Roman Empire Decline and Feudalism Structure
Unit 1: Roman Empire Division
Division of the Empire
- Western: Threatened by West Germanic tribes, leading to the establishment of new kingdoms.
- Eastern: Known as Byzantium, with its capital in Constantinople.
Periods of Prosperity
- Prosperity 1: High e-media feudalism.
- Prosperity 2: Low e-media, around the fifteenth century XI.
Feudalism Emergence
Causes of Feudalism
- Trade and life in the cities declined.
- Cities of Western Europe became depopulated, ravaged by invaders (Normans, Hungarians, Muslims).
Monarchy Weakness
The monarchy could not secure the military or economic resources necessary to protect its subjects. It relied on counts, dukes, and marquises for military service.
King's Loss of Power
The King lost power because feudalism had been replaced by the local powers of the nobles.
The Role of Lords
The lords organized military forces and constructed strongholds. They performed public functions within their domains: commanding armies, declaring war or peace, collecting taxes, and administering justice.
The Feudal Relationship
The feudal relationship was a voluntary bond between two free men: a powerful lord (who granted the manor) and a less powerful man.
The lesser gentleman provided personal loyalty to another lord and, in return, received a feud (a set of rights over farmers and land).
Lord's Power Basis
The power of a feudal lord depended on his ability to secure many vassals and knights who constituted his army. They needed enough revenue from their feud to arm and feed their men.
Feudal Society Structure
- Nobles: Engaged in the covenant of vassalage.
- Clergy: Persons of the church.
- Peasants and Servants: Working the land.
Land Distribution
- Lord's Land: Generally the most fertile, centered around the castle.
- Mansion Lands: Composed of plots worked by farmers.
Agricultural Progress
Reasons for Farm Progress
Progress on the farm was due to two main reasons:
- The cessation of invasions that had ravaged Europe for so long. This allowed: the effective use of knights.
- Simultaneously, the use of the hydraulic mill.
Medieval Cities
City Formation and Trade
Cities were often formed around a cathedral. The entity engaged in trade devoted itself exclusively to commerce.
Artisan Guilds
Artisans were grouped into guilds, which regulated the form of work, set prices, and established schedules.
Recovery of Trade
There was a demand for luxury merchandise (spices, precious stones, carpets).
Crusades and Trade Routes
The Crusader Wars gave impetus to long-distance trade. Italian merchants participating in the Crusades established trade relations in the eastern areas.
Constantinople was vital as the center of trade between East and West, sourcing products distributed throughout Europe.
Key Trade Regions
- Southern Europe: Cities of Venice and Genoa.
- Northern Europe: North Sea cities, including Flanders, Ghent, and Bruges.
Modern Era Beginnings
Scientific and Intellectual Shifts
The Copernican heliocentric theory was unveiled. Great advances were made in understanding the human body and in science as a physical and natural matter.
Technological Advancements
The printing press, the compass, the mechanical clock, and gunpowder in weapons emerged.
Cultural Movements
The resurgence of humanism and the artistic Renaissance occurred, alongside the era of exploration in Asia and Africa by Europeans.