hired out again, adding to the confusing political landscape.
• Ex: King Edward III’s quest for the French crown and subsequent dukes’ invasions of Italy to win Naples from Duke Louis, who in turn was promised the kingdom of Adria, territory of the Pope of Rome—by the Pope of Avignon!
• Duke John of Lancaster’s efforts to win Castile and ‘to build castles in Spain’ due to inherent rights of his wife as daughter of a former king.
Battles of Spain
• Mid-13th Century; Castile and Aragon were the 2 main Christian kingdoms after the Reconquest from the Muslims. Andalusia was the only Moorish territory left. Castile largely fought over by nobility.
• Alfonso XI’s defeat of Moorish invaders in 1340 and son Pedro II’s reign of 1349-69 reinstated power of monarchy.
• Pedro’s brother Henry driven out of Castile to France, then returned in 1366 as head of French free companies. For 20 years on Castile and the Anglo-French war would be entangled.
• 1367 Battle of Najera Pedro and the Black Prince defeat Henry—but with no money to pay soldiers, Pedro is killed a year later by Henry and the French.
• Castilian efforts to appease French powers as well as continued competition over crown causes serious damage to Spain. However, Aragon manages to avoid war while serving Frederic, king of Sicily. This eventually leads to increased trading power amongst Mediterranean ports when the soldiers take over Aragonese Sicily for themselves.
Free Companies of Italy
• Free companies played an even larger role in Italy than in Spain, between native companies and German mercenaries intent on taking over. The Anglo-French War continued to complicate things.
• Soldiers referred to as ‘condotierres’.
• Only the richest Italian cities like Florence, Milan, and Venice were able to afford condotierres, then swallow up the small and poor cities.
• Condotierres could become despots, and vice versa. Money was the key. Ex: Cosimo de Medici of Florence, 1389-1464, obtained office and ruled the city by wealth. Condotierro Francesco Sforza, 1401-66, came to rule Milan by serving the Visconti and marrying a duke’s daughter.
• By 1401 all of central Italy could’ve been devastated by condotierre, but the deaths of Milanese Giangaleazzo Visconti (1402) and King Ladislas of Naples (1414) disorganized the soldiers. This lead to 5 main powers of Italy—Venice, Milan, Naples, Florence, and the Papacy. All were largely independent military states within Italy.
Burgundy and France
• By acquiring so many lordships, Burgundy became a near-independent power from France. Philip the Bold (1363-1404) and his son John the Fearless (1404-19) secured Burgundy’s power through marriage and English alliance, while still keeping influence in France.
• John would attract soldiers to fight for his lordship. However, his successor Philip the Good would prove too ambitious in his battles with France, Switzerland, and Lorraine, losing 2 armies then dying himself in 1477.
• After these defeats, Burgundy was weakened and divided between France’s Louis XI and Maximilian of Austria.
• Burgundy is yet another example of how free companies could both make and break a state. The influence of chivalry would leave its mark on the culture—look at the court life of Versailles and the emphasis on both aristocracy and militia. Everything from politics to arts and fashion would be affected by the romance of chivalry.
PENGUIN STUDY GUIDE CH. 16
CHAPTER 16
Economic and Social Developments
In the Later Middle Ages (1330-1460)
Ryan Schwingler
The age of expansionism had drawn a close; new period of stabilization and even recession.
Example, the decline of crusader states and rise of national communities (England and France)
Invasion of government into social and economic relations
People began to realize the importance of organizing and uniting, as opposed to individual effort.
Conquests weren’t won by individuals but by bands of soldiers, this carried into economic and social structure.
14th century saw countless alliances form from leagues of nobleman, to peasant revolts.
Three factors to the invasion of government
1.) European commercial expansion reached its limits
2.) War and Black Plague (War as a way of life, natural)
3.) Advance in production and commercial exchange techniques
Europe = Cloth export and Spices/Silks imports
Caused major metropolis development in the 12th century
Need for an internal government arose, fulfilled by governors in 12th century
Bar was raised for commercial expansion by stabilizing trade. Led to major competition between rival cities. War was inevitable (Venice and Genoa), By the time conflict had been won by Venice, flow of trade had been disrupted by a bigger war Tartar and Ottoman Empires.
German cities faced the same rivalries during this time, but found a peaceful means of resolving them.
A powerful league built up controlling the Baltic Sea, and North Sea and the Rhine River.
In 1360 over 80 cities in the league (not a sovereign state) pooled together recourses in order to fend off Scandinavian and English merchants from entering their markets.
Other Germanic leagues were formed under the same principals, mostly to protect their merchants from being plundered on the rivers, and to avoid paying tolls imposed by local dukes and princes.
After seeing the success of the town leagues the same approach was taken inside of each city, and thus guilds were formed.
