Renaissance documents

hey there Renaissance men and women! it might help to "divide and conquer" the DBQ packet so that you can start deciding on your use of the documents before we see each other again on Wednesday. Here's a list - please offer any helpful hints on how to make use of your assigned documents : Everyone read doc G (and feel free to comment) - then . .
Gavin, Shar, Nicole, Riley - Docs A, B, C
Dani, Sunjeev, Sonia, Zach - Doc D
Jamie, Wes, Jacob, Katelyn Doc E
Aaron H, Danny, Aziza, Aaron N Doc F

one short blog per person is fine - just to get some ideas flowing!

Pope Innocent III

• Was the pope in the pinnacle of papal authority
• Pope from 1198-1216
• Says that people of the church/ religious leaders should have the most power because they have the word of God and are his direct workers
• Power hungry
• Got into conflicts with many places such as England and France and even with rulers of the Roman Empire
• Says royal power gets their strength from the church

Byzantine Empire/Constantinople

• Constantine the Great, the 1st Roman emperor who adopted Christianity moved the capital of his empire from Rome to Byzantium in 324, later changing its name to Constantinople


• Rome left in the hands of the Pope and the Church


• Constantinople was built on 7 hills for defense and military strategies


• Many attempts to destroy or annex the capital and the empire were made by the Western Empire Christians and the Muslims


• Constantinople controlled the Eastern Christian Orthodox Empire


• Byzantium was located in modern day Turkey and Constantinople is modern day Istanbul


• Ub 1069 A.D., the old Western Roman Empire sent 4 crusades to take over Constantinople


• 4th Crusade from 1202 to 1204 established a Latin Empire in the capital, which later fell apart in 1261


• Constantinople existed until the Ottoman Empire seized it and renamed it Istanbul in 1453


• The Ottoman Empire was led by Sultan Mehmed the 2nd


• The Orthodox church moved to Moscow which became the 3rd rome and the city to carry on Orthodox Christiniaty


• "The chief function of Byzantium was to serve for over one thousand years as the bulwark of Christendom against invading infidel hordes and in this capacity to preserve for the world thh literary and philosophic heritage of ancient Greece"

William the Conqueror

• William the c. is a French man from Normandy
• he invaded England and took over England in 1066
• when taking over England this preserved Christianity from the Muslims
• he was said to be a good man to those who loved God
• he ruled over England, Wales, Scotland, and Normandy which he had in his natural inheritance
• William kept peace and violence down which helped to stabilize the society
• the first thing William did when he conquered England was built a monastery where he appointed monks
• William was humble for only wearing his crown three times in England
• he was a violent man and used his violence to keep order within his kingdom
• William didn't even spare his own brother Odo; this shows that even family wasn't going to come between him and his kingdom
• in conclusion William's accomplishments were preserving Christianity and stabilizing England for the western empire
• for further reading look at (WSB) pp 25-26

St. Francis

A series of Christian reform movements arouse during the High Middle Ages. One of which was headed by St. Francis of Assisi (1181-1126). St. Francis, born in the merchant class, gave up his material life for one of asceticism, and dedication to God. When doctrine known as St. Francis's Rule was adopted by Christianity in 1223, the Pope made Franciscans a branch of Christendom. This Rule had several key characterizing points of Francism:

1. Loyalty and obedience to the Pope and those elected after him.

2. Christians should not argue with or judge others. They should be of peaceful nature, and 

    act with virtue. 

3. Franciscans should not accept monetary means or land. Those inflicted with illness, and      that need to be clothed be provided for through friends. 

4. Devotion to God through prayer and other actions is superior to all other calls of duty. 

5. Franciscans should not have any material possessions of their own including, house, or  

            land. 

6. Franciscans are strictly forbidden from any sort of suspicious conversation with women. 

Crusades

Crusades (def. from class): "Church's effort to reclaim the Holy Lands from Muslim control."

Map: Atlas p. 30-31

Pages From Sourcebook Covered: p. 37-43 

Key Ideas:

-1095-1291 C.E.

-The Christians wanted to connect the separated empires and create one force to defeat the Muslims.

-A total of 8 major expeditions.

-Around 1,000,000 dead (including both sides)

-"Take Up The Cross" -> join the Christian side of the war and fight.

-Christians invaded Jerusalem July 7, 1099. (around 10,-20,000 Muslims killed). 

-Christians have control of Holy Lands for about 80 years. 

-Military genius, Saladin, starts running the war for the Muslims - eventually winning over Jerusalem and Acre. 

-Saladin leaves his land open to Christian pilgrims and other travelers.

-Richard "The Lion-Heart" regains control of Acre in 1191 because of his use of portable 'ladders' or 'stairs', per say. Acre is the last Christian foothold in the Holy Land.

-Saladin and Richard eventually declare peace.

-Ends up just how it began, total Muslim control of Holy Lands.

