Ch. 12 - High & Late Middle Ages (Revised by Kevin Hughes) (1)

Page 1: Chronology of the High Middle Ages (1000-1300) and Late Middle Ages (1300-1500)

Key Events

  • 987: Hugh Capet starts the Capetian Dynasty (987-1328)

  • 1000: High Middle Ages begins

  • 1031: Fall of the Cordoba Caliphate in Spain, emergence of small Taifa states

  • 1049: Pope Leo IX begins reform efforts in the Church

  • 1054: Schism occurs between the pope and the patriarch of Constantinople

  • 1066: Norman Conquest of England led by William the Conqueror

  • 1071: Battle of Manzikert results in the annihilation of the Byzantine field army

  • 1077: Holy Roman Emperor Henry IV repents to Pope Gregory VII at Canossa

  • 1085: Fall of Muslim Toledo to the Christian kingdom of Leon-Castile

  • 1088: Founding of University of Bologna

  • 1091: Completion of Norman conquest of Muslim Sicily

  • 1095: Calling of the First Crusade at the Council of Clermont

  • 1096-1099: First Crusade leads to the capture of Jerusalem, establishment of Crusader States

  • 1122: Concordat of Worms ends the Investiture Controversy

  • 1125-1152: Raymond sponsors translation of Muslim and Greek philosophy from Arabic to Latin

  • 1143-1180: Reign of Emperor Manuel Komnenos of the Byzantine Empire

Page 2: Continuing the Chronology

  • 1147-1150: Second Crusade, response to the fall of Edessa; considerable failures except for Lisbon's capture

  • 1187: Battle of Hattin; Kingdom of Jerusalem defeated by Saladin; start of the Third Crusade initiated by Pope Gregory VIII

  • 1189-1192: Third Crusade, achieving control of coastal areas but failing to recapture Jerusalem

  • 1204: Fourth Crusade leads to the sacking of Constantinople

  • 1212: Almohad Caliphate defeated by Christian kingdoms at the Battle of Las Navas de Tolosa

  • 1215: Signing of the Magna Carta

  • 1215-1250: Frederick II reigns as Holy Roman Emperor

  • 1224-1274: Life of St. Thomas Aquinas

  • 1240: Mongol Conquest of Kievan Rus

  • 1241: Mongol invasion of Hungary

  • 1244: Jerusalem falls to Ayyubid Egypt

  • 1250: Establishment of the Mamluk Sultanate after defeat of the Seventh Crusade

  • 1250-1273: Absence of a Holy Roman Emperor

  • 1261: Restoration of the Byzantine Empire

  • 1291: Last Crusader territory in the Levant falls

  • 1300: Transition from High to Late Middle Ages

  • Early 1300s: Genoese sailors visit the Canary Islands

  • 1309-1376: Babylonian Captivity of the papacy in Avignon

  • 1315-1317: The Great Famine

  • 1324: Mansa Musa’s hajj to Mecca

  • 1337: Beginning of the Hundred Years’ War (ends in 1453)

  • 1347-1351: The Black Death decimates nearly a third of Europe’s population

  • 1356: Holy Roman Empire becomes an elected monarchy

  • 1378-1417: Great Schism with rival popes

  • 1396: Ottoman Turks conquer Bulgaria

  • 1414-1418: Council of Constance resolves issues within the Church

  • 1453: Ottoman conquest of Constantinople; end of the Byzantine Empire

  • 1453: Conclusion of the Hundred Years’ War

  • 1454: Treaty of Lodi brings peace to Italy for nearly half a century

  • 1455-1485: Wars of the Roses in England, ending with Henry VII's establishment of the Tudor dynasty

  • 1492: Fall of Granada and Columbus' exploration of the New World

  • 1494: France invades northern Italy, beginning a series of Italian Wars

  • 1500: End of the Late Middle Ages, beginning of the Early Modern period

Page 3: Introduction to the Crusades

The Scene on July 15, 1099

  • Description of the violent takeover of Jerusalem by European knights, contrasting the powerful Al-Aqsa mosque with scenes of slaughter in the city.

  • Significance of the Moment: An example of the brutality and religious fervor of the crusade, leading to a significant Christian control over Jerusalem that was sacred for Jews, Christians, and Muslims.

  • The journey of these crusaders from Europe, with many hardships faced along the way, ultimately leading to the establishment of Christian territories in the Middle East, is crucial for understanding medieval Europe’s dynamics during this era.

Broader Context

  • Discussion about the development of the European Christian world in distinct sociopolitical forms from the late 11th century to the 15th century.

  • Introduction to the changes that established the foundations for modern European identity and institutions in the wake of the chaos of early medieval times.

Page 4: Questions for Reading

  • Key Topics:

    • Definition and characteristics of “feudalism”.

    • Revival of towns and trade in the High Middle Ages.

    • Agricultural output increase in the 11th century.

    • Understanding the “Holy Roman Empire”.

    • Explanation of “secondary state formation”.

    • Overview of the “Reconquista”.

    • The rise in papal power and resultant conflicts.

    • Important battles and their implications: Manzikert, the First Crusade, and Crusader States.

    • State-building and intellectual awareness in the 12th and 13th centuries.

    • The impact of the Great Famine and the Black Death.

    • Consequences of the Hundred Years’ War and the implications for medieval politics.

    • Factors diminishing the authority of the late medieval papacy.

