Carolingian Empire and Gallo-Roman or Christian Practices - Essay Example

3 August 3 In what ways did the political, intellectual, and daily life in the Carolingian Empire represent a fusion of Gallo-Roman, Germanic, and Christian practices? Be Specific. The Carolingian Dynasty of the Frankish Kingdom was considered an important period in the Medieval Period. It was because of the Carolingian Dynasty that a portion of what was left of the Roman culture was carried over throughout the Medieval Ages and survived being lost in history. Ironically, the Carolingian Dynasty were ruled the Franks, and whose population included the Gauls. The Gauls and Franks were one of the fiercest enemies of the Romans throughout Roman rule. It is also worth noting that by this period in history, the Roman Empire was overtaken by the Germanic Franks. Besides the Goths taking over the Roman Empire, and the Franks and Gauls rising up to form the Frankish Kingdom, Christianity was spreading quickly and had already permeated in Roman society and still survived even the fall of Rome. All of this resulted to the integration of various cultures and practices. The Carolingian Dynasty was perhaps the earliest successful of a prosperous medieval kingdom. It was considered a model or example of how a successful merging of different cultures and practices can mix well to bring out a stable political structure, a flourishing society and a thriving intellectual atmosphere. This was all possible and caused by and during the rule of Charles the Great or Charlemagne. Political Aspect The Carolingian period was stable in rule, but nothing really as compared with that of the Roman Empire’s political structure. While the Romans had their Caesars as absolute rulers and the Senators as representatives of the people as well as advisors to the Caesars, the Carolingian rulers formed what seemed to be a different form of government. What developed were kingdoms -- the king had to constantly move around his land in order to show and prove himself to his subjects (Kreis, “Charlemagne and the Carolingian Renaissance”). This of course was called the Feudal system, or Feudalism, in which the land was divided among the nobles in power who laid their allegiance to the king of the realm. This was particularly very Gallic and Germanic influence because they did not maintain for the sole reason that Rome had built a government around the emperor and his elaborate and extensive administrative bureaucracy (Kreis). The Roman political structure relied on its efficient and effective system of political management to keep the state running properly. Proper protocol is followed among the hierarchy of powers, and the various political positions are there to check each other and maintain balance and order. The legal system, as well as the judicial system of the Romans always followed a system and protocol that involved a lot of bureaucratic process among the Senators first before being codified. Punishments are usually carried out according to such codified laws. Contrary to the Roman political system, the Gallic and Germanic form of government is based on their seemingly tribal and barbaric society. Gallic and Germanic tribes were usually ruled by powerful chieftains or warlords who usually held that position purely by force or physical prowess from battle. During the rise to the zenith of the Roman Empire, Gallic and Germanic tribes were most often split from each other as separate groups and were never a serious threat to the Romans. It was only when a powerful chieftain rose up above all the other warlords and united the different tribes were they Germanic tribes able to overthrow the Roman Empire. The Gauls, on the other hand, were somehow integrated to the Roman Empire but were never fully subdued in the political sense. They maintained their tribal form of leadership structure which is the same as their Germanic tribe neighbors. Eventually, the Gauls also rose up against the Romans and were able to regain their lands and even more power. The Carolingians inherited land that retained some of the attributes of Roman administration, specifically laws and systems of taxation (Kreis). Even though there were no Caesars that served as absolute rulers, the king served as the sole authority on all domestic, political, economic and military affairs. This would be similar to the Roman Caesar in the sense of authority and leadership, but lacking the Roman Senate. Instead, the Carolingians maintained a nobility class in line with their warlike culture which the warriors usually occupied and that power and position were based on how much land they controlled and conquered. This changed the setting of urbanization to that of rural and countryside development of the scattered castle-manor towns. In a way, the Carolingian empire was a mix of Germanic culture with that of Roman law. Intellectual Aspect It was because of the Carolingian rule of Charlemagne that much of the Roman culture and learning was saved from ending up in historical oblivion. Much of the pieces of education and academic knowledge was preserved by many Christian-scholars on who most of the Carolingian rulers, especially Charlemagne, sought and protected. During this period, the Carolingian kings always had a scholarly monk to consult on any matter, ranging from political to spiritual. Charles Martels chief minister was St. Boniface; Charlemagne brought in Alcuin to set up a school system, and to manage his administration; Louis the Pious worked with Benedict of Aniane to make Benedictine monasticism a progressive and civilizing force throughout western Europe; and even Charles the Bald, who ruled during the disintegration of the empire, had John Scotus Erigena to direct his administration and to help plan his actions (Lynn Nelson, “The Carolingian Renaissance”). Christian monks were more than