Unit 3 Review: Medieval Times & The Byzantine Empire

Matrimony

Matrimony is marriage, a formal union blessed by the Church. After being married by a priest, a couple signs their names in a registry, or a book of records.

Why are pendentives important in the Hagia Sophia?

The dome appears to hover in mid-air because of the pendentives

Eucharist

The eucharist is the central part of the mass, the church service in which the priest consecrates (blesses) bread and wine. In Catholic belief, the consecrated bread and wine become the body and blood of Jesus.

What is feudalism?

The feudal system provided people with protection and safety by establishing a stable social order. In this system of government, people pledged loyalty to a lord in order to receive protection and land from that lord. The lord also gave the monarch knights.

Describe manors.

They included a castle or a manor house, one or more villages, and farmland. Manors were usually located in the country, and peasants produced mostly everything manors needed. Some goods, such as iron and salt, came from outside the manor.

What was the layout of the new Theodosian walls?

Triple line of defense (giant moat, outer terrace, inner wall)

How did the Church become the largest landholder in Europe by 1050?

*Some land came as gifts from monarchs/lords *Some land was conquered *Tithe -- 1/10 of his or her money, produce, or labor to help support

What did peasants eat?

*Vegetables *Meat (such as pork/fish) *Dark, coarse bread made out of wheat mixed with rye or oatmeal *Herbs (used for flavor or to disguise taste of stale meat)

How was the source of iconoclasm resolved?

1. 730 CE -- Byzantine emperor Leo III banned use of religious images in all Christian churches and homes 2. Policy led to the destruction of much religious art & people protested 3. Pope Gregory III excommunicated the emperor 4. Byzantine Empire lifted its ban on icons in 843 5. Caused a major split between east & west 6. Drove popes in Rome to look for support and protection against enemies

What images were typically used?

1. Beautiful icons, which were painted on small, wooden panels 2. Sacred pictures in mosaics & murals 3. Christ as the Pantocrator (ruler of all) 4. Jesus' mother Mary and the Christ child

What were two responsibilities of a knight?

1. Chivalry 2. Fight in Jousts/Tournaments

Why did Constantine choose this particular site for Constantinople?

1. Easy to defend (peninsula, chain, wall) 2. Good for trade (crossroads of Europe & Asia)

How were church, state, and everyday life combined in the Byzantine Empire?

1. Emperor as head of government (living representative of God & Jesus Christ) 2. People attended church regularly 3. Sacraments gave shape to lives 4. Monasteries & convents cared for poor and sick; institutions were supported by wealthy people

What happened in 1054 to cause the final break between the two branches of Christianity?

1. Great Schism of 1054 *Cerularius (Patriarch of Constantinople) wanted to reassert Byzantine control of the Church, so he closed all churches that worshipped with western rites *Pope Leo IX was furious, so he sent Cardinal Humbert to Constantinople to excommunicate Cerularius *Cerularius then excommunicated the cardinal (this was symbolic, since he did not actually have that power; showed the split was complete) *Eastern Orthodox & Roman Catholic churches separated

Why didn't Justinian "have a lot of fans"?

1. Harsh policies 2. Heavy taxation 3. Tried to control people's morals by making laws against pagean rituals, prostitution, adultery, heretics, Jews, homosexuals, and gambling

What led to the fall of the Roman Empire?

1. No more slaves 2. No more innovation 3. Land exhausted 4. Weak emperors 5. Empire too big

Why did people grow on Crusades?

1. Seek wealth 2. Seek adventure 3. Guarantee their salvation

Why did people go on pilgrimages?

1. To show their devotion to God 2. As an act of penance for their sins 3. In hopes of being cured of an illness

How much of the city burned in the riots?

1/3

How many people could the Hippodrome hold?

100,000

What is the population of modern Istanbul?

12 million people

How long did Basil spend fighting in Bulgaria?

15 years

How far did Valens' aqueduct transport water?

150 miles

How many men were required to operate Basil's trebuchet?

400

How long was the chain across the Golden Horn?

5 football fields

When did Justinian come to the throne?

527 A.D.

Who was Charles ("the hammer") Martel?

732 CE -- defeated advancing Muslim army invading southern Gaul from Spain at the battle of Poitiers; given credit for why people speak French not Arabic

What was one famous viking attack?

885 CE in Paris

How long did the Byzantine Empire last?

953 years (500-1453)

How many towers did the inner wall have?

96

What was the Byzantine plan to keep out the Huns?

Theodosian Walls

What were the differences between the eastern and western Roman Empires?

* Eastern -- many cities, much trade, great wealth, Greek heritage, spoke Greek, emperors & patriarchs did not claim power *Western -- mostly rural & agricultural, influenced by Frankish & Germanic cultures, spoke Latin, popes emerged as powerful figures

How did someone become a knight?

