Revival of the medieval occident of the year millet

The terrors of the year millet were very exaggerated by the historians of the S (like Jules Michelet). If there is a religious revival at that time, one cannot speak about old dark. On the contrary, of the medievists such Pierre Riché regards this period as that of the medieval rebirth. Indeed, the dash of the Carolingian Renaissance loses with the dissolution of the Carolingian Empire. But at the end of the 10th century (Year millet), when in the European East the Renaissance Macedonian takes place, the constitution of State S forts and structured will make re-appear this dash and give place to the rebirths ottonienne and clunisienne. It is about a push technical, economic, demographic and artistic which will allow the Christian Occident to increase considerably its exchange S with the Mediterranean circumference and to fill the delay Culturel taken on the Muslim world. This golden age, the period known as of the Low the Middle Ages, lasts approximately three centuries (950 - 1250), sees the creation of powerful centralized States and a profound change of the company or develop the Administration, the Artisanat and the Commerce. In the same way the Art and the Architecture will know a deep evolution. It leads with the XIIe century to the old one of gold of the medieval occident.

First steps

Carolingian rebirth

To 8th and 9th century, the creation of a powerful empire in Europe will make it possible to accommodate the scholars come from the Royaume Visigoth, British Isles or Italy, territories where safety became random because of the invasions sarrasines, Viking and Byzantines. The Irish monachism structured by Saint Benoit d' Aniane will make it possible to create workshops of copy which thanks to the generalization of a writing easier to decipher (small Caroline) and the homogenization of the Latin will allow an increased circulation of knowledge. The creation of many schools and the generalization of the seven liberal arts by Alcuin. The libraries of the old kingdom Visigoth abound in ancient writings. The Iconoclasme finally led many artists to flee Byzance for Rome or the Carolingian empire. This conjunction of knowing and faculties to transmit it involved many technological advances and artistic.

But after the death of Louis the Piles, the empire is parcelled out and weakens considerably slowing down this cultural dash. The empire is divided into autonomous principalities recognizing the king but in fact. The Count S, which are at the beginning of the imperial representatives of authority, named in a temporary way, are fixed on a Territoire. The only richness at the time is the ground possession. Charlemagne, to keep the fidelity of its counts, made them lend oath, but they had to be remunerated. Grounds were thus conceded to them. When the wire of Louis the Piles were entredéchirent for the division of the empire, they must make sure fidelity of their vassal by monnayant their autonomy. Thus creates for itself the Feudal system. The more the central capacity weakens, the more the counts must deal with the defense of the Territoire S against the invaders (Normand S, Moslems or Hungarian) and the more they take autonomy in the facts. The anchoring of the Count S with a ground materializes by the construction of many castles. In addition, the bishop S, which are often the laic ones, are named by the princes and often escape the authority from the Pape. With the weakening of the imperial and papal authority, the empire is parcelled out in a multitude of autonomous principalities although recognizing their authority. Thus with the introduction of the Feudalism and decentralization, the circulation of the culture slows down and the general level of knowledge drops.

Paradoxical beneficial effects of plunderings

Acceleration of the change of the agricultural economics

During the reign of the first Carolingians the structure of the agricultural company changed. The frank land fields derived from antiquity used slaves like labor. The latter noninterested in the output is not very productive and is expensive in dead season. When comes peace many is the free men who choose to pose the weapons for the work of the more profitable ground. Those entrust their safety to a guard against supply of his troops or its house. Some manage to preserve their independence, but the majority yield their ground to their guard and become owners of a tenure (or manse ) for the account of this last. In the opposite direction the slaves are émancipés as serfs and become more profitable (this evolution is done of as much better than the Church condemns the slave system between Christians). The difference between free peasants and those which are not it attenuates. The introduction of the Denier of money is an enormous progress: the peasant can then sell surpluses, it becomes interesting to produce more than what it is enough to survive (after having transferred the part of the production due to the lord). The diffusion of the currency is a powerful motivation to increase the production in the agricultural domain that it is by the extension of exploited surface or the technical improvement. With this evolution, the free peasants have a productivity quite higher than the slaves who do not may find it beneficial any to produce more.

