1.  Impact of Christianity (490-600)

·  Christian Churches = “information highway” that controls information, beliefs, and attitudes.

·  Europe become more fragmented with less interaction with other cultures, ruled by mainly uneducated people such as the Germans, and knowledge of the world is monopolized by clergy.

·  Clergy focuses on own religious doctrine and ignore worldly knowledge, science, literature & art. (deepening the Dark Ages)

·  Kings and Church in the Medieval Europe, gain political advantages, Church influence geo-political events such as the Franks, Visigoths & Lombard.

·  Church has wealth, lands, and influence in the kingdom.

·  Christianity- has absolute authority and kings were able to enforce their rule by it.

·  Submitting toward absolute authority- more natural for people to accept it from the “divinely” king.

2.  Reign of Charles Martel & Viking Raids (600 - 755)

Reign of Charles Martel

·  Founder of Great Carolingian Dynasty- expanded Frankish Empire.

·  First Frankish leader

·  Grandfather to Charlemagne, who’s the greatest European ruler

·  Pioneer that use newly advanced stirrups, allowing soldiers effectively wield the sword without falling off.

·  Introduce concepts of heavy infantry and permanent army to Medieval Europe.

·  Franks achieve military advantage.

Viking Raids

·  Vikings from Scandinavia.

·  Vikings begin to raid unprotected coastal lands of Britain and northern mainland.

·  Monasteries were undefended and contained valuables consider being the common target.

·  Slaves = captured.

·  Warm weather begin = easier to travel longer distance by sea.

·  Scandinavians consider not to be inhibited by culture and religion discouraging pillaging.

·  Scandinavia was overpopulated and farming didn’t support population.

3.  The Rise of the Franks (755-850)

·  Military Excellence- Pioneer use advance stirrups to control of sword/weapons while riding horses. Franks has closer relationship with Romans than Gernmanic tribes and learning their military technology. Franks created permanent and introduced concept of heavily armored infinity.

·  Geo-Politics- Franks expanded home territory by building from existing power base and easily accepted by Roman populations, convert to Roman Catholicism. They were insulated from threats like Muslims and Vikings. Vikings raid northern coasts, located at the outreaches of territory.

·  Politics- Franks did not employ heavy taxation against their new subjects. They allow fair amount of local autonomy for new subjects.

·  Centralization- Franks were split personal possessions equally among all children. Clovis murders his siblings and families of other tribes to keep the strong rule among number of tribes. Tradition would lead to a downfall of Frankish Empire when massive empires divide among heirs in early 9th century.

·  Leadership- Successive, highly charismatic, and capable leaders are Clovis, Martel, and Charlemagne.

4.  Feudalism (840 - 967)

·  Frankish empire unified West and Central Europe.

·  843- 3 sons of Louis I cause Europe into greater backwardness, as strong, centralized ruled develop into the kingdoms.

·  Fragmentation- discouraged unification and urbanization as rule of law, economy became entire land-based.

·  Feudalism is military, economic, social order that monarch grants feudal lords large lands in exchange for military service when needed, taxes, and exchange for unified military protection.

·  Knights and peasants were given smaller lands and protection in exchange for loyalty and military service.

·  Feudal lords rule people on piecemeal basis- holding own courts and dealing with justice as their view.

·  Peasants were property of feudal lords in the system of serfdom, which pervade western and central Europe in until the French Revolution.

5.  Christianity and the High Middle Ages & Expansion of Holy Roman Empire (967 - 1060)

Christianity and High Middle Ages

·  Kingdoms- Nation-states, a response toward continuing barbaric raids throughout Europe.

·  Christianity dominate the continent and most nations pledged allegiance to papal authority (Roman Catholicism or Eastern Orthodox)

·  10th and 11th century- barbaric peoples is Christianized, denouncing such raids and stronger defensive capabilities by nation states.

·  Christian Crusades revive interest in Asia, provoke Asian trade, and introduce Islamic science/enlightenment in Europe.