just spiritual men of the church. It was because of the Christian monks that classical education of the arts and sciences was preserved and carried throughout the Dark Ages. The reason behind this was that Christianity’s spread during the Roman Empire influenced many bright and intelligent individuals. The Roman philosopher Boethius, for example, was considered the precursor of Medieval Philosophy by combining the thinking of Classical Philosophy with the faith and beliefs of Christianity. His writings, which were influenced by the teachings of Socrates and Stoicism, were passed on to his intellectual peers even when Rome collapsed from power. Another scholar worth noting would be the Venerable Bede. He devoted himself to Latin, Greek, and the literature of the Church Fathers. He also studied Hebrew, medicine and astronomy. He was by all accounts, a polymath (Kreis). It was because of Bede that the tradition of the study of history was kept alive, as found in his work ‘The Ecclesiastical History of the English People.’ Alcuin, the scholar advisor of Charlemagne, lived near a library which stored a large amount of classical manuscripts in which were used to help Charlemagne educate the nobles around him as well as instructing other monks and advisors with the knowledge written within them. This would of course result in the transmission of such knowledge further through the ages. It was because of the scholar-monks that the Carolingian rulers found their sense of culture and wisdom they needed to rule, not merely with force or raw power. Before the rise of the Carolingians, it was viewed that the Frankish tribes never was interested with civilization and culture, rather just pure conquest. Eventually, Charlemagne promoted classical learning and culture during his rule that it would later be known as the Carolingian Renaissance. The result of this steady collaboration of political and intellectual power permitted the Carolingians to bring about a rise in culture and learning far greater than the political bases of their power would otherwise have permitted. Social Aspect Unlike the Roman life, which society was thriving within urban metropolis centers such as Rome and Pompeii, Germanic social life was based on the different feudal lands called fiefs that were usually small towns surrounding a castle, manor or keep of a local lord. While the average Roman citizen or peasant lived a rather healthy lifestyle, it was more difficult during the Carolingian period. In general, life was brutal and harsh for the early medieval peasant. Even in the wealthiest parts of Europe, the story is one of poverty and hardship. Their diet was poor and many peasants died undernourished (Kreis). In short, the Roman social atmosphere was more flourishing that the time of the Carolingians. 6.) What were the reasons for the Crusades, and what groups and individuals benefited the most from the experiences of the Crusades? Be Specific. During the middle point of the Medieval Age, the most highlighted historical event that occurred were the Holy Crusades that were fought mostly around what was modern day Palestine as well as Turkey at one point. There were a total of nine major Crusades that happened. Much of the cause for the Crusades may be distinguished between the exterior and ulterior motives as to why it happened. The most obvious exterior reasons for the Crusades to happen were simply that of a religious cause. The setting for this reason can be seen with how the culture, society and political nature of Medieval Period Western Europe are like. During this time, virtually all of Western Europe is under the influence, and even control, of the Roman Catholic Church. The Pope is viewed as even being more powerful than the monarchs of the English, French and the Teutonic Germans. The Roman Catholic Church was also very wealthy as much as influential, holding the sway of nations and its people under its whim. If ever the Pope wished a country to be invaded, he could do so under the pretext that the target nation is an enemy of God and, therefore, the people of God. Against this setting were the Muslim Saracens and Seljuk Turks from the Middle East Asia and North Africa. Before their arrival, Jerusalem was an open city of various faiths that was ruled by the Arabs after the Hellenistic civilization collapsed and waned away. Jerusalem was considered a holy city for Christians, Jews and Muslims due to the sacred relics and temples that have been found and built there. For example, the Temple of Jerusalem was a sacred place of pilgrimage for Christians and Jews while the Dome of the Rock Mosque was for the Muslims. When the Seljuk Turks, and later on the Saracens, invaded Jerusalem, sacked Christian temples and shrines, and prevented any pilgrimages from Christians from continuing, it was scene by the Christians in Europe as a desolation and desecration against God. It was because of the invasion of the Muslim Saracens and Seljuk Turks that most of Christian Europe was roused to defend the holy land against the forces of Islam. The West wanted to free the Holy Lands from Islamic influence. The first of early Crusades were part of a religious revivalism. The initiative was taken by popes and supported by religious enthusiasm and therefore the Crusades demonstrated papal leadership as well as popular religious beliefs (Kreis, “The Holy Crusades”). It was religious conviction that raised the armies of Christian Europe to unite under the banner of the Cross regardless what kingdom or land they are from. This was the clear motive of the Crusades, in plain view. On the other hand, ulterior motives of the Crusade could be seen as less spiritual and more practical. This is also based on the current setting of both Western Europe, and the Arab world, which both sides had similar goals as well. In Western Europe, the growth of trade