***Page -- 7 years old when he left home and lived at lord's castle; learned how to ride horses and about religion; spent time with ladies of the castle who taught them the arts ***Squire -- 14 years old; spends most of the time with the knight who was his lord; polished armor and weapons; cared for the horse; waited on knight at mealtime; trained to become a warrior; fought in battle ***Knight -- became a knight in early 20s if he was deserving; spent the night before in prayer; bathed/white tunic/ceremony; Lord tapped him on each side of his shoulders; sometimes squires were knighted if they did really well in battle

What did Charlemagne accomplish?

*Encouraged education and scholarship (court was a center of culture) *Unified nearly all the Christian lands of Europe into a single empire *Church was a central part of society ("God is on my side") *Crowned Holy Roman Emperor by Pope Leo III in 800

What were the two categories of peasants, and what were the differences between them?

*Free -- rented land to farm; owed only their rent to the lord *Unfree (serfs) -- farmed the lord's fields and could not leave the estate; small plot of land in turn for their labor; head money (yearly payment), tallage (whenever lord needed money), merchet (when a woman married)

What did the priests give and what did they get in return?

*Gave help to the serfs & loyalty to the bishops *Got taxes from the serfs and were part of the religious hierarchy

What did the lords give and what did they get in return?

*Gave land & protection to knights and peasants; provided king with knights *Got taxes from serfs

What did the knights give and what did they get in return?

*Gave loyalty & military service to their lords and served their kings in battle *Got land & protection in return from their lords

What did the bishops give and what did they get in return?

*Gave loyalty to the pope *Got loyalty from the priests

What did the serfs (peasants & townspeople) give and what did they get in return?

*Gave taxes to priests, lords, & bishops *Got help from the priests & land from the lords

What did the king give and what did he get in return?

*Got loyalty & military service from lords; protection from the knights *Gave land & protection to lords; maintained order

How was Gregory VII and Henry IV's conflict resolved?

*Henry said Gregory was no longer the pope *Gregory excommunicated Henry *Henry begged for forgiveness & was readmitted

What was life like in Constantinople?

*Home to 1 million people *Language & culture were Greek *Ships crowded harbor loaded with goods *Streets teemed with camel & mule trains *More comfortable than Western Europe *Sewer system *Social services (hospitals, homes for elderly, orphanages) *Many lived in poverty *Bread given to those who did unwanted tasks *Chariot races (Blues & Greens)

Who was Charlemagne, according to the lecture notes?

*Peppin III's grandson *Got whole empire when his brother died *Recognized by Pope Leo III when he helped in 799 *Became Holy Roman Empire on December 25, 800

What were the peasants' responsibilities?

*Raised crops *Tended to the livestock *Skill workers *Cared for children & homes

What kind of activities or social services were provided by the church?

*Religious services *Town meetings *Plays/concerts *Shops/produce markets *Markets *Festivals/fairs *Education for some *Helped the poor and the sick

How did Rome's legacy live on through the Middle Ages?

*Revival of education & literature *Caroline minuscule (standardized handwriting) *New cathedral & monastic schools (an attempt to reform the clergy) *Restored grammatical Latin *Education for a better life *Cathedral called Aachen (c. 805 CE) *Intent to restore roman grandeur

How did Constantine's rule differ from previous emperors' rule?

*Seized sole control of the empire *Man with a vision *Brilliant strategist *Man without limits *Reunited the vast empire, ruling over western & eastern halves *Astute politician *Campaign of construction to build public structures *Harnessed the power of Jesus Christ *Dictator who killed son, step-son, and second wife to become the emperor

What is a pilgrimage?

A pilgrimage is when pilgrims traveled long distances to visit holy sites, such as Jerusalem and Rome. They also visited churches that housed relics, the body parts or belongings of saints. Canterbury Cathedral was a major destination for pilgrims.

What was Constantinople's population by the end of the 5th century?

About half a million

How did people get land under the system of feudalism?

All the land belonged to the monarch and a great deal of land was owned by the church. The king kept some land for himself and gave fiefs to his most important lords, who became his vassals. Lords rented some of their land to peasants who worked for them.

Baptism

Baptism is entry into the Church. To cleanse a person of sin, a priest pours water gently over the person's head at the baptismal font, the basin that holds the baptismal water.

What were the seven sacraments?

Baptism, confirmation, eucharist, matrimony, holy orders, penance, & extreme unction

Who was Clovis, and why was he important?

