Introduction to the Medieval World: Class 10
Class 10: The Second Dissolution of the West: Vikings and Feudalism?
Assigned Reading:
- Hollister, 109-18, 119-29, 138-43 [read with
special care pages 126-29]
- Map: The Division of Charlemagne's Empire, 843 and 870
- Map: Europe in 900
- The Annals of Xanten, 845-853,
Viking attacks, and the low point of western European civilization?
- WWW Reading: John Sloan, The Stirrup Controversy
posted on discussion list [email protected] on 5 October
1994 as part of the thread "The Stirrup Controversy."
- WWW Reading: Steven Lane, Review of Susan Reynolds, Fief and Vassals,
(Oxford: Oxford UP, 1994) in BMMR 95:12.1
- WWW Link: Gunnora
Hallakarva's Viking Answers Page
- WWW Link:
Vikings in America: L'Anse Aux,
[At Pitt]
I. Introduction
A. Today - Collapse of the Carolingian Achievement
Second period of dissolution for the West.
B. Why?
-Ephemeral Nature of Carolingian Achievement.
Built on shaky foundations. DISCUSS
End of booty (cf. Islam.
-New invasions.
-But the period also saw the creation of the
Agrarian basis for much of middle ages.
II. Politics: The Later Carolingians
A. Louis the Pious 814-840
Not as effective a forbears - aimed at imperial unity.
B. Division of the Empire - Based on Carolingian Family
History - Origins of France and Germany
-Lothair the Emperor
-Charles the Bald (France., 840-877
-Louis the German 840-876
C. Oath of Strasbourg 842 - Shows import of Vassalage ties
Treaty of Verdun 843 - Map p 101
Lorraine fought over until 1945
Linguistic developments - Vernaculars
III. New Invasions
A. Muslim Attacks - as pirates -Spain, Italy, Provence
B. Steppe Peoples - Magyars - Hungarians late 800s-955
Affects Germany mainly
C. Vikings
1. Scandinavia - Danes, Swedes and Norwegians
-Overpopulation not to be overplayed as a factor.
Scandinavia a center of emigration continuously.
2. Raids Map p. 105 - 793 - Lindesfarne, 794 - Jarrow
84 2 - London, 881- Aachen
3. -Sea Farers - improved Viking ships
Greenland/Vinland/Sagas
-Traders - the Rus - Slavized
-Settlers - Normandy 911 Rolf/The Danelaw/Ireland
4. Conversion from 1000 St. Olaf - by mistake
IV. Royal Domains
A. Effects of Raids had different political impacts
problems of defense
B. England -
-Viking attacks severe - Danelaw
-Unity needed in response
Alfred the Great 871-899 - Wessex
Canute 1017-1035- North Sea Empire
-1066 - Normans
C. France - much bigger than England
-Defense could only be local - Growth in power of
local lordships and weakness of Carolingian kings.
-The Capetians 987 still weak for centuries.
No royal laws from Louis the Pious until 1180s.
-The Ile de France
D. Germany
Five big duchies - then from 919 the Saxon Royal
House takes over. Refounds the HRE 962
V. Development of "Feudalism"?
A. `Forms of association' - what much of history is about.
-Family - State - employment - Feudalism
B. Counts - c. 300 Installed as Public officials
Already had private lands.
Now granted crown lands and offices.
Public and private power merge - e.g. in courts
C. Subinfeudation and multiple lords -by 895
D. Did "Feudalism" really exist?
a. historians' disputes
b. The great variety of forms and terms.
Allodial Land/Public jurisdiction/Church power
c. No "Feudalism" - Holland Italy Spain, much of Germany
E. "Feudal" rights and obligations
-Mutual - the great difference from Japan.
-Leads to both Common law, and Parliaments
G. Greater Nobles build stable states
Normandy and Flanders.
H. Castles
-Primitive
Provide security against raids
Ability to control territory
-Induce a change in the nobility
take names from castles - Lineages
VI. Life for the Majority - Life on the Land
Lack of commerce in West. cf. Constantinople and Cordova.
But there was, pace Pirenne, still some trade - but on a low
level - Until stability returned and travel was possible.
A. Roman Farming - southern model
Villas - Coloni - Square Fields - Two field rotation
B. Evolution - much continuity
-Slaves become serfs - public authority to weak to
preserve the institution
-Much land is abandoned
C. The Village - Unit of work and agrarian organization
-Peasants
-Houses become more stable and built of securer material
-Fields - two fields to three fields
-Importance of the type of plow used
-Water mills
-Villages tied down - by Manors and Churches
Stable village a new phenomenon in 10th century
D. The Manor (only in some areas.
-Unit of jurisdiction, dues and obligations
-Variety of statuses
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