Key Documents:

Pope Urban II (Roman)

- Says Christians are chosen by God to rule the Holy Lands

- Uses some reverse psychology to convince the Franks to join the war.

Pope Eugenius III (Roman)

- Christians are now desperate for fighters.

- Uses money to convince them to join; also stopping their interest on bank loans, etc. 

- Church will take over everything you owe to your lord.

- You can leave the futile system to fight and still have your place in society, like you never left.

- Promises forgiveness of sins and eternal life.

Ekkenhard of Aurach (German)

- More reasons to join the crusade efforts.

- A push and pull factor to the war; no reason to stay in France.

Norman Cantor (Historian, 1973)

- Cantor's thesis: Most think that the crusades reopened trade, but in reality, trade never stopped between Italy and the Byzantine Empire.

- Crusades were just a justification for war and violence.

Map Below is the Map on p. 30-31 ---

Conversion of the Roman Empire

· During the 1^st century (C.E) Christianity was primarily practiced in the eastern Mediterranean.

· From the 1^st century (C.E) to the beginning of the 4^th century Christians were subject to mass prosecution by the Roman Empire.

· In 313 C.E, Emperor Constantine of Rome made a declaration to tolerate the Christians.

· In 380 C.E., Emperor Theodosius enacted a law making Christianity the official religion of the Roman Empire

· After this time period Church leaders took power from Emperor, Christian faith was not very compatible with the rule of the Emperor.

Mohammad

In Islamic beliefs, Mohammad is the final prophet and the messenger of God. In 610, it is said that the angel Gabriel goes unto Mohammad and tells him that he is the messenger of god. Mohammad then begins his preachings in Mecca around 613. Mohammad preaches the word of Allah, and Allah is defined as "one and only god". In 622 Mohammad and his followers are forced out of Mecca to Yathrib but later return in 630. When he finally does return, many people convert to Islam. Mohammad is said to be to the Islamic people what Jesus is to the Christians.

Manorialism

The symbiotic relationship in which peasants and lords provided for one another. It organized the social classes and made feudalism possible. In the system, the lord of the manor kept some land for himself but allotted the majority to peasants. Each peasant became a tenant of a small plot of land. They farmed their strip of land and paid the lord the "rent" with either labor, produce or money depending on the agreement. If any outbreak of violence, war, etc., occurred, the lord was obligated to protect his peasants adequately.

Rise and Spread of Islam

Spread of Islam Map: Pg. 26-27 in Historical Atlas of the World

Spread of Islam Map: Pg 12 (WSB)

Islam is started by the prophet Muhammad. He starts preaching of Islam and but flees to Medina in 622 CE. He later returns to Mecca in 630 CE and converts many people to Islam. This is when the religion of Islam officially begins.

Koran- Holy book of Islam. (Pg. 9-10 in WSB).

Baghdad was built in 762 to show the wealth of Islam. It was a very good trade center for Islam which helped in the success of Islam. Islam had trade in the east and the west. Other major cities of Islam were Cairo in Egypt and Cordoba in southern Spain.

Around 800 CE- Islam spreads through Jerusalem and up to the Byzantine Empire. It spreads through north Africa and into Spain. It travels east as far as the cities Lahore and Tashkent. It also travels as far south as the horn of Africa which is also present day Somalia. This is all the conquests under the Abbasid rule.

Islam originally spread into France as well as Spain but Charlemagne's son pushes the Muslims out.

Truce of God

The Truce of God is a document written in the hopes of mitigating feudal violence. Pages 21-22(WSB). It was written in 1063.

1. Called for peace from sunset on Wednesday to sunrise on Monday. During these four days and five nights, no man/woman may "assault, wound, or slay another, or attack, seize, or destroy a castle, burg, or villa, by craft or violence."
2. If anyone violated that peace, or truce of God, they would be exiled for 30 years after making compensation for caused hardship. If they fail to do that, they will be excommunicated.
3. One can neither talk nor give advice to exiled person unless it consists of them doing penance or leaving the bishop arch
4. If any violator dies during exiled time, no one shall visit him or take possessions.
5. Truce of God also includes stealing, no one may take another’s' possessions during days of peace. Will be excommunicated unless one makes satisfaction.
6. During days of peace, no one shall make hostile expedition unless summoned by the count.
7. All merchants who pass through your land shall have peace.
8. "You shall also keep this peace every day of the week from the beginning of Advent to the octave of Epiphany and from the beginning of Lent to the octave of Easter, and from the feast of Rogations to the octave of Pentecost."
9. Priests must pray on feast days and Sundays for peacekeepers and curse peace breakers.
10. If anyone has been accused of violating the peace and denies it, one must take communion and undergo hot iron. If found guilty must do penance for 7 years.

This document is basically telling Christians how to live. In a way, it is similar to the 10 commandments.