Vikings and change of the commercial economy

Lastly, the activity of plundering and piracy of the Viking S doubles of a commercial activity which becomes little by little dominating. On the one hand they must run out their spoils, and they strike currency to leave the noble metals which were thésaurisés in the plundered religious goods, this cash which is reinjected in the economy is as we saw previously a catalyst of foreground to the economic transfer in progress. In addition their maritime technological advance enables them to transport goods on long distance. They create many counters on the Européennes coasts, as far as the Mediterranean and trade until Byzance instigating thus considerably the exchanges and the economy. After to have notably disorganized the commercial exchanges, they contribute to the creation of commercial and artisanal cities like York or Dublin directly or indirectly by instigating the trade of the coastal towns and while making flee peasants towards strengthened centers. By doing this they are sédentarisent as in Normandy or Northumbrie. Lastly, their knowledge to make in naval construction is recognized and used by Europeans of north who develop also their fleet. Thus Alfred Large the having overcome Danish leaves them north east of England (Danelaw) in 897 or that Charles Simple the grants the Normandy to Rollon into 911. They are christianized, are integrated in fact into the feudal occident and become about it motive fluids which bring their knowledge. The Catalan monasteries conceal cultural treasures which they enrich in contact with the very close Muslim world. As of the medium of IXe century, the overpopulation of the mountainous regions which were used until there of refuges for the raid pushes towards the plains of the thousands of peasants who colonize the areas given up with the waste land since VIIIe century. In 985, Al-Mansur, attacks and plunders Barcelona, taking along with him of many Esclave S. the count Borell II request of the assistance to its suzerain Hugues Capet. This last not condescending to answer him, the count takes an independence in fact. Paradoxically, this event accelerates the development of Catalonia which involves the other Spanish Operating states. It must initially treat with Al-Mansur and of many Catalans enlist as mercenaries in the troops of the Caliphate. The count Borell makes rebuild the fortifications of Barcelona and organizes the defense of Catalonia. It is in this protected space that will be held the Catalan rebirth. The rectification is fast and since 1010, the crisis of the caliphate omeyyade allows the plundering of Cordoue by the Catalans. Like the Castilians, the Catalans go then, throughout XIe century, “to protect” the small Moslem kingdoms appeared on the ruins from the caliphate and the emirs de Lérida, of Tortosa and Saragossa are thus constrained to pay tribute with the count de Barcelone. The Catalan merchants furrow the Mediterranean and establish relations tightened with the close kingdoms. Splendors of the Romanesque art flower then in all Catalonia.

The Moslems made to Spain at the 8th century came in majority from agricultural mediums. The Andalusians in precursors, helped by a tax pressure favorable to the increase in the outputs and the practice of the irrigation made agriculture a science what involves an increase fulgurating in harvests and the improvement of the quality of the products on the basis of study of the grounds, the adaptation of the species cultivated to those, the use of effective natural manures, the development of the irrigation by channels… The Catalan peasants in search of liquidities rent their services as mercenaries of the caliph. Returned to Catalonia, they use the agricultural techniques known in the caliphate of Cordoue and reinject their balance in the economy. They build mills, irrigate the ground. The commercial exchanges with the caliphate increase quickly. It results a population increase and technical from it as of the end from Xe century.

The improvement of the profitability of the cultures releases from the labor for other spots. The presence of the iron lodgings of Canigou makes it possible to develop a dynamic metallurgy. The maritime trade on a delivered coast of piracy sarrasine, the development of the exchanges to the length of the shopping street which, by Perthus, connects Roussillon to Ampurdan, rebirth of markets and of boroughs, reappearance of money circulation (thanks to the gold perceived by the mercenaries and the tributes paid starting from XIe century by the small Moslem kingdoms which buy from now on the protection of the count de Barcelone), make Catalonia a commercial power in a few decades.

Economic takeoff goes hand in hand with social transformations. The weight of the military caste is reinforced and a process of feudalization takes place in Xe and XIe centuries, with the detriment of the free small farmers submitted from now on to lords increasingly more demanding. On the same moment, an active commercial middle-class is essential in the cities where it has a broad autonomy quickly. Since 1025, the count Ramon Berenguer Ier thus grants to Barcelona a charter of frankness. and the shortly after the year millet are marked, under the impulse of Ramon Berenguer Ier, by a regrouping of the various counties around the unit formed by those of Barcelona, Vich and Gérone. Second half of XIe century sees a reinforcement of the authority of the count to whom them noble must from now on lend an oath of fidelity. In 1111, the county of Barcelona increases that of Besalù, in 1117 of Cerdagne and 1132 of Roussillon.