With a hierarchy structure of officials ruling over decisions to be made regarding the terms of sale of their products, the prices of their products and wages to be given out, guilds were in essence a Corporation
Separation of Classes- Master controls several Laborers
Masters united under a guild shared a pool of monetary resources, as well as a common scheme to train in new apprentices.
Without unity between different masters of said trade, the monopolistic structure of society would have never happened.
Guild members wanted to make sure their posterity would be successful so they only allowed family members the right of entry into the Guild, outsiders would have to be lucky and find a master who would apprentice them, this was very rare. Any type of relative always had the advantage
All of this made it almost impossible for a person to climb the social class ladder. From Laborer to Master
Prices of goods were often high (Effect of a plague or a famine) so laboring class was perpetually being oppressed.
Laboring class takes after their masters, they form alliances of their own (Labor Unions)
Feeling threatened by these unions, Masters, using their political power outlawed these groups, but when the going got tough the tough got going. The Unions reappeared every time conditions worsened, sometimes disguising themselves as religious groups.
Every time the groups of craftsmen were put down, they became more and more aggravated eventually leading to outright revolts.
This pattern happened in both Flanders, and Florence
In Florence they guilds proved strong enough to silence their craftsmen, but in Flanders it wasn’t until the Valios Dukes (parental government) took control that the fighting stopped. There were riots and revolts by the proletarian class for Nearly 100 years before peace. Sometimes-outright civil war taking place.
Of course these weren’t the only cities which the pattern took place,
In France King Louis XI took the markets of Bordeaux and Rouen under his protection after seeing they were in the same circumstance Florence and Flanders were in. Under the Monarchy there was even more money to be shared, and also greater protection.
The plague had similar, but more extreme, effects than the inherent wars had on Italy
When the plague hit in the Middle of the 14th century the idea of the Monarchs was to pin wages, and price of goods, which had skyrocketed, to their pre-plague levels. Thus preventing men from leaving their jobs is search of higher pay.
Both France and England, not long after the Black Plague took its toll, saw their first peasant class revolts.
Surely these revolts weren’t entirely caused by the economically limiting legislation or the Black Plague itself. However they were the proverbial last straw(s).
Hindsight has us wondering if these revolts would have taken place had either of these to occurrences not taken place.
Gap between social classes caused by no longer exchanging work for shelter, landlords now wanted rent money, also caused by landlords because of increased commercial abilities being able to afford nicer shit.
Because they had a steady source of income the landowners became the Noble or Gentry class in France and England respectively.
The Peasant class had faired inversely to the higher (Land Owning) class, they were forced into slavery by the Noble class.
Intervention of the government to save the socially and economically helpless
Again the monarch saves the day, the Valois, in Italy, King in France, and the courts of England (not until 15th century) freed their peasant class from serfdom (slavery)
Bank System was beginning to develop in Tuscany, carrying cash proved to be dangerous
Deposit money in London, carry a letter of credit to Rome, instead of cash, and withdraw local currency. The company whom you deposit/withdrew money to/from charges you a fee.
This allows the agent in London to make purchases, which may lead to profit.
Banks began to appoint agents in towns that didn’t already have one, making it much easier to trade in many new cities.
People started depositing money long term, so banks rewarded them with a small sum of money for letting the bank use their money. The same concept applied to the private party; he was able to loan money from the bank but had to pay a sum of money based on the risk of the loan. (Interest)
It became such a large scale that banks were able to loan money to noblemen and princes to finance governments in need.
Government often borrowed more than they could pay back, causing the banks to go Bankrupt.
Some bankers only did it as a supplement to another occupation such as being a merchant.
Lords mostly borrowed money so that they could go to war, which was becoming increasingly expensive. Due to the development of new technologies such as plate armor, shipbuilding, and later gunpowder.
The increased borrowing by the Royal class led to an increase in taxation, specifically the development of taxation of purchased goods.
After some time the Kings and Monarchs realized that it was in their best interests to protect their subjects. Because it was from their subject they got all of their money.
Full circle-
European commercial expansion reached its limits; Parental Government finds a common good and stops war.
War and Black Plague (War as a way of life, natural)- Parental Government saves Peasants from serfdom
Advance in production and commercial exchange techniques, Parental Government protects its Subjects.
Economic and Social Developments
In the Later Middle Ages (1330-1460)
Ryan Schwingler
The age of expansionism had drawn a close; new period of stabilization and even recession.
Example, the decline of crusader states and rise of national communities (England and France)
Invasion of government into social and economic relations
People began to realize the importance of organizing and uniting, as opposed to individual effort.
Conquests weren’t won by individuals but by bands of soldiers, this carried into economic and social structure.
14th century saw countless alliances form from leagues of nobleman, to peasant revolts.