The Fall of the Roman Empire

The West Roman Empire fell in 476 A.D, due to several factors. Although these factors were viewed to have only played into the West Roman Empire, they also were present in the East Roman Empire. Each empire had a corrupt Bureaucracy (which is a government where many important decisions are made by state officials and not elected representatives), however it could be that this was a more prominent issue in the West than in the East. The West was also poorer and less populated than the Eastern Empire. These internal problems could have contributed to the overall downfall. However, the main reason for the Western Empire's fall was because it was more open for the attacks of the Barbarians. They came with great strength and numbers which the Western Empire could not withhold. The Eastern Empire had the ability to do so because of it's better economic position. Even though the attacks did strain the overall empire, it did not fall like the West. For more information, view pages 1-4 in the sourcebook, and relating maps can be found 16-19 in the Atlas.

Magna Carta

The Magna Carta was a document written around 1215 in the time of King John.  This document consists of many laws that all citizens of england must obey, even the king. It laid out laws such as descriptions of how much money a heir of a dead bishop (100 pounds), dead lord (100 pounds), and a dead knight (100 shillings) would receive. It also explained what would happen to one who might harm anothers land, they will have the same taken away from them. One very important law that i thought was important, said "a free man shall not be fined for a small offense, except in proportion to the measure of the offense" this says that there are different punishments for different crimes. Such as a crime for killing would be different then a crime for adultery. This means that the society understood the value of punishment, and took big offenses very seriously. The reason for the magna carta to be written was to organize england at that time since it was only made england a few hundered years ago. The magna carta document did organize the country and brought a very organized set of laws into society. 

Fuedalism

-Turned chaos into order


-In a tough time, fuedalism offered stability for a king and his subjects. Fuedalism worked as such: A vassal would provide land for his lord who in turn would offer safety inside his castle during an invasion.


-Fife=An offered amount of land mass


-This symbiotic act however came with 5 rules for the Lord. If he not abide by all 5, then the vassal would be allowed to leave.

• "If the lord has wished to reduce him (the vassal) unjustly into servitude:


• "If he (the lord) has taken counsel against his (the vassal) life"


• "If the lord has commited adultery against his vassal's wife"


• "If he (the lord) has willfully attacked him with a drawn sword"


• "If the lord has been able to bring defense to his vassal and he has not done so."

-The vassal also had rules; he must always keep 6 things in memory:

• Harmless


• Safe


• Honorable


• Useful


• Easy


• Practicable
  

-The lord must also treat his vassal with such things

-Detailes about the 6 things are listed in the 2nd paragraph of page 16

-Fuedalism also worked with knights, though instead of land the offered their servise.

-Knights would offer their protection and their servise for no more than 40 days and 40 nights

-In turn, the knights would be sheltered and fed

-If the king wish to keep them longer, the king must pay them ( if the knights want to stay )

-The fuedalism reading can be found in length on pages 15-20.

Charlemagne

Charlemagne was born in 742 A.D. and took power over northern Europe in 768. He ruled until 814 when he died at the age of 71. The significance of his reign is such that after the Western half of the Roman Empire fell in 476, most of northern and western Europe fell into dismay. The lands became a collection of different tribes and barbarian groups that made raids into the nations around the Mediterranean Sea. Many years later, in 768, Charlemagne took power and brought order to northern Europe. Charlemagne's kingdom covered the modern day countries of France, Germany, and Holland. His actions earned him the title of emperor from the Pope, and Charlemagne shifted his focus into preserving and expanding Christianity through Europe. Charlemagne's rule expanded from the north edge of Spain to modern day Poland and as far south as Rome. This kingdom brought order, stability, Christianity, and Feudalism to Europe, and from Charlemagne's kingdom developed the Holy Roman Empire which was powerful enough to withstand the rapid rise of Islam at the beginning of the 9th Century.

The Holy Roman Empire

The Holy Roman Empire was the collection of territories north of and including Rome, beginning in 962 and declining from 1648 to (arguably) 1801. Led by Emperors chosen by the Pope in Rome, The HRE was a form or stability in a time of war and chaos. The region that stretched from the north side of the Alps to the Northern-most edge of Europe was almost completely Christian before the formation of such an Empire, so it was natural that it considered itself "G-d's country" and let religion take control. This even led to an attack on another people, instigated by the declaration that the Holy Land had fallen to heathens and it was up to the good Christian folk to recapture it. Interestingly enough, a region that was known for its stability faced many struggles politically. The term Interregnum refers to a period during which the election of an emperor is disputed, which took place fairly often in the days of the HRE. Some procedures remained unchanged throughout the duration of the Empire, such as the election process. The Golden Bull of 1356, a royal edict that standardized the procedures for electing a king and other minor traditions, set an example for maintaining routines throughout the empire. The major significance of this empire was that it held together societies that would have otherwise crumbled, leaving us with nothing today. For centuries, this rag-tag group of peoples maintained a stable society in a world of complete chaos.

Test Review

Homework for Wednesday 9/9 is to review for test and enter a blog on your assigned topic. You are free to comment on other blogs, adding ,correcting,etc.