Page 5: Key Terms

  • Highlighted Terms:

    • Albigensian Crusade

    • Alchemy

    • Babylonian Captivity

    • Battle of Hastings

    • Battle of Manzikert

    • Bayeux Tapestry

    • Black Death

    • Bourgeois

    • Capetian Dynasty

    • Chain mail

    • Christendom

    • Commune

    • Concordat of Worms

    • Cortes

    • Council of Constance

    • Crusade

    • Crusader States

    • Gothic architecture

    • Great Famine

    • Holy Roman Empire

    • Hundred Years’ War

    • Investiture Controversy

    • Magna Carta

    • Scholasticism

Page 6: Understanding Feudalism in Western Europe

Emergence of Feudalism

  • Fragmentation: Distinction between East Francia (modern Germany) and England against the backdrop of the disorganized post-Carolingian landscape.

  • Decentralization: West Francia’s fragmentation leading to the rise of feudalism.

    • Feudalism characterized by power resting with armed men who controlled agricultural land called fiefs.

  • War and Power Dynamics: The lack of centralized power and unceasing local warfare enabled warlords to take control of regions.

The Role of Knights and Castles

  • Castles as structures not just for defense but as bases for exerting control and extracting resources from occupied territories.

  • Rise of the knightly class equipped with chain mail and mounted warfare becoming essential due to the technology advancements in ironworking.

Page 7: The Evolution of Knights and Castles

  • Technological Advancements: Introduction of iron for armor and weaponry led to systematic feudal control.

  • Castle Development: Transition from wooden fortifications to stone castles, which represented the feudal order in architecture.

Page 8: The Dominance of Knights

  • Challenges of Feudal Defense: Knights functioned as mobile forces capable of protecting fiefs and countering local raids effectively.

Page 9: Economic Factors of Feudalism

  • Costs of Feudalism: The financial burden of maintaining knights and castles meant that they became a distinct warrior aristocracy, resulting in a social hierarchy.

  • Social System: Rise in the number of serfs as peasants became bound to lands, leading to a reinforced class structure.

Page 10: Global Context of Feudalism

  • Feudalism also emerged independently in other regions like Japan and the Middle East, showcasing similarities in the breakdown of central authorities leading to localized power.

Page 11: Town and Trade Growth

Re-emergence of Trade

  • Reasons for Urbanization: Return to walled cities for protection caused by vulnerabilities during the chaotic earlier periods.

  • Market Development: Increased demand for luxury goods among the elite classes and revival in sea trade due to Viking activity played a vital role in this trade resurgence.

Page 12: Hanseatic League and Economic Growth

  • Formation of merchant guilds and market towns in north Germany for the safety of trade, reflecting the growth of the bourgeois class and self-governing towns (communes).

Page 13: Agricultural Expansion

  • Technological Improvement: Introduction of better iron tools leading to significant agricultural expansion.

  • Systematic Farming Changes: Adoption of the three-field system, which improved yields dramatically.

Page 14: Climate and Agricultural Success

  • Climate Benefits: Warmer climate conditions supported agricultural productivity, contributing to population growth in the context of the twelfth century.

Page 15: Roman Empire Achievements

  • King Otto I’s reign marked a significant influence over Central Europe leading to claims of a new Roman Empire, albeit under different contexts than that of the ancient one.

Page 16: Formation of Secondary States

  • Cultural and Political Changes: The establishment of kingdoms occurred alongside the adoption of Christianity as legitimizing force in governance.

Page 17: Reconquista in Spain

  • Civil Wars and Fragility of Muslims: Former strength of Muslim rule fractured into smaller states making it easier for the Christian kingdoms to gain ground once they started pushing southward.

Page 18: Papacy Rise to Power

  • Reformation Efforts: Pope Leo IX's papacy initiated significant changes directing the Church towards independence from lay control.

Page 19: Conflict and Authority of Papacy

  • Investiture Controversy: Struggle between Pope Gregory VII and Emperor Henry IV emphasizes the tension between secular and ecclesiastical powers, leading to long-term implications for the Church.

Page 20: Crusades

Motives Behind the Crusades

  • Cultural Context: The need for a unifying cause and understanding of the significance of Jerusalem for Christians prompted Pope Urban II to call for the First Crusade.

Outcomes of the Crusades

  • Consequences: Establishment of Crusader states leading to further conflicts and dominance shifts in the region.

Page 21 to 22: The First Crusade

  • Description of alliances formed and battles fought leading up to the siege and capture of Jerusalem, outlining both tactical successes and brutal realities of warfare.

Page 23: Aftermath of the Crusades

  • Establishment of Christian kingdoms, and the complexities of governing territories primarily inhabited by Muslims, representing a blending of cultures and governing challenges.

Page 24 to 26: The Twelfth Century Renaissance

  • Noteworthy intellectual activities in recovery of classical knowledge and establishment of early universities—emphasis on law, medicine, and philosophy during this revival.

Page 27 to 28: Political and Cultural Dynamics in the Thirteenth Century

  • Centralization of power in kingdoms, with England’s taxation systems evolving, and the impacts of the Magna Carta.

Page 29: Technological Advances

  • Contributions made by Gothic architecture and technological innovations such as eyeglasses and the mechanical clock that set the foundations for further development in Europe.

Page 30: Great Famine and Black Death

  • The interplay of climate change and pandemics that decimated populations and shifted social dynamics.

Page 31 to 32: Hundred Years’ War and its Consequences

  • An overview of significant battles showcasing emerging technologies of warfare and socio-political implications on the affected regions.

Page 33 to 34: Late Medieval Papacy and Schism

  • Examination of the declining authority of the papacy post-1250, particularly looking at the Babylonian Captivity and the Western Schism.

Page 35: Conclusion

  • Summary of the transformations in Europe throughout the Middle Ages, illustrating developments in statehood, warfare, and culture that laid the groundwork for modern Europe.

Page 36: References and Resources

  • Recommended literature and online resources for further reading concerning the Middle Ages.