·  Populations grew and expanded settlements to all comers.

·  Crusades develop professional soldiers.

·  Promises of glory, salvation, potential riches = motivation.

·  Increase of papal influence and sense of commonality among Christians that settle crusades later on the 11th century and 12th century.

·  Religion power transcends nationalism and loyalties.

·  Church dominates empires like Byzantine, German, and Holy Roman Empire.

Expansion of Holy Roman Empire

·  Otto I the Great (953), emperor able to exercise power over authorities, appointing clergy, and pope himself.

·  Emperors enable to gain support for expansion into new territories.

·  Otto I appointed several supporters/relatives to high ecclesiastic offices in the German Empire that allow him to have power and influence.

·  HRE, able to appoint clergy throughout Western France, extending power west of Rhine, but enable to gain territories to the west like Dutch territories and County of Burgundy.

·  Pope was powerless; Italy was chaos but was saved by Otto I that took over attempting to claim the title of the king.

·  Otto I took over Italy and created Papal States- papal independence.

·  Papal States influence by the will and mercy of Otto I.

·  HRE remain decentralized, decline of Holy Roman power.

6.  Effects of the Crusades, Norman conquest of England and Magna Carta (1060-1240)

Effects of the Crusades

·  Senseless violence and wars- Christianity displace Islam and Judaism at all costs. Christians and Muslims have high death toll. Jerusalem was captured; Muslim and Jewish residents were slaughter.

·  Undermining Church Moral Authority- Slaughter of Jews and Muslims were used against Roman Catholic Church during Protestant Reformation. It convinces many that the Roman Catholic Church was not moral authority throughout Dark Ages.

·  Distrust of Christians- Christians persecuted Jews and destroy Muslims that in their way toward Middle East.

·  Opened Way for Future Muslims Conquests of Europe- The growth of animosity between Roman and Byzantine, crusaders compelled, conquering Constantinople. Byzantine was destructed when Ottoman Turks advance into Europe.

·  Asian Influence- Increase Europe’s knowledge of Asian world. More cosmopolitan influence into Europe, which play a role in the Renaissance.

·  Increased Anti- Semitism- Devotion and loyalty to Church increase and religious tolerance was low. It left Jewish populations as a target. Jewish communities were destroyed in Europe and violence was used against Jews.

Norman Conquest of England and Magna Carta

·  First approach toward democracy.

·  Nobles in England-broke with the failures of king and abuse to monarch powers.

·  March into London; force King John to agree with document ensuring certain rights.

7.  Why the Golden Horde was able to dominate Europe and the Black Death Plague (1240 - 1350)

Why the Golden Horde was able to dominate Europe

·  Forced West- Mongols were forced west from central Asian due to dry weather. They were dependent on trade and agriculture suffers in Asia, so they move west to greener pastures.

·  Superior Military Technology- Horsemanship skills and superior bows were developed as well as other methods.

·  Strengthening Numbers- Effective on increasing ranks as they passed to conquer territories and force defeated people to join and fight. People that don’t go with them are slaughter. They contain lots of power to the gateway of Europe through Southern Russia. Russian went under their rule.

·  Learned Diplomacy- Dominated the northern trade route from Europe to Asia and contributes to their wealth and sophistication. Learned to other aspect such as science and government philosophies, which helped them with the conquest.

·  Europe’s weakened Condition- Arrival coincided with Black Death plague, which was weakening toward Europe. Mongols were the one that introduced the plague.

The Black Death Plague

·  1347 hits Europe

·  Killed estimated 75 million, roughly half of European population.

·  Deaths occurred 1347-1351.

·  Southern regions, like Italy and southern France, percentage was higher than the north.

·  Caused by bacterium in rats in Central Asia.

·  Gone to Arabs and European by the Mongols.

·  Europe infected by trade and conflict with Arabs and Mongols.

·  Effected large cities with denser populations and unsanitary conditions.

·  Black Death slowly disappears in the 19 century.