Unit 8: Medieval and Renaissance Europe and Japan

Medieval to Renaissance Europe

Medieval Era (c. 500-1500)

• Also known as:
  • Age of Faith: Dominance of Christianity and Islam.
  • Postclassical Age: Transition between Classical and Modern civilizations.
  • Middle Ages: Often seen as less significant than Classical or Modern Ages.

Division of Middle Ages

• Early Middle Ages (Dark Ages) (c. 500-1000)
• High Middle Ages (1000-1350)
• Late Middle Ages (1350-1500)

Dark Ages

• Fall of Western Rome in 476 CE led to decline in civilization in Western Europe.
• Byzantine Empire and Islamic caliphates preserved Greco-Roman learning.
• Western Europe faced invasions by Germanic tribes.
• Decline in written records and trade.

Germanic Culture

• Characterized by:
  • Nomadic movements, eventually settled.
  • Oral traditions and illiteracy.
  • Polytheistic religion.
  • Decentralized government with loyalty to clan and chieftain.
  • Warrior culture and blood feuds.

Vikings

• Invaded from Scandinavia.
• Settled in regions like Russia, Iceland, Greenland, and briefly North America.
• Observed a polytheistic religion, many converted to Christianity.

Angles and Saxons

• Settled in Great Britain after Rome's fall.
• Gradually converted to Christianity and adopted literacy.

Franks

• Settled in northern France, Belgium, and western Germany.
• First Germanic people to convert to Christianity under Clovis.
• Fought Muslim Moors at the Battle of Tours in 732.

Magyars

• Originated in the Ural Mountains and settled near the Danube River (Hungary).
• Converted to Christianity and adopted literacy.

Medieval Europe and the Rise of the Church

Charlemagne

• Became Frankish king in 768, united Germanic kingdoms, expanded Christianity.
• Crowned emperor by Pope Leo III, first Holy Roman Emperor.

The Role of the Church

• Roman Catholic Church dominated medieval life, strong unifying force.
• Developed a hierarchy: Pope, Cardinals, Bishops, Priests.

Rise of the Papacy

• Pope Gregory I expanded the Church’s role as a secular power and developed Roman Catholic Church.

Feudal Society

Feudalism

• Developed due to need for security and defense.
• Kings gave land to lords, who then granted land (fiefs) to vassals.
• Vassals provided military service in exchange for protection.

Manor System

• Self-contained world on the lord's land.
• Peasants and serfs worked the land, provided resources for the manor.
• Life was harsh, but provided security and necessities.

Japan: Geography and Society

Geography of Japan

• Archipelago with thousands of islands, major ones being Hokkaido, Honshu, Shikoku, and Kyushu.
• Mount Fuji and other mountains, importance of natural scenery.
• Limited farmland and natural resources, frequent natural disasters.

Early Beliefs and Social Structure

• Shinto Religion: Worship of kami (spiritual beings) in nature.
• Society organized into family groups and clans.

Samurai and Shoguns

• Power shift to daimyo (landowning families) as central government weakened.
• Samurai served daimyo, followed the Bushido code.

Unification and Isolation

• Warring States Period ended by Tokugawa Ieyasu, unifying Japan under a shogunate.
• Initiated a policy of isolation to preserve traditional power and culture.

Cultural Developments

Influence of Chinese Culture

• Adoption of Chinese writing, art, and governmental practices.
• Japanese adaptations included unique writing systems, art styles, and architecture.

Buddhism in Japan

• Combined with Shinto beliefs, emphasizing rituals and cultural practices.

Decline of Medieval Europe

Decline of Feudalism and Manorialism

• Stronger monarchies and national identities emerged.
• New weapons rendered knights and castles obsolete.
• Black Death reduced labor force, increased workers' wages.
• Rise of towns and cities led to economic shifts.

Rise of Capitalism

• Shift from land-based wealth to monetary wealth.
• Italian city-states spearheaded the Commercial Revolution.

Catholic Church Authority

• Initially powerful, challenged by monarchs as feudalism declined.
• Events like the Great Schism weakened Church authority.

Religious Reforms

• Reformers like John Wycliffe and Jan Hus sought to address Church corruption.

Renaissance

Major Ideas

• Rediscovery of Greek and Roman texts.
• Increased trade and cultural exchange post-Crusades.
• Emergence of humanism, individualism, and secularism.

Italy and the Birth of the Renaissance

• Italian city-states become cultural hubs, flourishing with merchant wealth.

Renaissance Art and Literature

• Patronage led to art depicting everyday life, realism, and humanism.

Humanism

• Focus on human potential and achievements.
• Encouraged study of classics and individual interpretation of texts.

Political Reform

• Machiavelli’s "The Prince" outlined pragmatic political strategies.

Famous Works

• Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel and Statue of David
• Da Vinci’s Mona Lisa and The Last Supper
• Renaissance Writers: Petrarch and Erasmus promoted humanism.

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Review and Study Resources

• Flashcards and quizzes available on platforms like Kahoot and Quizlet.