Chapter Nine: Chapter Nine: The Rise of Medieval The Rise of Medieval Culture Culture Culture and Values, 8 Culture and Values, 8 th th . Ed. . Ed. Cunningham and Reich and Cunningham and Reich and Fichner-Rathus Fichner-Rathus
Feb 03, 2016
Chapter Nine:Chapter Nine:
The Rise of Medieval The Rise of Medieval CultureCulture
Culture and Values, 8Culture and Values, 8thth. Ed.. Ed.Cunningham and Reich and Cunningham and Reich and
Fichner-RathusFichner-Rathus
400 ce – 800 ceMonasteries are foundedWarring tribes migrate throughout
Europe following the collapse of the Roman Empire
Venerable Bede writes the Ecclesiastical History of the English People
The Old English epic Beowulf is createdCharlemagne battles the Spanish
emirate without conclusive Results; events gives rise to The Song of Roland
800 ce – 1200 ce The feudal system becomes the dominant
social structure throughout Europe Charlemagne, a Frank, is crowned emperor of
the new Holy Roman Empire Charlemagne supports learning, monasteries,
and the writing of books The Ottonian period begins following the death
of Charlemagne William I (William the Conqueror) invades
England and becomes England’s first Norman king
The Romanesque style of architecture dominates European cathedral construction
Charlemagne: Charlemagne: Ruler and Diplomat (742-814)Ruler and Diplomat (742-814)
Charlemagne: Charlemagne: Ruler and Diplomat (742-814)Ruler and Diplomat (742-814)
Papal Coronation– Leo III, Christmas 800– Revival of Western Roman Empire
Feudal Administration– Legal decrees– Bureaucratic system– Literacy
Foreign Relations– Byzantines, Muslims
Charlemagne: Charlemagne: Economic DevelopmentsEconomic Developments
Stabilized the currency– Denier
Trade FairsTolerance of JewsJewish merchants and the Near EastTrade RoutesImport / Export Relationships
– Iron Broadswords
Learning Learning in the Time of Charlemagnein the Time of Charlemagne
“Palace School” at AachenScholar-teachersCurriculum
– Trivium, quadrivium– Mastery of texts
Text reform– Literary revival = Liturgical revival
Literacy as prerequisite for worship
Learning Learning in the Time of Charlemagnein the Time of Charlemagne
Alcuin of York– Corrected errors in the Vulgate Bible– Developed Frankish school system
Literacy and Women – Aristocratic women– Dhouda- not a nun but wrote a text on
Christian living– Illuminated manuscripts
Benedictine MonasticismBenedictine 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
Horarium Monasticum2:00 A.M. Rise
2:10–3:30 Nocturns (later called Matins; the longest office of the day)
3:30–5:00 Private reading and study
5:00–5:45 Lauds (the second office; also called “morning prayer”)
5:45–8:15 Private reading and Prime (the first of the short offices of the day); at times, there was communal Mass at this time and, in some places, a light breakfast, depending on the season
8:15–2:30 Work punctuated by short offices of Tierce, Sext, and None(literally the third, sixth, and ninth hours)
2:30–3:15 Dinner
3:15–4:15 Reading and private religious exercises
4:15–4:45 Vespers—break—Compline(night prayers)
5:15–6:00 To bed for the night
Women and the Monastic LifeWomen and the Monastic Life
Scholastica (d. 543)– St. Benedict’s sister
Brigit of Ireland (d. 525)Hilda, abbess of Whitby (614-680)Hildegard of Bingen (1098-1179)
Monasticism Monasticism and Gregorian Chantand Gregorian Chant
Development of sacred music– Gregorian Chant– Ambrosian music– Mozarabic chant– Frankish chant
Monasticism Monasticism and Gregorian Chantand Gregorian Chant
Gregorian chant and Carolingian reformGregorian characteristics
– Monophonic- one or many voices singing one single melodic line
– Melisma-extensive addition of a chain of intricate notes sung on the vowel sound of a single syllable
– Acapella-vocals no instrumentation– Cantus planus-plain song– Neums-notations used in Gregorian chant
Liturgical Music Liturgical Music and the Rise of Dramaand the Rise of Drama
The Liturgical Trope– Verbal elaborations of textual content– Added to the long melismas– Aid in memorization– Origin of drama in the West
Quem Quæritis
Medieval LiteratureVenerable Bede
