Middle ages lecture notes

Feudalism

Political system where power is held by the landed nobility, sharing power with kings in a symbiotic relationship. Feudalism leads to less centralized control of a kingdom

Manorialism

Economic and social system of the Middle Ages based on landed estates called manors, the primary economic system. Primary economic system of the Middle Ages.

Knights

Heavy cavalry, preferred military units in feudal Europe.

Fief

Land granted by a king or lord in return for service, awarded for various reasons to different people.

Vassal

Receiver of a land grant, obligated to loyalty and homage to the lord. IT WAS POSSIBLE TO BE BOTH A LORD AND A VASSAL!

Feudal Contract

Formalized ceremony where vassals pledge loyalty and receive land to govern but not own. Obligations of the feudal contract:

1. Lord obligated to protect his vassal

2. Vassals were obligated to protect the Lord and his family and give him advice

Law of Primogeniture

Feudal contract passed on to the oldest son.

3 Field System

Agricultural system with two or three fields rotated throughout 2/3 times a year to increase food production. Increases the population.

Chief function of manor: produce food!

Guilds

Medieval trade associations protecting craftsmen's interests from competitors.

Magna Carta

Document limiting the king's authority, granting rights to lords and subjects, including taxation by consent and fair trial. A document that established the principle that the king was subject to the law, not above it, and guaranteed certain rights to the nobility, which later extended to common people.

Parliament

Introduced by Edward I, it was a body that served to approve or disapprove royal requests for taxes and aimed to gain public favor for tax requests.

Capetians

Hugh Capet surrendered much of his lands to become recognized as king of France, highlighting the interdependence between kings and lords in the hierarchy system.

Battle of Bouvines

A significant battle in European history that sealed King Philip's hold on Normandy, leading to opposition to King John's rule in England and influencing the path to Magna Carta.

Estates General

France's representative body consisting of the three social classes - (1st) nobility, (2nd) clergy, and (3rd) peasants/commoners, established by Philip IV to seek national support for his policies.

Louis IX

Known as the most chivalrous monarch of his time, he implemented judicial reforms for justice and was the first French king to issue laws for the entire country based solely on his authority.

Albigensian Crusade

Led by Philip II Augustus, it targeted the Albigensians/Cathars in Toulouse for their heretical form of Christianity, marking the beginning of a larger persecution of heretics known as "The Inquisition."

Middle ages society

Hierarchy of the feudal system —> kings are top

Tenants-in-chief are under kings and control manors, may control more than one

Knights/lords run manors

titles (duke, count, baron) were important, but ownership of land was more important

More land= more power

Peasants

Not slaves, but required to work the land and remain tied to the land even if the Lord of the land changes

Types of Peasants (2)

1. Freeman = minority group under complete control of the Lord but with certain limited rights

   1. Serfs = majority group who were bound to the land and could not be evicted

Castles

Developed from earth and wood to more elaborate stone creations. Fortified residences, typically for royalty, or lords who rule on behalf of the king.

Often situated in military advantages (hills or rivers). Need for castles come from the threat of potential invaders (moors, vikings, rival kingdoms)

Rebirth of trade

Crusades increased connections between cultures. These connections increased demand for trade for luxury goods with the Middle east, also changes in customs (hand washing), fashion, and education.

Burghers

Meant townspeople. “Burgh” is a Saxon word for “fortified settlement”. Townspeople were subject to more liberties than agrarian people, but they were still a minority.

Recovering from the dark ages

cities of the 12th century are no longer fortresses or residences for bishops. They are now opportunities for trade and generally out of feudal lords.

Fairs

Designated occasions for trade in goods that were not easily acquired (imported). Most famous fair was in Champagne, France.

Banking

New service that emerges, for the practice of lending money in return for interest. Church considered this practice (usury) a sin. Jewish bankers did not have the religious prohibition against it, and dominated this banking era. During the Crusades, banking became common

Education

Scholasticism = religion + logic/science

St Thomas Aquinas

An example of scholasticism movement. Aquinas writes Summa Theologica, to prove the existence of God using logic and theology.

European universities

Men only, students paid teachers directly (charging be lecture). Some cases women would receive private education at home from tutors)

Heloise and Abelard

Abelard is a univeristy of Paris teacher that wants to become a clergy, however he engages with Heloise (his student) and gets her pregnant (hello??)

Holy Roman Empire (people)

1. Otto The Great

2. Otto III

3. Henry IV

Otto the Great

German king who became the first emperor of the Holy Roman Empire. Raised a great military, defeated the Magyars, and invaded Italy.

As conqueror of Italy, Otto fused the German and Italian territories together has the Holy Roman Empire and was crowned by the Pope.

