Western Europe-The High Middle Ages
By Julia, Robert, and Alyssa
Topic 1
- In 799, a pope needs help from the Frankish king and after he was attacked by his enemies in the streets of Rome Leo III makes his way through the Alps to visit Charlemagne. Charlemagne then travels to Rome in 800 to support the pope.
- In a ceremony in St Peter's, on Christmas, Leo is to anoint Charlemagne's son as his heir. But unexpectedly as Charlemagne rises from prayer, the pope places a crown on his head and acclaims him emperor.
- Charlemagne expresses displeasure but accepts the honor.
- But in 962 a pope once again needs help against his Italian enemies. Again he appeals to a strong German ruler.
- The coronation of Otto I by pope John XII in 962 marks a revival of the concept of a Christian emperor in the west. It is also the start of an unbroken line of Holy Roman emperors. Otto I does not call himself Roman emperor, but his son Otto II uses the title for independence against the other Christian emperors.
- Otto and his son and grandson (Otto II and Otto III) look at the imperial crown as a mandate to control the papacy. They fired popes at their will and put replacements more to their liking
Topic 2
France first known as Capetian France was found in 987 CE by Hugh Capet and he was elected king by feudal lords.
- Capet only owned a small territory around Paris, he did not challenge his vassals because some were more powerful than him.
- Capetian kings after Hugh Capet expanded their territory and political structure and increased resources.
Tellagami: https://youtu.be/RsmyT_TF_E
Topic 3
Tellagami: https://youtu.be/RSBYYeh_B
Topic 4
The first and second estate were made up of the clergy and the nobility
Topic 5
Analyze development in Christianity from Cathedral Schools to the thoughts of St. Thomas Aquinas.
- Western Christianity changed in several ways between 1000 and 1300.
Cathedral Schools
After Europe experienced a sharp increase in wealth, more resources were available for education.
A demand in more educated individuals caused bishops and archbishops to organize schools in their cathedrals.
Universities
In the mid-twelfth century, students and teachers organized academic guilds to persuade authorities to grant charters guaranteeing their rights
These guild transformed cathedral schools into universities.
Influence of Aristotle
Western Europeans began to learn more about Aristotle’s thought as they increasingly interacted with Byzantine Orthodox Christians.
Scholasticism
Scholasticism is a combination of the values and beliefs of Christianity with the logical rigor of Greek philosophy
St. Thomas Aquinas was the most well-known scholastic theologians.
Topic 6
Summarize the ideals of the Dominicans and Franciscans.
- The Dominicans and Franciscans were movements developed in response to to the increase of materialistic values in society (even in the Roman Catholic church)
Also in response to the increase of the Roman church’s central administration as lawyers and bureaucrats ran the church’s affairs and sought to increase its treasury.
Taught people to focus on spiritual values rather than materialistic ones.
Dominicans were formed by St. Dominic and the Franciscans were developed by St. Francis.
Mendicants were required to have no personal possessions and would have to beg for food in the cities.
Worked towards combatting heterodox (unorthodox) movements and convincing their supporters to return to the Roman Catholic Churc.
Topic 7
Vikings
As feudal states began to protect western Europe from Viking raids, Scandinavian seafarers occupied Greenland and VInland, located at modern day Newfoundland Canada.
The conversion of Scandinavian kings to Roman Catholicism further spread Christianity since their subjects also converted.
Reconquista
Christianity also spread into major Mediterranean islands and most of the Iberian peninsula as the Europeans successfully reconquered Sicily and Spain
- As they immediately asserted Christian authority over the conquered territories, the Roman Catholic church began to displace Islam in Spain
- The Crusades
Although the crusaders had failed to conquer Palestine, they had a large impact on Europe. The fourth crusade had greatly weakened the Byzantine Empire, allowing the Ottoman Turks to topple it in 1453. The ideas of the crusades also inspired several Europeans to aim towards conquering the eastern Mediterranean.
- They also had a great economic impact, as they traded with Muslim merchants, and stimulated trade between Asia and Europe.
Works Cited
Bentley, Jerry H., and Herbert F. Ziegler. "Chapter 19: Western Europe during the High Middle Ages." Traditions & Encounters: A Global Perspective on the past. Boston: McGraw Hill, 2000. N. pag. Print.
"The Three Estates of the Feudal System of France During the French Revolution." All Articles RSS. N.p., n.d. Web. 03 Nov. 2016.
Gascoigne, Bamber. “History of the Holy Roman Empire” HistoryWorld. From 2001, ongoing.