Three factors to the invasion of government
1.) European commercial expansion reached its limits
2.) War and Black Plague (War as a way of life, natural)
3.) Advance in production and commercial exchange techniques
Europe = Cloth export and Spices/Silks imports
Caused major metropolis development in the 12th century
Need for an internal government arose, fulfilled by governors in 12th century
Bar was raised for commercial expansion by stabilizing trade. Led to major competition between rival cities. War was inevitable (Venice and Genoa), By the time conflict had been won by Venice, flow of trade had been disrupted by a bigger war Tartar and Ottoman Empires.
German cities faced the same rivalries during this time, but found a peaceful means of resolving them.
A powerful league built up controlling the Baltic Sea, and North Sea and the Rhine River.
In 1360 over 80 cities in the league (not a sovereign state) pooled together recourses in order to fend off Scandinavian and English merchants from entering their markets.
Other Germanic leagues were formed under the same principals, mostly to protect their merchants from being plundered on the rivers, and to avoid paying tolls imposed by local dukes and princes.
After seeing the success of the town leagues the same approach was taken inside of each city, and thus guilds were formed.
With a hierarchy structure of officials ruling over decisions to be made regarding the terms of sale of their products, the prices of their products and wages to be given out, guilds were in essence a Corporation
Separation of Classes- Master controls several Laborers
Masters united under a guild shared a pool of monetary resources, as well as a common scheme to train in new apprentices.
Without unity between different masters of said trade, the monopolistic structure of society would have never happened.
Guild members wanted to make sure their posterity would be successful so they only allowed family members the right of entry into the Guild, outsiders would have to be lucky and find a master who would apprentice them, this was very rare. Any type of relative always had the advantage
All of this made it almost impossible for a person to climb the social class ladder. From Laborer to Master
Prices of goods were often high (Effect of a plague or a famine) so laboring class was perpetually being oppressed.
Laboring class takes after their masters, they form alliances of their own (Labor Unions)
Feeling threatened by these unions, Masters, using their political power outlawed these groups, but when the going got tough the tough got going. The Unions reappeared every time conditions worsened, sometimes disguising themselves as religious groups.
Every time the groups of craftsmen were put down, they became more and more aggravated eventually leading to outright revolts.
This pattern happened in both Flanders, and Florence
In Florence they guilds proved strong enough to silence their craftsmen, but in Flanders it wasn’t until the Valios Dukes (parental government) took control that the fighting stopped. There were riots and revolts by the proletarian class for Nearly 100 years before peace. Sometimes-outright civil war taking place.
Of course these weren’t the only cities which the pattern took place,
In France King Louis XI took the markets of Bordeaux and Rouen under his protection after seeing they were in the same circumstance Florence and Flanders were in. Under the Monarchy there was even more money to be shared, and also greater protection.
The plague had similar, but more extreme, effects than the inherent wars had on Italy
When the plague hit in the Middle of the 14th century the idea of the Monarchs was to pin wages, and price of goods, which had skyrocketed, to their pre-plague levels. Thus preventing men from leaving their jobs is search of higher pay.
Both France and England, not long after the Black Plague took its toll, saw their first peasant class revolts.
Surely these revolts weren’t entirely caused by the economically limiting legislation or the Black Plague itself. However they were the proverbial last straw(s).
Hindsight has us wondering if these revolts would have taken place had either of these to occurrences not taken place.
Gap between social classes caused by no longer exchanging work for shelter, landlords now wanted rent money, also caused by landlords because of increased commercial abilities being able to afford nicer shit.
Because they had a steady source of income the landowners became the Noble or Gentry class in France and England respectively.
The Peasant class had faired inversely to the higher (Land Owning) class, they were forced into slavery by the Noble class.
Intervention of the government to save the socially and economically helpless
Again the monarch saves the day, the Valois, in Italy, King in France, and the courts of England (not until 15th century) freed their peasant class from serfdom (slavery)
Bank System was beginning to develop in Tuscany, carrying cash proved to be dangerous
Deposit money in London, carry a letter of credit to Rome, instead of cash, and withdraw local currency. The company whom you deposit/withdrew money to/from charges you a fee.
This allows the agent in London to make purchases, which may lead to profit.
Banks began to appoint agents in towns that didn’t already have one, making it much easier to trade in many new cities.
People started depositing money long term, so banks rewarded them with a small sum of money for letting the bank use their money. The same concept applied to the private party; he was able to loan money from the bank but had to pay a sum of money based on the risk of the loan. (Interest)
It became such a large scale that banks were able to loan money to noblemen and princes to finance governments in need.
Government often borrowed more than they could pay back, causing the banks to go Bankrupt.
Some bankers only did it as a supplement to another occupation such as being a merchant.
Lords mostly borrowed money so that they could go to war, which was becoming increasingly expensive. Due to the development of new technologies such as plate armor, shipbuilding, and later gunpowder.
The increased borrowing by the Royal class led to an increase in taxation, specifically the development of taxation of purchased goods.
