Medeival Europe Flashcards
Constantinople
Byzantine capital NW of Asia minor. Chosen because E Med. was wealthy & productive. Strategic for military access to sea. Watched over Sassanid and Germanic empires. Lavish due to empire’s prosperity. Had libraries, churches, public buildings, settings for social gatherings and relaxation, and theatres.
Caesaropapism
Policy by which rulers participated in both Christian and secular affairs. Emperors exalted as all-powerful rulers.
Byzantine government
Imperial bureaucracy
Justinian
Most important Byzantine ruler; born into peasant family; met Theodora; found place in bureaucracy and mastered finance. Rebuilt Constantinople and built the Hagia Sophia church.
Justinian’s Code
Tremendous legal reform after law became complex and conflicting. Created The Body of the Civil Law, which was a systematic review; influenced civil law codes in Europe.
Byzantine conquests
Justinian sought to reclaim western Rome from Frankish, so conquered Italy, NW Africa, and Spain. Unable to consolidate rule due to lack of resources.
Muslim conquests
Arab warriors overran large parts of Byzantium. Syria, NA, Palestine, Egypt. The Byzantines resisted with advanced weaponry; “Greek fire” was a harsh incendiary weapon.
Theme System
Political reform after Muslim conquests. Imperial provinces under admin. of governors resp. for order & defense. Recruited armies of peasants in exchange for land; led to economic prosperity. Byzantium became E. Med. power again.
The Franks
Most influential Germanic people
Carolingian Dynasty
Main Frankish dynasty founded by Charles Martel
Battle of Tours
Fierce battle against Muslim army fought by Charles Martel
What did the Frankish/Carolingians do?
Weakened Roman institutions; gained pol. and mil. power.; adopted Christianity; applied force/killing; took land/built states.
Charlemagne
Greatest Carolingian ruler, grandson of Charles Martel; conquered all of C Europe.
Describe Charlemagne’s administration
Diplomatic relations w/ Byzantine and Abbasid empires; relied on deputies (counts) and missi dominicci to rule locally; capital at Aachen
How did Western rulers gain power?
- Force- Clovis killed and took things
- Faith- Allied w/ infallible pope.
- Fortification- Offered protection to people
What did Charlemagne’s coronation do?
Strained relations with Byzantium because it threatened their dignity. Proved secular power of pope.
Vikings
Skilled scandinavian seafarers; moved south after overpopulation; plundered monasteries/settlements; contributed to fall of Carolingian empire.
What impact did the Vikings have on European society?
- Cent. gov’t collapse
- Reg. rulers gained influence b/c of fortification & defense
- Rulers paid vikings to stop raiding- this weakened economy.
Byzantine economy
- Agricultural surpluses: theme system
- Trade: Manufactured goods and silk; Constantinople was heart/clearinghouse of trade; levied taxes.
- Goods: Porcelain from China, rugs from Persia, spices from India.
- Bezant became standard currency.
Western economy
- Crippled due to invasions and political disunity.
- Some agriculture due to innovations- heavy plow, fish ponds.
- Trade in local markets & Med. basin linked Europe w/ larger world.
- Trade w/ norse mariners on viking routes- relied on them for silver.
- Manors were the basic economic unit. Self sufficient communities.
Fall of Carolingian dynasty
- Divided after Charlemagne’s death between sons
2. Viking invasions
Pope
Western christian ruler; claimed spiritual authority; organized defense against Germanic Lombards.
Patriarch
Byzantine christian ruler; treated church as state dept.
Differences between East and West churches
- Different theological concepts
- Disagreed over religious/doctrinal/church practices. Ex: Disagreed over holy trinity & iconoclasm.
- Separated into Eastern Orthodox and Roman Catholic; fought for spiritual authority.