In fact, a Catalan rebirth which precedes that of the rest of Europe starts as of the 9th century. It is especially by Spain that the Arab culture penetrates in Occident and primarily by Catalonia.

Spiritual revival vector of the rebirth

The church is not saved by the disorders of IXe and Xe century. Loads of abbots, parochial or ecclesiastical are given to the laic ones to be trained customers and the monastic discipline is slackened, the level of dark culture of the priests. The rare monasteries which preserved an irreproachable control acquire a great moral authority. This more especially as the approach of the An millet works the spirits: the Apocalypse is the crowned text which holds the most impassioned attention. One reads there that The thousand passed years, Satan, slackened its prison, from there will allure the nations in the 4 corners of the ground, Gog and Magog, and will gather them for the war, as many as the sand of the sea. . The exactions of the warriors seem to correspond to prophecy. Consequently, a particular care is put to wash its sins. In particular the just monasteries receive many donations to obtain prayers in particular postmortem. The choice of the abbots is made more and more worms of the men of a great integrity and some such Guillaume of Aquitaine go until giving autonomy and immunity to monasteries which thus elect their abbot. It was the case of Gorze, Brogne or Cluny. Other monasteries use false certificates of immunity to acquire autonomy.

Reform clunisienne

Of all, Cluny has the most impressive development and the influence. Under the cane of dynamic abbots such as Odon, Maïeul or Odilon, the abbey involves other monasteries which are attached to him and constitutes soon a very powerful order (in 994 the Ordre of Cluny account already 34 convents). One of the great forces of Cluny east to recruit a good part as of the her members and particularly its abbots in the high aristocracy: Bernon (909-927) belongs to the aristocracy of the county of Burgundy, Odon (927-942) to an big family of Touraine, Mayeul (948-994) to the family of Provence of Valensole, Odilon de Mercoeur (994-1048) with a chalk-lining comtal of Auvergne, Hugues de Semur (1049-1109) is the brother-in-law of the duke capétien of Burgundy and his/her niece will marry the king de Castille Alphonse VI, Pons de Melgueil (1109-1122) is related to the counts d' Auvergne and of Toulouse, Pierre de Montboissier, known as the Worthy one (1122-1156), is resulting from a seigneuriale family of Auvergne. Aymard (942-948) is the only abbot resulting from a modest milieu.

Institutional side, one develops the autonomy of the monastery. Guillaume of Aquitaine concedes a villa to them, economic force important, on which the Abbaye will form its seigniory with its own bonds vassalic. As of its foundation, she is considered free of the bishop (who at that time can be laic and is named by the local prince) but directly related to the pope. In 931, the pope allows the monastery to accept monks come besides. The abbot is elected by the monks who are not " subjected to the yoke of any terrestrial power, neither of us, neither of our parents, nor of the royal size; that no secular prince, neither count, neither bishop, nor even the pontiff romain". The abbey is withdrawn from the laic capacities.

The example of Cluny will allure other monasteries and will be used as example: In second half of Xe century, one passes to a network of communities directly related to Cluny. They will be priories, initially room and regional, then in the whole of the southernmost world. It is then a political clout and a communication network which exceeds the principalities and on which the sovereigns and the saint seat will be able to rest to build States and structured Europe.

Cluny reaches its final rise at the 11th century. She is finally regarded as a monastic order with whole share, her branches being completely autonomous. She is regarded as an international political report/ratio. At the end of the century, 1.000 monasteries are bound to him, and in lower part, the priories.

Other orders such that of Gorze had a similar evolution, without having the same structure hierarchy and the same political power. In the final analysis these orders have a great political influence and will exploit the nomination of powerful monarchs able to structure Europe politically. Thus Hugues Capet will be elected thanks to Adalbéron the bishop of Rheims which comes from the Abbaye of Gorze. Same manner it is thanks to supports clunisiens that Hugues Capet will be able to sit his capacity.