After some time the Kings and Monarchs realized that it was in their best interests to protect their subjects. Because it was from their subject they got all of their money.
Full circle-
European commercial expansion reached its limits; Parental Government finds a common good and stops war.
War and Black Plague (War as a way of life, natural)- Parental Government saves Peasants from serfdom
Advance in production and commercial exchange techniques, Parental Government protects its Subjects.
PENGUIN STUDY GUIDE CH. 8
The Penguin History of Medieval Europe
By: Maurice Keen
Chapter 8: The Twelfth-Century Revolution in Government
Presented By: Rebecca Boe
-Revival of city life and commerce in the eleventh and twelfth century gave new importance to money, as a medium of exchange. Development of a systematic approach was taking place in the schools. These two things made possible an advance in the range and methods of government.
-Shift in the balance of power:
*Past: Local lord held power. (Feudal State: A system of rights and duties between lords and their vassals – those who are protected. In return for a piece of land, the vassals had to perform military duties and pay certain rents and dues. Peasants worked on the vassals land in return for protection)
*Present Time: Due to a new promising government (rulers personal intervention necessary less often – king, or a noble) a ruler was now able to govern over more land, which meant they had more money to build castles and pay men to defend them
Ways a ruler could extend resources:
*Easier to gain land through marriage, then by sword.
*Take over land of a vassal who died without heirs.
-In the twelfth century, Sicily had the most highly developed government in Latin Christendom.
*Sicily inherited an administration whose framework was Byzantine, based on the practices of the late Roman Empire.
*Roger II claimed himself King in 1130 - Omni competence of royal authority – power was not fragmented (he held all the power) – multi-racial composition of Rogers kingdom contributed to his exceptional power (Greek, Norman, and Arab alike).
-Another highly organized government was the Norman kingdom of England. (Normans were descendents of the Vikings who had settled in northern France).
*Domesday Book was produced in 1085 – William the Conqueror decided to find out who owned land and property and how much tax they should pay on it. (His officials toured England recording the names of landowners, their holdings, and how much their possessions were worth).
*Financial administration saw an important advance during the reign of Henry I (1100-35) The king’s treasury was organized into a rudimentary government accounting department, the Exchequer. Through the sheriffs the king had an annual account of all that was due to him and all he paid out, and a means of checking the activities of officials whom he seldom met.
*Henry II reign (1154-89) – people expected him to provide justice. Welfare was left to the church and family. Royal authority began to become something more meaningful to a wide range of people (began to shape a common law of all of the land).
*Henry gained land in France through family ties, which caused tension with the King of France. Henry’s successors, Richard and John, had to strain at their resources to keep their land.
*John stretched his royal right beyond reason to keep land (lost most of his land) – 1215 his subjects forced him to seal a Great Charter (Magna Carta), which put limits over his rights. The growth of royal power ended by forcing the king to acknowledge boundaries on their power.
-The French monarchy went from having very little power to having a great deal of power long before the signing of the Magna Carta.
-Louis VI (1108-37) focused on getting rid of the rich near Paris, who were illegally charging his citizens. (Possibly through tolls or taxing). This idea was wide spread and also carried out in other areas by Count Geoffrey and Count Charles. Due to Louis actions he guaranteed his successors money and men for defending themselves.
-The French monarch now thought through their decisions more carefully before they acted. Louis grandson decided to model their decision making process after the English Kings.
-Phillips land, France, was divided into districts, each which was supervised by a bailli (a person who was responsible for taxing the people, listening to complaints, and discussed with the Kings council any matters of great difficulty).
-The Kings court eventually became the Parliament of Paris, the highest court in France.
-Phillip forcefully gained control over the King of England’s land in the areas of Normandy, Anjou, and Maine – this doubles his land and made him more powerful.
(Phillip was able to gain this control because court systems were able to decide things more quickly and the other powerful rulers in the area were absent at the time)
-Phillip defeated Johns armies, during Johns attempt to save his land. Phillip
power was now secure, but he still was not a good of a ruler as the King of England.
-At the time, the Church was the most efficient form of government. (Similar to the bailli’s) Traveling legates would hear cases in the Pope’s name from the surrounding areas. (Go back to Pope with any cases that they could not resolve)
-Case hearings were not efficient enough with the Legates – small groups made up of local church members were appointed to solve the cases.
-The Pope felt it was to time consuming to hear all cases (getting to petty) so he decided he and his officials would only hear cases in the areas of: marriage, breach of oath, questions of legitimacy, testamentary disposition, and church endowments.
- The Church felt that all people should follow their laws – no boarders (All mighty power). Although they did not have the man power to enforce their laws, the church had the moral authority needed to enforce laws (going to hell).
