Chapter Nine: Charlemagne and the Rise of Medieval Culture

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Chapter NineCharlemagne and the Rise of
Medieval Culture

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Charlemagne Ruler and Diplomat

• Papal Coronation
• Leo III, Christmas 800
• Revival of Western Roman Empire
• Feudal Administration
• Legal decrees
• Bureaucratic system
• Literacy
• Foreign Relations
• Byzantines, Muslims

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Charlemagne Economic Developments

• Stabilized the currency
• Denier
• Trade Fairs
• Jewish merchants
• Trade Routes
• Import / Export Relationships
• Iron Broadswords

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Learning in the Time of Charlemagne

• Palace School at Aachen
• Scholar-teachers
• Alcuin of York
• Curriculum
• Trivium, quadrivium
• Mastery of texts
• Seven Liberal Arts
• Literacy as prerequisite for worship

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Learning in the Time of Charlemagne

• Alcuin of York
• Sacramentary prayer book
• Corrected errors in the Vulgate Bible
• Developed Frankish school system
• Literacy and Women
• Dhouda authored a text on childrearing
• Illuminated manuscripts

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Benedictine Monasticism

• Early monasticism
• Varying monastic lifestyles
• No predominate rule
• The Rule of St. Benedict
• Magna Carta of monasticism
• Poverty, stability, obedience, chastity
• Balance of prayer, work, and study
• Horarium

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Women and the Monastic Life

• Scholastica (d. 543)
• St. Benedicts sister
• Brigid of Ireland (d. 525)
• Hilda, abbess of Whitby (614-680)
• Hildegard of Bingen (1098-1179)
• Writer, painter, illustrator, musician, critic,
  preacher
• Scivias, Physica, Causae et Curae, Symphonia,
  Ordo Virtutum

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The Morality Play Everyman

• Links liturgical and secular drama
• Allegorical, moralistic
• Instructs for moral conversion
• Religious themes
• Life as a pilgrimage
• The inevitability of death (memento mori)
• Faith vs. Free Will
• Liturgical overtones

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Nonliturgical Drama

• Hroswitha (d. 1000)
• Wrote in Latin
• Roman stylistic influences
• Poetry, legends, plays
• Theophilus
• The Conversion of the Harlot Thaïs
• Heavily moralistic to educate and convert

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The Legend of CharlemagneSong of Roland

• Charlemagne canonized 1165
• Reliquaries and commemoratives
• Epic poem
• Charlemagnes battle with the Basques (778)
• Chansons de geste, chansons dhistoire
• Oral tradition, jongleurs
• Military and religious ideals
• 11th c. martial virtues and chivalric code
• Anti-Muslim bias

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The Visual ArtsThe Illuminated Book

• Carolingian manuscripts on parchment
• Gospel Book of Charlemagne
• Roman styles
• Dagulf Psalter
• Carved ivory book covers
• Carolingian miniscule

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Charlemagnes Palace at Aachen

• Kingdom modeled on ancient Rome
• Palace
• Large royal hall, lavishly decorated
• Joined to chapel by a long gallery
• Chapel
• Church of San Vitale (Ravenna) as model
• Altar to the Savior (liturgical services)
• Charlemagnes Throne
• Saw himself as a new Solomon

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The Carolingian MonasteryThe Romanesque Style

• Monastery as miniature civic center
• Center of life for rural populations
• Large, Roman-looking architecture
• Influenced by travel, expansion
• Pilgrimages
• Heavy stone arches
• Larger, more spacious interiors
• Fireproof stone and masonry roofs
• Church of Saint Sernin in Toulouse

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The Romanesque Style

• Exterior decoration (sculpture)
• Lack of interior light
• Portal (doorway)
• Jamb, capital, trumeau
• Tympanum
• Church of Sainte Madeleine at Vézelay

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Chapter Nine Discussion Questions

• Explain the function of the Song of Roland as
  both religious and political propaganda during
  the eleventh and twelfth centuries. What values
  are extolled within the text that would serve
  religious and political leaders as they shape
  their culture? Do we, as a culture, subscribe to
  these same values today? Why or why not?
• Why was Charlemagne so interested in developing
  literacy? Explain his motives and methods for
  establishing schools and supporting scholars.
• Describe the role of the liturgical trope in the
  development of drama in the West. For example,
  how does one begin with the Quem Quæritis trope
  and arrive at Everyman? Explain the evolution of
  the art form.