The movement of the Peace of God

These religious orders with the political power and the spiritual influence increasingly powerful, will be able to launch the movements of the Paix of God and the Truce of God. The dissolution of the Carolingian empire in multiple principalities, weakened the temporal power considerably. In fact the church can take an influence of first order. Its grounds being threatened by the nobility of which one of the primary sources of income is plundering, it works to channel the knights brigands as of the end of the 10th century. Starting from the council of Charroux in 989, the men-at-arms are requested to put their power at the service of the poor and the church and become militate Christ (Soldiers of Christ). This is made possible by the monetarisation and the reform of agriculture: it becomes more profitable to take taxes on its grounds against protection than to plunder. These measurements have a stabilizing effect very favorable to the establishment of new exploitations and the development of the trade.

Pilgrimages

To support the conversion of the pagan populations, the worship of the saints and thus of the Relic S.A. highly encouraged as of the Life century. The possession of relics by the monasteries and other religious buildings is very run because the surge of pilgrims whom they involve is source of important benefit like on the commercial main roads (large river basins like those of the Rhone, Po, the Garonne, the Loire or of the Seine) that Cluny extends its influence at that time.

Spirituality clunisienne being based on the restoration of the Rule bénédictine, the activity of the monks is directed towards the prayer, the office choral, meditation and work with the workshops of copy. Consequently, Cluny cumulating number of scriptoriae and presence on the ways of exchanges has one of the richest libraries of occident.

The road of the Pèlerinage of Saint-Jacques-to-Compostelle makes it possible to fix on paper and to transmit to the remainder of the order in all Europe, the knowledge transmitted by the contacts with Moslem civilization in Spain. This point is particularly well illustrated by Gerbert d' Aurillac, which will improve its knowledge in mathematics in the Catalan monasteries, before diffusing Arab classification in Europe (it is écolâtre in Rheims then tutor of the Ottoniens Emperors). Same manner the pilgrimages towards increasingly practiced Rome and the Holy Land contribute to the exchanges of informations. Progressively of the population growth the number of pilgrims multiplies: in 1025 700 pilgrims come from the Rhenish area and Normandy whose counts of Angouleme and Déols go out of Holy Land. In 1065 they are between 7000 and 12000!

See also: Islamic Civilization, the Middle Ages #Échanges with Islamic civilization, Sciences and Al-Andalus technology

Geographical and political recombining

At the 10th century, Europe is divided into principalities, very autonomous with respect to the central capacities. The princes directly naming their bishops, papacy just like the royal and imperial crowns are very weakened. It is necessary to await the sacring of Othon Ier into 936 to find a strong capacity with the head of the Empire saint. Sign of a reaffirmation of the royal presence: the legislative decisions multiply by five during its reign. The royalty remains elective, but Othon manages to make pass to the capacity to his/her son then his grandson.

In fact the kings and the pope have convergent interests and will have to be combined to recreate political and religious entities centralized. The pope Jean XII concludes a religious reform as well as a vigorous territorial expansion policy. Against the king of Italy, Berenger, it asks for the assistance of Otton Ier, king de Germanie, and heir of rights on Italy by his marriage with Adélaïde of Burgundy. Jean XII crowns it emperor on February 2nd, 962. In exchange, after grinds negotiations, Otton grants the `' Privilegium Ottonianum'', confirmation of the Donation of Pip: the Emperor recognizes the Papal States (wide until the Byzantine areas) in exchange of an oath of fidelity of the pope, freely elected, with the imperial representatives.

The seizure of Otton obstructs Jean XII however, which ties contacts with Adalbert, wire of Béranger, like with Byzance: it takes again the tradition, abandoned as of Adrien Ier (772-795), to go back its acts as from the years to reign of the Byzantine emperors. Furious, Otton returns to Rome and Jean must flee. The Emperor convenes a synod which considers the pope guilty of apostasy, homicide, perjury and inceste. He deposits it on December 4th, 963, which constitutes an innovation for an assembly of bishops. Jean XII is replaced by laic, the protoscriniaire, which takes the name of Leon VIII. Otton modifies its privilege: from now on, the pontifical election must be sanctioned by imperial approval.

