Greco-Roman culture
Greek and Latin literacy
*Eastern Orthodox Christianity, 1054
Patriarch of Constantinople
Gallo-Roman culture
Latin literacy
Germanic war bands
Merovingians (481-751)
Clovis (r. 481-511)
Carolingians (751-987)
"Roman" Emperor Charlemagne (r. 768-814)
Roman Catholic Christianity, 1054
Pope of Rome
Kings
Lords
Knights
War bands
Fief (fee)
Land grant
Primogeniture, 10th c
Mounted cavalry, 11th c.
Stirrup
Clergy
Monastic estates
Farm laborers, ca. 500
Slaves until 1000 CE
*Serfs, ca. 1000
*Holy Roman Empire
Sicily, 1070-90
Normans
Spain (1st phase), 1060-1150
Latin: “Cross”
Holy War
*Pope Urban II, (r. 1088-1099)
Clermont, France 1095
French, Holy Roman, and Italian armies
Jerusalem captured, July 15, 1099
Conflict between popes and Holy Roman Emperor Henry IV (r. 1056–1106)
Holy Roman Empire civil war
Pro-Henry vs. Pro-Gregory VII factions of knights
Henry's invasion of Rome, 1080s
Antipope in Rome
Pope Urban II in Cleremont, France, 1095
Byzantine emperor Alexius Comnenus
Seljuk Turks
Religious piety
Desire for holy war
Absolution of sins
Opportunities for knights in Europe
Younger sons
Monetary benefits
Plunder
Fiefs
Saladin reconquered Jerusalem, 1187
3rd Crusade, 1189-1192
*4th Crusade, 1202-1204
Venetian leadership
Sack of Constantinople
Muslim-Christian animosity
Cultural exchange
1. How was Western Europe created after the fall of the Western Roman Empire in the period from 500-1000 CE? What political, religious and cultural changes occurred?
2. How was society organized into various groups of the powerful and powerless by the year 1100? How were knights equipped and organized to fight in battles for their lords and kings?
3. What were the causes of the Crusades? Why did the knights of Western Europe decide to participate in the Crusades?
1. After the fall of the western Roman Empire in 476, how did the eastern Roman (Byzantine) Empire continue the traditions of the late Roman Empire? How did the plague cause changes in Byzantine urban society?
2. What was the war-band of traditional Germanic-speaking society? How did the political organization of the Merovingians and Carolingians reflect their origins in the war-band?
3. What were the Crusades against the Islamic rulers of Syria and Jerusalem? Why did the Crusaders fail in their goal to retain possession of Jerusalem permanently?
1. How does Pope Urban II justify the first crusade?
2. How does Urban try to convince European knights to take part in the first crusade?
3. Based on your knowledge of Islam, what misconceptions does Urban hold about the Islamic religion?