- Rome was turbulent at the time (people were uprising). The Pope often had to move elsewhere to avoid death. While in hiding they had to depend on militaries provided by princes. Even though they were under threat, people still found them popular because they were recruiting for the Crusades.
- An emperor, Henry IV, challenged the aristocratic authority (rich ruling) – in 1077 Rudolf of Swabia was elected as an anti king by the people. (People started moving to their community and now all of a sudden Henry told them they must start reporting to him – people were upset and wanted to know why all of a sudden things were changing – Though Henry was greedy)
-Henry V died childless, which beginning a period of time when hereditary succession was not in existence. The empire was not able to build up because there was no family to pass power to. (No connection between the people and the leader)
-Empire lost power in Germany and Italy.
-1183 Treaty of Constance was signed by Barbosa (Rest of Europe’s Magna Carta) – Gave the cities a greater independence.
By: Maurice Keen
Chapter 8: The Twelfth-Century Revolution in Government
Presented By: Rebecca Boe
-Revival of city life and commerce in the eleventh and twelfth century gave new importance to money, as a medium of exchange. Development of a systematic approach was taking place in the schools. These two things made possible an advance in the range and methods of government.
-Shift in the balance of power:
*Past: Local lord held power. (Feudal State: A system of rights and duties between lords and their vassals – those who are protected. In return for a piece of land, the vassals had to perform military duties and pay certain rents and dues. Peasants worked on the vassals land in return for protection)
*Present Time: Due to a new promising government (rulers personal intervention necessary less often – king, or a noble) a ruler was now able to govern over more land, which meant they had more money to build castles and pay men to defend them
Ways a ruler could extend resources:
*Easier to gain land through marriage, then by sword.
*Take over land of a vassal who died without heirs.
-In the twelfth century, Sicily had the most highly developed government in Latin Christendom.
*Sicily inherited an administration whose framework was Byzantine, based on the practices of the late Roman Empire.
*Roger II claimed himself King in 1130 - Omni competence of royal authority – power was not fragmented (he held all the power) – multi-racial composition of Rogers kingdom contributed to his exceptional power (Greek, Norman, and Arab alike).
-Another highly organized government was the Norman kingdom of England. (Normans were descendents of the Vikings who had settled in northern France).
*Domesday Book was produced in 1085 – William the Conqueror decided to find out who owned land and property and how much tax they should pay on it. (His officials toured England recording the names of landowners, their holdings, and how much their possessions were worth).
*Financial administration saw an important advance during the reign of Henry I (1100-35) The king’s treasury was organized into a rudimentary government accounting department, the Exchequer. Through the sheriffs the king had an annual account of all that was due to him and all he paid out, and a means of checking the activities of officials whom he seldom met.
*Henry II reign (1154-89) – people expected him to provide justice. Welfare was left to the church and family. Royal authority began to become something more meaningful to a wide range of people (began to shape a common law of all of the land).
*Henry gained land in France through family ties, which caused tension with the King of France. Henry’s successors, Richard and John, had to strain at their resources to keep their land.
*John stretched his royal right beyond reason to keep land (lost most of his land) – 1215 his subjects forced him to seal a Great Charter (Magna Carta), which put limits over his rights. The growth of royal power ended by forcing the king to acknowledge boundaries on their power.
-The French monarchy went from having very little power to having a great deal of power long before the signing of the Magna Carta.
-Louis VI (1108-37) focused on getting rid of the rich near Paris, who were illegally charging his citizens. (Possibly through tolls or taxing). This idea was wide spread and also carried out in other areas by Count Geoffrey and Count Charles. Due to Louis actions he guaranteed his successors money and men for defending themselves.
-The French monarch now thought through their decisions more carefully before they acted. Louis grandson decided to model their decision making process after the English Kings.
-Phillips land, France, was divided into districts, each which was supervised by a bailli (a person who was responsible for taxing the people, listening to complaints, and discussed with the Kings council any matters of great difficulty).
-The Kings court eventually became the Parliament of Paris, the highest court in France.
-Phillip forcefully gained control over the King of England’s land in the areas of Normandy, Anjou, and Maine – this doubles his land and made him more powerful.
(Phillip was able to gain this control because court systems were able to decide things more quickly and the other powerful rulers in the area were absent at the time)
-Phillip defeated Johns armies, during Johns attempt to save his land. Phillip
power was now secure, but he still was not a good of a ruler as the King of England.
-At the time, the Church was the most efficient form of government. (Similar to the bailli’s) Traveling legates would hear cases in the Pope’s name from the surrounding areas. (Go back to Pope with any cases that they could not resolve)
-Case hearings were not efficient enough with the Legates – small groups made up of local church members were appointed to solve the cases.
-The Pope felt it was to time consuming to hear all cases (getting to petty) so he decided he and his officials would only hear cases in the areas of: marriage, breach of oath, questions of legitimacy, testamentary disposition, and church endowments.