Thus Ottoniens make elect into 999 one of their close relation: Gerbert d' Aurillac, future Sylvestre II tutor of the son of Othon II (Othon III). That Ci supports the creation of structured states: it influenced the election of Hugues Capet, then created the crowns of Hungary and Poland.

During the 11th century the Norman ones will be at the origin via military conquests of the creation of England and kingdom of Naples.

Opening of the occident on the Mediterranean

When Othon Ier makes control on Italy of north at the 10th century, the commercial chart is upset: the saint worsens has a Mediterranean access. At that time of commercial great powers the Mediterranean protected by powerful fleets furrows. The Vikings are present and trade in all the basin since the 10th century. Venice which is an autonomous region (and in fact independent) of Byzance is already a commercial and maritime great power. The Moors are present in Provence (they established a counter with the Garde Freinet in the solid mass of the Moors).

The merchants of all Mediterranean can use the wearing of Italy of north to trade with the Saint Worsens. Consequently Genoa occupies an ideal position. While growing rich the merchants génois in their own fleet then they will be able to invest to even trade in all Mediterranean. Amalfi and Pisa follow similar evolutions.

In 1016, Pisa and Genoa are combined to push back Buckwheats by conquering Corsica and Sardinia, and thus to take the control of the very whole Tyrrhenian Sea. Consequently the Italian maritime powers and particularly Venice and Genoa gradually will take the control of the Mediterranean. After its conquest by the Norman ones supported by Génois in 1072, Sicily becomes the cradle of a mixed culture arabo-Norman where the ideas circulate freely. The crusades still widen the zone of exchange commercial and cultural with the Arab world, him even in contact with the Indien world and Far East.

Actors of the rebirth

Borell II

It directs the County of Barcelona, which is more culturally points of it western world at the 10th century. Indeed, the Spanish libraries inherited the kingdom wisigothic were enriched by knowledge by the Christians Mozarabs fleeing persecutions by Al-mansur. The count, astonished by intellectual faculties by Gerbert d' Aurillac, it takes it along into 967 to perfect his knowledge in Catalonia. In 970 it presents it to the pope Jean XIII and to the emperor Othon Ier, Gerbert will continue its rise which carries out it until the saint sits. After the bag of Barcelona by Al-Mansur in 985, Catalonia take its independence and gives the means of defending oneself. In parallel the dissensions within the Caliphate of Cordoue involve one period of favourable stability. Catalonia will experience an important technical, demographic and cultural development. This cultural push is propagated in Europe via the monastic networks and the ways of pilgrimage (holy Jacques de Compostelle) and commercial (Barcelona is a port open on the Mediterranean).

Ottoniens

Othon Ier is crowned king de Germanie into 936. At that time, Europe is divided into principality and the sovereigns have a limited capacity. But Othon has sufficient power military to put at the step the dukes of Bavaria, Franconie and Loraine as of 938. It puts an end to the Hungarian threat into 955 with the battle of Lechfeld. It follows the same strategy that Charlemagne and is posed as a guard of Rome which is once more threatened by the Italians of north. February 2nd, 962, in Rome, it is crowned emperor of the Romans by the pope Jean XII and is made control on Italy of North. It controls the elections with the saint sits which are submitted for its approval. It manages the nomination of the Bishops (of which the load is not hereditary) what enables him to control its empire without dividing it. It allows the introduction of a dynasty while making crown his son Otton II the Russet-red one as of 967.

Impressed by knowledge of Gerbert d' Aurillac which was presented to him by the count Borell II, he entrusts to him the education of Othon II. The idea to join together the Occident and Byzantine Empires makes its way and in 972, it Marie Otton II with the Byzantine princess Théophano.

Otton II does not have same military qualities that his father but he manages to maintain the unit of the empire which develops culturally and commercially. These incursions in France and into the south of Italy are failures. He dies in 28 years into 983.

In 983, Otton III is yet only one child and is unable to reign. The prince Henri the Quarreller benefits from this weakness to remove it and try to be made allot his supervision. But Willigis, the archbishop of Mainz, supported by the other large ones, condemns this usurpation and imposes to the Régence his/her mother the Byzantine princess Théophano. After the death of this one, in 991, it is Adélaïde, grandmother of the emperor, who will ensure his supervision.