had developed among the various towns and cities from the different feudal lands. Trade and commerce was considered vital to keep the economy running, as well as provide certain commodities that were needed to sustain towns and cities, and also provide certain rare luxuries. The most lucrative of such goods were spices, exotic foods and animals, and minerals that could not be normally found within Western Europe. Such trade goods and trade routes were usually controlled most of the time by the Venetians and the Byzantines since their territory made them ideal for sea trade. This also made the control of such goods, in terms of price control and the supply of such goods, to the advantage of the Venetians and Byzantines greatly. To get a hold of such trade goods would require the Western Europeans to establish their own route or by taking one for their own. It should be noted that the source of these lucrative trading goods and resources are found in the Middle East, specifically Jerusalem due to its location. Being near the Mediterranean Sea and also not so far from Constantinople, which is modern day Turkey, Jerusalem was an ideal city for merchant travelers as much religious pilgrims. Jerusalem was market of various commodities which came from far off lands beyond the reach of the Christian Europeans; goods which the Christian Europeans could not produce during that age due to the climate it has. With Jerusalem being a rich market of exotic goods for trade as much as it is a holy city, it would also be a very profitable conquest if the rulers of Christian Europe, as well as the Roman Catholic Church, to take control of Jerusalem. The Crusades also highlight the initial phase of western expansion into new lands, a movement of the peoples of Europe that has influenced the course of western civilization ever since (Kreis, “The Holy Crusades”). The goal was also the same for the Seljuk Turks and the Muslim Saracens. The Seljuk Turks and Muslim Saracens share control over Jerusalem for the most part. On their own, the Seljuk Turks started from Persia then swept from most of the eastern land modern Turkey extending to Palestine while attempting countless times in capturing Constantinople from the Byzantines. The Muslim Saracens controlled most of North Africa while also establishing themselves in Palestine. Their territorial gains and conquests enabled them to control the lucrative spice trade, and the market for it as well. At the same time, the Muslim Saracens wanted to expand Muslim influence through what was Moorish controlled Spain during that time. That said, the Muslim Saracens wanted to further expand the Islamic influence further into Europe. Throughout the Crusades, both sides had groups and individuals who gained much throughout the long campaigns and bloody battles that occurred throughout the decades of religious fighting. Most of the time, such benefits went to many of the Christian European rulers and organizations that participated heavily throughout the Crusade campaigns. First, the Roman Catholic Church gained much more influence and power through the warrior monk orders that were established mostly during this period of history. Early in their occupation of the eastern Mediterranean the crusaders founded the military orders of knighthood (Kreis, “The Holy Crusades”). A number of orders under the Roman Catholic Church had a knightly order of its own. For example, the Knights of the Temple, or the Knight Templars, were influenced and supported by the Cistercian monks. Other knightly orders rose up during the onset of the Crusades, such as the Knight Hospitalers and the Teutonic Knights. The orders grew very wealthy. They had fortresses and churches of their own in the Holy Land as well as villages from which they obtained necessary supplies. Western monarchs endowed the knights richly with lands in Europe (Kreis). These orders remained as powerful organizations or groups that continued to thrive even after all the Crusades ended in failure. Besides the Christian knightly orders under the Roman Catholic Church, the Pope gained even more power than before over his Christian subjects than previously. By influencing unity in Europe against a common foe, regardless of the success or failure of the Crusades, the Pope could be viewed than even the most powerful monarchs during the Crusade campaigns combined. Coupled with the fact that the knightly warrior-monk orders are under his control, and also wealthy church orders as well, the Pope and the Roman Catholic Church gained more control of Christian Europe. On the Muslim side, it was the Muslim Saracens that gained most of the benefit of conquest against the Crusades. During the early Crusades, the Muslim powers lost much of their territory because of disunity among their local leaders. This was all changed when the Saracen leader Salahadin, also known as Saladin, united the local Muslim leaders to under him and organized a more effective and successful resistance against the Crusades. It was because of Salahadin that the Jerusalem was retaken from the Crusaders, also in part that internal quarrels and infighting among the latter resulted in defeat. The Crusades also contributed to the economic growth of the Italian port cities of Genoa, Pisa and Venice (Kreis, “The Holy Crusades”). By financing and economic manipulation of the religious campaigns of the Christian monarchs, these Italian city-states prospered even more by receiving pay of transportation services for the Crusaders to their ports of destination. This also made them gain trust of the kingdoms which spared them from being conquered like Constantinople. Works Cited Kreis, Steven. “Charlemagne and the Carolingian Renaissance.” . 3 August 2009. Web. Kreis, Steven. “The Holy Crusades.” . 4 August 2009. Web. Nelson, Lynn. “The Carolingian Renaissance.” . 1999. Web Read More