Became leader of the Franks at age 15 in 481 CE; defeated last great Roman army in Gaul at Soissons 5 years later; 30 year reign in which he led the Franks in wars that greatly extended the boundaries of the Frankish kingdom; helped lead Franks into Christianity by marrying Clotilda and eventually being baptized

What are the benefits and drawbacks of the feudal system?

Benefits -- collaboration; people get things for granting other people with certain responsibilities; protection Drawbacks -- king holds all the power; peasants get taxed a lot

How did people get their jobs and their socio-economic positions in the Middle Ages?

Born into the positions: 1. Monarchs -- top of society *expected to keep order & provide protection for vassals 2. Lords & Wealthy Knights *Lived on manors *Lords enlisted knights as his vassals; arrangements were written down 3. Peasants *Lord rented some of their land to peasants who worked for them 4. Serfs -- bottom of society *"Tied" to their land *Farmed fields in exchange for small plot of land of their own

Why did the Blues and the Greens unite against Justinian?

Both groups were upset over the arrests of some of their members, and they wanted to denounce the emperor.

What did William accomplish during his reign?

Brought feudal institutions from Europe into England

According to the Church, how did people gain salvation?

By following the Church's teachings, living a moral life, & performing sacraments

Why were images used in Orthodox churches?

Byzantines believed that sacred pictures brought them closer to God but later they led to a source of violence

Where did the Vikings come from?

Came down from present-day Norway & Denmark

Where did the Magyars come from?

Central Asia; the East

How did the Church gain political power?

Church officials were often the only people who could read & write Latin, so they kept records for monarchs & became trusted advisors

Why were the Franks so successful?

Developed a new style of warfare that depended on troops of knights (heavily armed warriors who fought on horseback)

Which ruler expanded the boundaries of the Frankish kingdom and married a woman named Clotilda?

Clovis

Define Chivalry.

Comes from the French word "coeval" meaning "horse"; word represents strong code of behavior that knights lived by; medieval knight's code of ideal behavior, including bravery, loyalty, and respect for women. Knights were also required to be loyal to their church and their lord, as well as protecting the helpless. (Gallantry; modern-day concept adapted)

Confirmation

Confirmation is the formal declaration of belief in God and the Church.

Who was Constantine, according to the lecture notes?

Constantine established Constantinople in 324 CE and made it the capital in 330 CE after the first barbarian raids in 256 CE. The Western & Eastern Roman Empires were officially divided in 364 CE.

Why was Procopius important?

Counted 30,000 people killed in the rebellion; wrote Secret History in which he called the emperor "a treacherous enemy, insane for murder & plunder"

How did kings believe they got their power?

Divine right (God gave them the right to rule)

What are the three periods of the Middle Ages, and what are their dates?

Early Middle Ages (476 to 1000); High Middle Ages (1000-1300); Late Middle Ages (1300-1450)

What happened in 447 CE?

Earthquake

How did the Eastern Orthodox liturgy differ from the Roman Catholic mass?

Eastern Orthodox Liturgy spoke in Greek; Roman Catholic mass spoke in Latin

Define manorialism.

Economic system of the middle ages in which each manor strove to be self-sufficient

What was the structure of the Eastern Orthodox Church?

Emperor Patriarch of Constantinople Bishops Patriarchs Orthodox priests

Why did feudalism emerge after the fall of the Western Roman Empire?

Empire collapsed and life was difficult in Western Europe; needed to collaborate and protect themselves from invading kingdoms

Why did Pope Leo III's crowning of Charlemagne upset the Byzantine ruler?

Empress Irene was the ruler of Byzantine Empire, but Pope Leo III did not view her as true or strong enough to govern because she was a woman. She and her followers believed that she was the rightful ruler.

What was the benefit of limestone mortar?

Has little give, lets the buildings/walls settle, and better to withstand an earthquake

Extreme Unction

Extreme unction is a blessing in which a person in danger of death is anointed (blessed with holy oil) by a priest. Today, this rite is known as the sacrament (or anointing) of the sick.

What filled the vacuum of power after Rome fell?

Feudalism

Where did the Muslims come from?

From the Near East and northern Africa into what is now Spain

According to many kings in the middle ages, who gave them the right to rule?

God

Why did Pope Gregory VII and Henry IV come into conflict?

Gregory made reforms (outlawed selling of church offices & banned practice whereby secular kings could appoint priests, bishops, and heads of monasteries); Henry got mad at him

How did the Ottoman finally overcome the walls of Constantinople in 1453 CE?

Gunpowder cannons

What was Justinian's response to the riots? In other words, how did he end it?

He was prepared to leave, but Theodora's words convinced Justinian to order his advisors to gather a force and march to the Hippodrome. Rioters were massacred by the imperial troops, and 30,000 people died. In the end, Justinian reasserted the capital in the name of God and himself.