In 995, Otton is major and seizes officially the power; he dreams to found a universal empire which would bring together initially all the Christian people of Occident. He intervenes in the businesses of the Église while making place his Brunon cousin on the the Holy See: it is about Gregoire V, first Germanic pope of origin. This last crowns it emperor the May 21st 996 and Otton installs its court with Rome. Under the pontificate and with the assistance of Sylvestre II, it approached the Poland and forwarded to Etienne of Hungary the first royal crown of this country. But they were soon driven out Eternal City by the population and the attempt to link the temporal power and the spiritual power in Rome will turn short. Otton dies very young person of disease and its body is brought back from Italy to Germany by its close relations.

The abbots clunisiens

The abbey of Cluny and its model develop of as much better which is directed by a series of particularly brilliant abbots: the abbots Bernon, Odon, Mayeul (which refuses the papal function in 973), Odilon de Mercœur (which advances the idea of the Truce of God which will metamorphose the knighthood), Hugues de Semur and Pons de Melgueil (these 2 last play a leading role in the quarrel of the nominations and its resolution), follows and increases constantly the prestige and the political power of their kind. The order of Cluny to a cultural and political role of foreground to Xe and XIe centuries: The movement of the truce of God by channeling the knighthood towards a constructive role allows the development of the company. The political power of Cluny will allow the genesis of capable states structured to control the overflows of the nobility.

Gerbert d' Aurillac

The pope Sylvestre II is regarded as the man more cultivated of his time. He has an major importance on the political changes and cultural which touch Europe of the year millet. Gerbert d' Aurillac is of origin modest. Young Shepherd whose intelligence is noticed is educated by the monks of Saint Géraud d' Aurillac. He studies there the disciplines of the trivium (grammar and rhetoric) in the modernistic spirit of Cluny. He is presented to the count de Barcelone Borell II which enables him to reinforce its knowledge in mathematics and philosophy in Catalonia (Where the monasteries at the border of the Muslim world unknown knowledge of the remainder of the occident contains). He has an exceptional culture for his time. He becomes écolâtre in Rheims. He reintroduces the Liberal arts, and particularly the quadrivium, which was not taught almost any more in the monasteries. The occident owes him also the reintroduction of ancient works of authors (Aristote, Boèce…), of arithmetic (it transmits the Arab numerals, the zero and invents the abacus of Gerbert)… It should be known that these contributions are considerable because to calculate with Roman numerals was very difficult.

It supports the introduction of great dynasties which will allow the presence of strong and structured States, obtaining exchanges some that those are pressed on the Church. During the designation of Hugues Capet as king of France, he had already played a part to advise important near Adalbéron the bishop of Laon (of which he was it teaching in Gorze). The capétiens bring the end of the progressive division of the kingdom of France which choked the Carolingian rebirth. But their capacity is still weak. Its immense culture is recognized and he becomes the tutor of the future monarchs Othon III and Robert the Piles. He becomes pope into 999 under the name of Sylvestre II thanks to the support of the Ottoniens Emperors and flies to the help of the capétiens: Robert II of France had been put in conflict with the pope Gregoire V by repudiating the queen for Berthe of Burgundy (what posed a problem of consanguinity). In fact, this connection worried Otton III because Robert the piles would have received the duchy and told of Burgundy at the time of this marriage, but most of this territory belonged to the Empire saint. Gregoire V is the cousin of the Emperor. The king was under the threat of a Excommunication and the kingdom of interdict. Sylvestre II having affection for his former student, commutes the sorrow to a seven years penitence. He thus reinforces the base of the capétiens on the throne and contributes to the establishment of a strong dynasty in France. During its pontificate, it allots the title of king to the Christian sovereigns of Poland and Hungary. He dies in Rome the May 12th 1003 after four years of one pontificate at the end of which Europe is transformed: It now consists of structured and increasingly powerful States which will allow the restarting of the cultural push started the Carolingian rebirth. Drawing their legitimacy in the support of Rome, these sovereigns will ratify in return the role of Papacy in medieval Europe.