– Father of English history– Ecclesiastical History of the English People
BeowulfHildegard of Bingen http://www.macalester.edu/~warren/courses/Hildegard/art.html
– Writer, painter, illustrator, musician, critic,
preacher– Scivias (The Way of Knowledge), Physica
(botany), Causae et Curae (illness & cures), Symphonia (hymns & songs), Ordo Virtutum
Roswitha -poet, playwright
9.1 Hildegard of Bingen, “Vision of God’s Plan for the Seasons,” from De operatione Dei, 1163-1174
The Morality Play: The Morality Play: EverymanEveryman
Links liturgical and secular dramaAllegorical, moralistic
– Instructs for moral conversionReligious themes
– Life as a pilgrimage– The inevitability of death (memento mori)– Faith vs. Free Will
Liturgical overtones
The Legend of Charlemagne:The Legend of Charlemagne:Song of RolandSong of Roland
Charlemagne canonized 1165– Reliquaries and commemoratives
Epic poem– Charlemagne’s battle with the Basques (778)
– Chansons de geste (song of deeds), chansons d’histoire (song of history)
Oral tradition, jongleurs (wandering minstrels)
Military and religious ideals– 11th c. martial virtues and chivalric code
Anti-Muslim bias
9.23 Reliquary of Charlemagne
The Visual Arts:The Visual Arts:
The Illuminated BookThe Illuminated BookCarolingian manuscripts on parchmentGospel Book of Charlemagne
– Roman, Byzantine, Celtic stylesUtrecht Psalter
– Masterpiece of the Carolingian RenaissanceDagulf Psalter
– Carved ivory book coversCarolingian miniscule
9.9 The four evangelists and their symbols, Palatine School at Aachen, early 9th century. Manuscript illustration from the Gospel Book of Charlemagne
9.10 Drawing for Psalm 150 from the Utrecht Psalter, ca 820-840
9.11 Crucifixion, ca. 860-870, carved ivory panel, Victoria and Albert Museum, London, United Kingdom
Carolingian ArchitectureCarolingian ArchitectureCharlemagneCharlemagne’’s Palace at Aachens Palace at Aachen
Kingdom modeled on ancient RomePalace
– 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)– Chapel to the Virgin (reliquary)
Charlemagne’s Throne– “…this most wise Solomon.”
Palatine Chapel (palace chapel of Charlemagne), 792–805. Interior of the octagonal rotunda and plan. Aachen Cathedral, Aachen, Germany.
The Carolingian MonasteryThe Carolingian Monastery
Monastery as “miniature civic center”– Complexity of function and design– Center of life for rural populations
Saint Gall plan– Basilica style– Designed to house 120 monks, 170 serfs
Plan for an ideal monastery, ca. 820. Saint Gall, Switzerland. Reconstruction based on original plan (44″ across, drawn to scale on vellum) in the Library of the Monastery of Saint Gall, Switzerland.
The Romanesque StyleThe Romanesque Style
Large, “Roman-looking” architectureInfluenced by travel, expansion
– Pilgrimages Heavy stone arches
– Larger, more spacious interiors– Fireproof stone and masonry roofs– Church of Saint Sernin in Toulouse
Church of Saint Michael (restored exterior), ca. 1001–1031. Hildesheim,
Germany.
Church of Saint Michael (restored exterior), ca. 1001–1031. Hildesheim,
Germany.
Adam and Eve Reproached by the Lord, 1015. Panel of bronze doors, 23″ × 43″ (58.4 × 109.2 cm). Dom Museum of Saint Mary’s Cathedral,
Hildesheim, Germany.
Adam and Eve Reproached by the Lord, 1015. Panel of bronze doors, 23″ × 43″ (58.4 × 109.2 cm). Dom Museum of Saint Mary’s Cathedral,
Hildesheim, Germany.
Saint Sernin, ca. 1080–1120. Toulouse, France.
Floor plan,
Saint Sernin.
Toulouse, France.
Floor plan,
Saint Sernin.
Toulouse, France.
9.19 Nave, Saint Sernin, ca 1020-1180, Toulouse, France
The Romanesque StyleThe Romanesque Style
Exterior decoration (sculpture)– Lack of interior light– Portal (doorway)– Jamb, capital, trumeau– Tympanum (mandorla, archivolts)
Church of Sainte Madeleine at Vézelay
9.20 Cathedral of Sainte-Lazare, west tympanum detail of Last Judgment, ca 1120-1135
“Proclamation to the Shepherds,” folio 8 verso from the Lectionary of Henry II, 1007. Manuscript illumination on vellum, 16¾″ × 12⅝″ (42.5 cm × 32 cm). Bayerische Staatsbibliothek, Munich, Germany.
Chapter Nine: Discussion QuestionsChapter 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.