Who was William of Normandy, and why was he important?

He was the Duke of Normandy (part of present-day France), but he believed he had the right to the English throne because his cousin Harold was the king. In 1066, William and his army invaded England, and William defeated Harold at the Battle of the Hastings. Then, he established a line of Norman kings in England. He was called "William the Conquerer."

Why was Saint Cyril significant?

Helped create the Cyrillic alphabet, which allowed scholars to translate the Bible for people in Eastern Europe

Holy Orders

Holy Orders is the sacrament in which a man becomes a priest.

What is Justinian most famous for?

Justinian's Code (revised outdated and confusing laws & made improvements such as extending women's property rights; basis for many legal codes in the western world)

What were the differences between the responsibilities of lords and ladies?

Ladies could run their estates, sit as judges in manor courts, and send their knights to serve in times of war when the lords were fighting in battle. Ladies could not fight in battle.

How long did it take to build the Hagia Sophia?

Less than 6 years

Who was Geoffrey Chaucer?

Lived in England from about 1342 to 1400

Who was Charlemagne?

Most important leader of the Franks; "Charles the Great"; ruled over 40 years (from 768 to 814); 6'4" and dignified; illiterate but liked having poems read to him; Holy Roman Emperor; died in 814 CE and empire fell apart

What three groups threatened Western Europe in the 9th and 10th centuries?

Muslims, Magyars, Vikings

Why do we call this the "Byzantine Empire"?

Named after Byzantium, the original name of its capital city

What is a trebuchet?

New model of deadly siege weapon; ropes, operators, wooden arm, stone, covered in fresh animal skins to protect it from flaming arrows; throw substantial weights considerable distances; could hurl stones weighing more than 400 lbs; axel and pivoting sling; more or less a catapult; made the Byzantine army unstoppable

Who was Procopius?

Official court historian

Who was Justinian?

One of the greatest Byzantine emperors (527-565)

Who conquered the Byzantine Empire?

Ottoman Turks

What was Justinian's biggest mistake?

Overextending the political and the architectural boundaries of the empire

Penance

Penance is the confession of sins to a priest in order to receive God's forgiveness. Today, Catholics call this sacrament reconciliation.

Who were the Blues and the Greens?

People divided by political beliefs who often fought with each other

How did kings maintain their power?

Relied on vassals (especially nobles) to provide enough knights and soldiers through force

What was the organization of the Roman Catholic Church, in terms of highest to lowest rank?

Pope Cardinals Archbishops Bishops Priests

What was the lesson learned from the situation between Pope Gregory VII and Henry IV?

Pope has more power than the secular leader

Name one food that peasants ate.

Pork

Why was Saint Basil significant?

Promoted charity & reformed the liturgy

What was Justinian's solution to the problem of the Theodora's past?

Promoted her as his co-emperor

What did Justinian spend huge sums of money on?

Public works (bridges, public baths, parks, roads, hospitals, Hagia Sophia) & reclaimed lost territory by launching military campaigns that took back parts of North Africa, Italy, and Spain

What are pendentives?

Rounded triangles that connected the dome's circular base to the square bases below, which helps to distribute the weight

What were the Crusades?

Series of military expeditions to the land where Jesus had lived, which Christian called the Holy Land

What were the purposes of a castle?

Serve as a home, provide protection, and visual reminder of the hierarchy within a kingdom/strict barriers between classes

Define feudalism.

System of obligations and rewards based on loyalty. Each person's role is generally determined from birth.

What was the source of iconoclasm controversy?

Some Christians in the east thought that people were wrongly worshipping the icons of Jesus, Mary, and the saints as if they were divine

Why did the dome have to be rebuilt?

The four piers that hold up the arches buckled and collapsed; they need to drive weight into the ground not to the sides

Describe viking attacks.

They came in on long, shallow, wooden boats and ran towards the town with swords and axes. People ran in all different directions. Resistors were killed, and others were seized by raiders and taken back to the ships.

Where was the water stored when it reached Constantinople?

Underground storage system that was more elaborate than any other in the ancient times; more than 150 subterranean tanks (cisterns); troughs between hills

Why were rich decorations used in Orthodox churches?

Used to remind worshippers of what it would be like to enter God's kingdom

Who was Theodora?

With her encouragement, Justinian stayed and put down the revolt?

What were heresies?

Wrong beliefs according to the bishops or to the authorities (ex: Jesus Christ's biological father was Joseph not God)

What was Geoffrey Chaucer's contribution to history?

Wrote the popular narrative poem called Canterbury Tales; tales are stories that a group of pilgrims tells to entertain each other as they travel to the shrine of St. Thomas Becket at Canterbury