Essentials In Mediaeval History: From Charlemagne To The Close Of The Fifteenth Century (1909)

ESSENTIALS HISTORY FROM CHARLEMAGNE TO THE CLOSE OF THE FIFTEENTH CENTURY BY SAMUEL BANNISTER HARDING, PH. D. PROFESSOIl OF EUROPEAN IIIHTOKY, INDIANA UNIVERSITY IN CONSULTATION WITH ALBERT BUSHNELL HART, LL. D. PRO PUS SO It OF HISTORY, 11AHVAUU LTNIVKKBITY NEW YORK - CINCINNATI CHICAGO AMERICAN BOOK COMPANY THE EMPEROR CHARLEMAGNE. PREFACE Iisr a large number of colleges, the first course in European history consists of a general survey of mediaeval and modern history and with the increased acceptance by secondary schools of the programme in history prepared by the Com mittee of Seven of the American Historical Association, it is becoming feasible to begin such a course with the time of Charlemagne. Even with this limitation, however, it is still a problem, in many institutions, how to cover in the limited time at the disposal of the instructor the many topics which such a course should comprise. Especially is this the case now that the best authorities wisely enough are insisting upon a fuller and more detailed treatment of more recent history, that included let us say within the limits of the last century and a half. The great problem is, then, how to com press the earlier part of the course so as to give adequate time for the more vital things nearer our own day. One way which has been proposed for accomplishing this is the elimination of a great deal of what is usually taught concerning the political history of the Middle Ages. One advocate of this method proposes the heroic policy of skipping directly from Charlemagne to. Otto I. The author of this book believes heartily in the principle underlying this proposal, though he doubts the wisdom of its literal application. By carefulselection of the facts to be taught, and placing them in text-book form in the hands of students, he believes that it is possible to accomplish the needful economy of time, while sacrificing little of the continuity of the history, or of the just MI D. quot 5 6 PREFACE apprehension of the fundamental features of mediaeval life and institutions. It is to meet such a need, in elementary college classes in mediaeval history, that this book is issued in this form. It is perhaps needless to say that it is not expected that the book will comprise the whole of the instruction . given, even in an elementary course, in this field. Formal and informal lec tures by the instructor, collateral reading in the books referred to at the close of the chapters, the use of a source book such as that prepared by Ogg or by Ilobinson, the preparation of maps to fix geographical facts, and of occasional essays or reports to broaden here and there the narrow trail of classroom instruction, all these are presxipposed as means of eqxial if not greater value than the text-book itself. The book affords what it is hoped - will be found to be a clear, scholarly, com pact outline, which can be filled in in various ways. Its aim is to be accurate in substance and definite in statement, to seize the vital and interesting facts, and as far as possible to give that concreteness of treatment which is necessary in deal ing with matters so remote and alien as those which fill the history of the Middle Ages. These are the ideas which underlie this little book, and it is hoped that its chapters may be as successful elsewhere, as a basis for Freshman instruction in mediaeval history, as they l ave already proved to be inIndiana University. BLOOMINGTON, INDIANA. CONTENTS JPA. G L Introduction the World in the Year 800 ..,11 EMPIRE AND PAPACY II. The Empire of Charlemagne 768-814 . . . .82 III. The Later Carolingian Empire 814-911 and the Feudal System 45 IV. Successors of the Carolingians in Germany and France . 63 V. The Church in the Middle Ages VI. The Franconian Emperors, Hildebrand, and the Investi ture Conflict 1024-1125 98 AGE OF THE CRUSADES VII. The Christian and Mohammedan East, and the First Cru sade 1096-1099 114 VIII. The Later Crusades 1099-1291 129 IX...