- The Church felt that all people should follow their laws – no boarders (All mighty power). Although they did not have the man power to enforce their laws, the church had the moral authority needed to enforce laws (going to hell).
- Rome was turbulent at the time (people were uprising). The Pope often had to move elsewhere to avoid death. While in hiding they had to depend on militaries provided by princes. Even though they were under threat, people still found them popular because they were recruiting for the Crusades.
- An emperor, Henry IV, challenged the aristocratic authority (rich ruling) – in 1077 Rudolf of Swabia was elected as an anti king by the people. (People started moving to their community and now all of a sudden Henry told them they must start reporting to him – people were upset and wanted to know why all of a sudden things were changing – Though Henry was greedy)
-Henry V died childless, which beginning a period of time when hereditary succession was not in existence. The empire was not able to build up because there was no family to pass power to. (No connection between the people and the leader)
-Empire lost power in Germany and Italy.
-1183 Treaty of Constance was signed by Barbosa (Rest of Europe’s Magna Carta) – Gave the cities a greater independence.
PENGUIN STUDY GUIDE CH. 7
The Penguin History of Medieval Europe
By: Maurice Keen
Chapter 7: New Movements in Thought and Letters
Presented By: Rebecca Boe
-A new outburst of intelligence and literary activity occurred in the eleventh and twelfth centuries, which generated multiple forces and a many sided movement.
-A spirit of curiosity created a demanding why and wherefore for old values and assumptions – “New Movement in Thought”
-Traditional centers of learning were in the monasteries, but cathedral chapters were beginning to flourish, especially in northern France.
-Cathedrals had certain advantages over the monasteries because they could develop more freely, more speculative, and they studied logic.
-Aristotle and Porphyry showed a means by which statements, meanings, and argument could be categorized, classified, and valued - First time in centuries scholars were familiarized with intellectual standards which were completely “human and rational”.
-Viewing sacred truths in the eyes of everyday human reason could be seen as improper – Conservative minded saw it as questioning the teaching which Christian society had adopted as its “guiding light”.
-Even in the monasteries, the Cistercians were opening their studies to the “literate lay brothers”.
-Abelard was the greatest philosopher is his day and Bernard was the most influential Cistercian of history. He began to question the doctrines and wanted them to be reviewed with logic.
-Peter Lombard wrote “The Sentences”, which became a companion to the bible and the standard theological text book of the Middle Ages. His text systematically addressed the inconsistencies in scriptures and Christian doctrines and became the starting point for all theological study and controversy for three hundred years. Lombard taught in School of Paris, along with Abelard.
-Gratian, a contemporary of Abelard and Lombard, taught canon law at Bologna. His book, “Concordance of the Discordant” played the same role in the study of canon law as “The Sentences” by Lombard in theology.
-There were two problems facing the canon law student: (1) How to decide what was authoritative and what was not and (2) How to reconcile the conflicts in the remaining body of the authoritative legislation.
-John of Salisbury and Hugh of St Victor were able to present a systematic Christian view of society based on an examination of its nature components and functions. Their methods for analyzing could be used for any problem. This was the beginning to break free of thinking dominated by theology.
-At the same time writings began to appear about Arthur and the kings of Britain. These writings were of feelings, woman, men, and the story of the Holy Grail. However, the basis of authority was Christian teachings.
By: Maurice Keen
Chapter 7: New Movements in Thought and Letters
Presented By: Rebecca Boe
-A new outburst of intelligence and literary activity occurred in the eleventh and twelfth centuries, which generated multiple forces and a many sided movement.
-A spirit of curiosity created a demanding why and wherefore for old values and assumptions – “New Movement in Thought”
-Traditional centers of learning were in the monasteries, but cathedral chapters were beginning to flourish, especially in northern France.
-Cathedrals had certain advantages over the monasteries because they could develop more freely, more speculative, and they studied logic.
-Aristotle and Porphyry showed a means by which statements, meanings, and argument could be categorized, classified, and valued - First time in centuries scholars were familiarized with intellectual standards which were completely “human and rational”.
-Viewing sacred truths in the eyes of everyday human reason could be seen as improper – Conservative minded saw it as questioning the teaching which Christian society had adopted as its “guiding light”.
-Even in the monasteries, the Cistercians were opening their studies to the “literate lay brothers”.
-Abelard was the greatest philosopher is his day and Bernard was the most influential Cistercian of history. He began to question the doctrines and wanted them to be reviewed with logic.
-Peter Lombard wrote “The Sentences”, which became a companion to the bible and the standard theological text book of the Middle Ages. His text systematically addressed the inconsistencies in scriptures and Christian doctrines and became the starting point for all theological study and controversy for three hundred years. Lombard taught in School of Paris, along with Abelard.