Effects

Agricultural progress and population growth

The networks of monasteries make it possible to diffuse the agricultural techniques in all Europe. The major part of the monks is Convers what makes it possible to diffuse this knowledge in the neighbouring villages.

the introduction of the Fallow, then the three-year rotation make it possible to increase the productivity of agriculture.
the outputs improve thanks to the diffusion of tools out of iron and with rise of the Charrue.
technique of attachment: the collar of shoulders replaces the “collar of neck” and makes it possible to draw from the heavier loads, to plow less easy grounds and to dig deeper furrows.

These improvements involve a very considerable population growth: One considers that between 950 and 1300 that the European population doubled and in certain areas triplet. The increase in the population involves immense Défrichement S and drainings of marshes which make it possible to extend the surface cultivateds. That makes it possible to increase the agricultural production further and thus to nourish more mouths.

Urban development

The development of the agricultural productivity, will allow the orientation of part of the labor towards other spots (artisanal, commercial, artistic or spiritual accelerating the exchange of ideas and thus the rebirth). The sale of the surpluses will make it possible some to become tradesmen. Sometimes enrichment makes it possible the Serf S to buy their stamping. Thus creates for itself a new made up social class craftsmen and merchants. Those Ci settle in the suburbs of the old episcopal cities or in the new castraux boroughs (Villeneuves or Villefranches on which Capétiens will base a capacity escaping the local nobility). In addition, the increase in the breeding will make it possible to develop the craft industry of wool and leather, which leads gradually to specialization economic like certain zones: England for the production of wool, Flandres and Italy for the textile… . The sculpture becomes “monumental”. It has a teaching virtue, that to teach the life of the apostles and saints, to illustrate passages of the Old Testament. It takes as a starting point the low-reliefs and the Roman capitals but especially by the images placed in the enluminés manuscripts and on the objects of goldsmithery.

sculpture on capital: it is diffused as from the Year Millet, even if its beginnings were timid: in the Italian churches of first half of XIe century is included the Corinthian model, more or less stylized (capital with palmettes). Other places (Burgundy, Catalonia) try out the capitals with interlacing and sheets of acanthus. But soon, the anthropomorphic animals and figures appear, even if they remain rare before 1050 (Abbaye of the Saint-Benoit-on-Loire). The Basilique Saint-Sernin of Toulouse (second half of XIe century) preserves 260 Romance capitals.

The principal known sculptors of the Romance time are:

in France: Main of Cabestany, Bernard Gilduin, Gislebert
in Italy: Willigelmo, Niccolo and Antelami

In relation to the development of the worship of the Relic S, the goldsmiths produce Reliquaire S and Châsse S of great quality. At the time Romance, the revival of the Sacrament S and the worship of the relics cause a rise of religious goldsmithery.

Works in sumptuary matter,
topics hagiographic,
workshops mosans and of Limoges dominating,
Châsses which reproduce the churches in miniature.

On the whole

The Rebirth ottono-clunisienne is a restarting of the Carolingian Rebirth when a strong capacity into Germanic appears at the 10th century. Knowledge is conveyed by monastic networks which federate in orders. Politically this period is marked by the introduction of states structured in all Europe. The restoration of the communications in Europe will allow knowledge and the culture to be propagated again. The contacts with the Muslim world via the Spanish operating states and the Mediterranean which is conquered by the maritime powers incipient Italians, will lead to a cultural correction. The whole of its factors leads to a population increase, technical and cultural (appearance of the Romanesque art). It will be prolonged well beyond the 11th century and develops as from the 12th century. The modernization of the company where the cities take importance more and more led to the progressive fall of the Féodal capacity and the introduction of a more and more centralized royal capacity. The cities will take more and more importance and of autonomy in Europe.

See also: XIIe century: the old one of gold of the medieval occident

See too

Sources and bibliography

Marc Girot, De Charlemagne with feudality , site of the IUFM of Creteil
Jean Chélini, the big hit of the pilgrimages , Crusade Historia set of themes, n°95, May-June 2005
Philippe Conrad. origins of Catalonia, the walk of Carolingian Spain in the county of Barcelona , Clio.net: *David Maso. Barcelona, city of the paradoxes , Clio.fr: *Le Xe century and its changes , www.cliohist.net: * Jean-François Mangin. monastic Development during the Carolingians : * Gerbert d' Aurillac becomes Sylvestre II , Herodote.net

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