Otto III

German king who was able to spread the dominance of the Holy Roman Empire.

Spread German + Christianity to Poland, Bohemia, and Hungary; by making local leader’s vassals under the Dominion of Otto III and future German kings

Henry IV

Became a king as a child. Took nobility advantage of his youth and seized more power. Kidnapped as a child by a powerful church official and almost drowned when trying to escape.

As an adult, he wanted to regain kingship power. Used his influence as a weapon against his opponents (lords + nobility), which turns the bishops and clergy against him. Pope Gregory VII reinforced the Cluny reforms by excommunicating him for interfering with Church affairs. Led to “penance of Canossa” when he stood outside the Pope’s palace for days in the snow. German Bishops controlled by him declared the Pope illegitimate.

This split signals the beginning of ongoing civil wars and conflicts that undermine the power of the German monarchy.

Concordat of Worms

Agreement that Church clergy will elect bishops freely, but in the physical view of the emperor. Bishops will receive the symbolic possessions of their office (hats, robes, staffs) from other Church officials

Lay Investiture (Church vs state)

Clergy is turning into feudal nobility. They’re rewarded for their cooperation with kings, in exchange, the kings appoint bishops (rather than clergy)

Cluny Reforms (Church vs state)

(Cluny = religious monastery)

Reforms oppose secular or government influence on the Church (kings appointing Church officials)

Initially supported by Emp Henry III and Pope Leo IX (Pope appointed by a king)

Great Schism (Church vs state)

“schism” - disagreement that develops in the Church. Some clergy challenge the authority of the Pope over the Cluny reforms. Some kings want to continue appointing Church officials

The Great Schism was the final split between Orthodox Church (east) and Roman Catholic Church (west)

William the Conqueror (Norman)

Conquered England and brings new institution developments. Imports French feudalism to England. English feudalism is different in that feudal lords did not gain the same kind of power, only collectively could feudal lords challenge the kings authority.

Domesday Book

William orders a census of each country under his control so he would know how much he could tax his subjects. Census recorded holdings + possessions of each person in the Domesday Book. He died before it was completed.

The project indicated a shift towards more direct control of his subjects by the king.

Henry I

Institutional ideas emerge from Henry I. Created the position of exchequer (office that kept track of every piece of revenue in the royal coffers) ACCOUNTANTS!

Plantagenet dynasty

starts with Henry II. Ruled England for 300+ years. Provided 14 kings. The Surname Plantagenet became famous in England.

Henry II

Grandson of Henry I. Instituted the idea of common law. French feudal lords could hand out justice. English (starting with Henry) only special appointed people could do this.

In theory, common law is applied equally throughout the kingdom.

Considered one of England’s best because his contribution of judicial reforms.

1. extended authority of royal courts

2. common law created

3. 12 men juries

Thomas Beckett scandal

Henry II appointed his friend Beckett as Archbishop of Canterbury (highest religious office) so he could control the church. Once in office, Beckett became a supporter of Church authority. Henry II men murdered Beckett, causing a big embarrassment and a formal apology.

King John (lackland + softsword)

Younger brother of Richard Lionheart. Worst king!

1. War with France (against king Philip, had lost most of England’s land in France)

2. Conflict with the Pope

   • disputed election of New archbishop of Canterbury

   • Pope innocent III authorized Philip to invade England and dispose John

   • John gives in a recognizes England and Ireland as fiefs to the pope

3. Magna Carta, John was forced to sign by the English Barons (created aspects of English Law)

   • taxation by consent

   • fair trial

   • representative government

Edward I (longshanks)

Tried to tax Church in order to fund an invasion of Scotland, got excommunicated. In response, he gathered influential clergy, nobles, and townspeople and began the Parliament —> attempt to gain public favor his tax requests.

The original Parliament served as a body to approve and disapprove royal requests for taxes.

Philip II Agustus

French power rebounds under Phillip II . When John fight for kingship with his nephew, Philip II supported the nephew (Arthur). When John killed Arthur, they went to war. Phillip II wins, he regains formally English governed French territory.

Philip II accomplishments

1. Began expanding French royal authority

2. created Baillies (sheriff, helped administer local territories)

3. Began building the Louvre, founded University of Paris

4. Responsible for Albigensian crusade

   • Pope innocent and King Phillip II targeted Cathars for persecution

   • Dominicans were in charge of spreading the correct Church teaching

     • called “the inquisition”

Philip IV (the fair)

Formed the estates General to gather support for his policies. Needed money for war, so he called Estates General seeking national support in struggle against the church over taxation of the clergy.

Suffered from financial issues, established two solutions for his problems

1. Arrested Jews, took their property, drove them out of France (usury)

2. Persecuted and destroyed the Knights Templar, claiming their Treasury.