-Gratian, a contemporary of Abelard and Lombard, taught canon law at Bologna. His book, “Concordance of the Discordant” played the same role in the study of canon law as “The Sentences” by Lombard in theology.
-There were two problems facing the canon law student: (1) How to decide what was authoritative and what was not and (2) How to reconcile the conflicts in the remaining body of the authoritative legislation.
-John of Salisbury and Hugh of St Victor were able to present a systematic Christian view of society based on an examination of its nature components and functions. Their methods for analyzing could be used for any problem. This was the beginning to break free of thinking dominated by theology.
-At the same time writings began to appear about Arthur and the kings of Britain. These writings were of feelings, woman, men, and the story of the Holy Grail. However, the basis of authority was Christian teachings.
PENGUIN STUDY GUIDE CH. 6
Chapter 6: The Expansion of Europe
Towns and trade had begun to revive, new lands were being brought under cultivation, and the frontiers of Europe were expanding
• Inhabitants increasing
o Between 1000 and 1300 population increased at least two folds
o Population increase maybe due to:
• Improvements in agricultural techniques
• Development of harness for horse plowing
• Adoption of three field rotation of crops (more land more productively)
o Impossible to offer any factual explanation
• The land is having to support more people
o Canals and dykes cut to drained swamps being built, clearing of land and trees began
o Not only more labor induced but the need for more laborers (much work of reclamation was evidently due to the undirected initiative of peasants)
• Lords (William I of England) imposing “forest laws” to prevent agricultural uprising
o Count of Vedosome burned houses of those who participated in agricultural expansion
• Lords created strict rules:
o Cistercian houses were to be built in waste places; monks were to accept no settled land, but to labor for their upkeep with their own hands
• Cistercian lay brothers, sworn to poverty and chastity did not found homesteads or raise families
• France
o Count of Maine gave to Church of St. Vincent of Le Mans
• “Leave to build a Bourg:” to build about the new church a little town and rent the houses to countrymen who would agree to cultivate the land around it
o others imitated the churches
• Lords had land to offer; they learned to encourage colonization because they found it made them richer
• Offered greater freedom
• Was protected and privileged by charter of its founder
• Paid rent of some kind
• Were not bound to soil
• The larger the city the better the defense system
o The manorial system of the previous age began to decay but at the same time the gap between those who owned land and those who tilled it grew wider
• Crusade to the Holy Land
o Spain had fueros-like French bourgs
• Settlers from far afield
o Christian expansion to the South continued steadily
• Germany
o Over lordship and tribute had been the prime German objective, the settlement of conquered land began to take pride of place
o 1147 campaign during second crusade to Palestine:
• “Let the God who is in Heaven be our God and it will suffice”
o German settlement was being pushed further east and south
• Expansion of Normandy
o Not peasants who responded to increased population
o Fortunes were Hautevilles to be won in the service of Greeks and Lombards
• Hautevilles taught the Normans they could win these lands for themselves
o Conquests of the Normans
• Lead by Roger and Roger II, gained land in Italy and Sicily, Roger II became king of Sicily
• Conquest of England in 1066
• Restless aristocracy made their influence not with peasants
• Norman conquests and German colonization reflect at different social levels, responses to identical pressures
o Externally and internally, Christian Europe was expanding
Discovery of Commerce and Revival of City Life
• Cities grew more than countryside
• New influences in the way of life of medieval Christendom
• Merchant’s success was by knowing where to find goods and production
o Associations, native home and travels to where he could buy and sell
o Goods came from outside
• (orient) silks, spices
• Italian merchants carried most of these goods
• Goods produced in Europe were clothes
• Flanders, north Italy and Champagne:
o These were the nodal points of commerce
o Italy excelled all others in wealth and enterprise
o Most goods coming into Europe came through Constantinople; on this trade merchants of Venice were growing rich
o Earliest achievements were due to individual enterprise
• Pisa, Genoa, and Venice built up wide commercial empires
o Merchants raised money on the security of his own land and a partner to load cargo
• They shared risk and profit
• Success increased demands for goods to be exported and stimulated a circulation of means of exchange, currency
• Nobles began to leave their homes to pursue the money in trading, buying and selling
o Men drawn in from the countryside by the lure of opportunity
• Flemish cities never achieved the same independence as the Italians
o In the long run their culture was less rich and individual and depended more on the protection of noble rulers
o Class of citizens in commerce had no place in the social framework
o No understanding of problems for commercial men
• Questions of contract and debt
• Regulation of wages and prices
• Conditions of labor and sale
o Only dealt with by the citizens themselves
o Right to self-government was vital
o Gained right “to chose their own laws”
o Gained independence (new force of the life of Christian society, the bourgeoisie)
• Cities became bastions of liberty
o Buildings, churches, cathedrals and guildhalls testify to public spirit born of pride of achievement
o They did not think of other cities as allies but as rivals
o The natural tendency of city government was towards quarrelsome oligarchy
• Independence had its downfalls
• Effects of civil and commercial revival
o Increased commercial exchange stimulated a great revival in currency circulation
o Long-term – steady depreciation of money
• government became more businesslike as money came to count more than land
• Christendom-internal change brought the spread of new ideas
• Capital cities in certain countries developed
• Christian society
o Promoted a more common level of culture
Towns and trade had begun to revive, new lands were being brought under cultivation, and the frontiers of Europe were expanding
• Inhabitants increasing
o Between 1000 and 1300 population increased at least two folds
o Population increase maybe due to:
• Improvements in agricultural techniques
• Development of harness for horse plowing
• Adoption of three field rotation of crops (more land more productively)
o Impossible to offer any factual explanation
• The land is having to support more people
o Canals and dykes cut to drained swamps being built, clearing of land and trees began
o Not only more labor induced but the need for more laborers (much work of reclamation was evidently due to the undirected initiative of peasants)
• Lords (William I of England) imposing “forest laws” to prevent agricultural uprising
o Count of Vedosome burned houses of those who participated in agricultural expansion
• Lords created strict rules:
o Cistercian houses were to be built in waste places; monks were to accept no settled land, but to labor for their upkeep with their own hands
• Cistercian lay brothers, sworn to poverty and chastity did not found homesteads or raise families
• France
o Count of Maine gave to Church of St. Vincent of Le Mans
• “Leave to build a Bourg:” to build about the new church a little town and rent the houses to countrymen who would agree to cultivate the land around it
o others imitated the churches
• Lords had land to offer; they learned to encourage colonization because they found it made them richer
• Offered greater freedom
• Was protected and privileged by charter of its founder
• Paid rent of some kind
• Were not bound to soil
• The larger the city the better the defense system
o The manorial system of the previous age began to decay but at the same time the gap between those who owned land and those who tilled it grew wider
• Crusade to the Holy Land
o Spain had fueros-like French bourgs
• Settlers from far afield
o Christian expansion to the South continued steadily
• Germany
o Over lordship and tribute had been the prime German objective, the settlement of conquered land began to take pride of place
o 1147 campaign during second crusade to Palestine:
• “Let the God who is in Heaven be our God and it will suffice”
o German settlement was being pushed further east and south
• Expansion of Normandy
o Not peasants who responded to increased population
o Fortunes were Hautevilles to be won in the service of Greeks and Lombards
• Hautevilles taught the Normans they could win these lands for themselves
o Conquests of the Normans
• Lead by Roger and Roger II, gained land in Italy and Sicily, Roger II became king of Sicily
• Conquest of England in 1066
• Restless aristocracy made their influence not with peasants
• Norman conquests and German colonization reflect at different social levels, responses to identical pressures
o Externally and internally, Christian Europe was expanding
Discovery of Commerce and Revival of City Life
• Cities grew more than countryside
• New influences in the way of life of medieval Christendom
• Merchant’s success was by knowing where to find goods and production
o Associations, native home and travels to where he could buy and sell
o Goods came from outside
• (orient) silks, spices
• Italian merchants carried most of these goods
• Goods produced in Europe were clothes
• Flanders, north Italy and Champagne:
o These were the nodal points of commerce
o Italy excelled all others in wealth and enterprise
o Most goods coming into Europe came through Constantinople; on this trade merchants of Venice were growing rich
o Earliest achievements were due to individual enterprise
• Pisa, Genoa, and Venice built up wide commercial empires
o Merchants raised money on the security of his own land and a partner to load cargo
• They shared risk and profit
• Success increased demands for goods to be exported and stimulated a circulation of means of exchange, currency
• Nobles began to leave their homes to pursue the money in trading, buying and selling
o Men drawn in from the countryside by the lure of opportunity
• Flemish cities never achieved the same independence as the Italians
o In the long run their culture was less rich and individual and depended more on the protection of noble rulers
o Class of citizens in commerce had no place in the social framework
o No understanding of problems for commercial men
• Questions of contract and debt
• Regulation of wages and prices
• Conditions of labor and sale
o Only dealt with by the citizens themselves
o Right to self-government was vital
o Gained right “to chose their own laws”
o Gained independence (new force of the life of Christian society, the bourgeoisie)
• Cities became bastions of liberty
o Buildings, churches, cathedrals and guildhalls testify to public spirit born of pride of achievement
o They did not think of other cities as allies but as rivals
o The natural tendency of city government was towards quarrelsome oligarchy
• Independence had its downfalls
• Effects of civil and commercial revival
o Increased commercial exchange stimulated a great revival in currency circulation
o Long-term – steady depreciation of money
• government became more businesslike as money came to count more than land
• Christendom-internal change brought the spread of new ideas
• Capital cities in certain countries developed
• Christian society
o Promoted a more common level of culture
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