Oct 22, 2026 · 46 min · 8 segments
Two wildly different cultures, two wildly different approaches to survival. Yet, recounted by the right author, and delivered by the right voice (mine), stultifying. Welcome to *Textbook Sleep*, the…
chapter four the revival of commerce the end of the ninth century was the moment when the economic development of western europe that followed the closing of the mediterranean was at its lowest ebb not an era of recovery was at least an era of stabilization and relative peace the surrender of normandy to rollo marked in the west the end of the great Scandinavian invasions, while in the east Henry the Fowler and Otto I checked and held the Slavs along the Elbe and the Hungarians in the valley of the Danube.
At the same time, the feudal system, which had definitely displaced the monarchy, was established in France on the debris of the old Carolinian order.
On their side, they had the powerful influence of the bishops and used it to restore the ascendancy of the monarchy.
In assuming the title of Roman Emperor, they laid claim to the universal authority which Charlemagne had exercised.
If all this was not accomplished without bitter conflicts, nevertheless it was decidedly productive of good.
She recovered confidence in the future, and with that confidence, courage and ambition.
The date of the renewal of a cooperative activity on the part of the people might well be ascribed to the 10th century.
At that date, likewise, the social authorities began once more to acquit themselves in the role which it was their place to play.
From now on, in feudal as well as in episcopal principalities, the first traces could be seen of an organized effort to better the condition of the people.
The prime need of that era, hardly rising above anarchy, was the need of peace, the most fundamental and the most essential of all the needs of society.
Dark though the prospect still was, the 10th century nevertheless saw in outline the picture which the 11th century presents.
The famous legend of the terrors of the year 1000 is not devoid, in this respect, of symbolic significance.
Yet the century which came in at that date is characterized, in contrast with the preceding one, by a recrudescence of activity so marked that it could pass for the vigorous and joyful awakening of a society long oppressed by a nightmare of anguish.
In every place it was to be seen the same burst of energy, and for that matter of optimism.
The church, revivified by the Clunzian reform, undertook to purify herself of the abuses which had crept into her discipline and to shake off the bondage in which the emperors held her.
The military spirit of feudalism led her to initiate and succeed in epic undertakings.
Norman knights went to battle with Byzantines and Moslems in southern Italy and founded there the principalities out of which was later to arise the kingdom of Sicily.
chapter four the revival of commerce the end of the ninth century was the moment when the economic development of western europe that followed the closing of the mediterranean was at its lowest ebb not an era of recovery was at least an era of stabilization and relative peace the surrender of normandy to rollo marked in the west the end of the great Scandinavian invasions, while in the east Henry the Fowler and Otto I checked and held the Slavs along the Elbe and the Hungarians in the valley of the Danube.
At the same time, the feudal system, which had definitely displaced the monarchy, was established in France on the debris of the old Carolinian order.
On their side, they had the powerful influence of the bishops and used it to restore the ascendancy of the monarchy.
In assuming the title of Roman Emperor, they laid claim to the universal authority which Charlemagne had exercised.
If all this was not accomplished without bitter conflicts, nevertheless it was decidedly productive of good.
She recovered confidence in the future, and with that confidence, courage and ambition.
The date of the renewal of a cooperative activity on the part of the people might well be ascribed to the 10th century.
At that date, likewise, the social authorities began once more to acquit themselves in the role which it was their place to play.
From now on, in feudal as well as in episcopal principalities, the first traces could be seen of an organized effort to better the condition of the people.
The prime need of that era, hardly rising above anarchy, was the need of peace, the most fundamental and the most essential of all the needs of society.
Dark though the prospect still was, the 10th century nevertheless saw in outline the picture which the 11th century presents.
The famous legend of the terrors of the year 1000 is not devoid, in this respect, of symbolic significance.
Yet the century which came in at that date is characterized, in contrast with the preceding one, by a recrudescence of activity so marked that it could pass for the vigorous and joyful awakening of a society long oppressed by a nightmare of anguish.
In every place it was to be seen the same burst of energy, and for that matter of optimism.
The church, revivified by the Clunzian reform, undertook to purify herself of the abuses which had crept into her discipline and to shake off the bondage in which the emperors held her.
The military spirit of feudalism led her to initiate and succeed in epic undertakings.
Norman knights went to battle with Byzantines and Moslems in southern Italy and founded there the principalities out of which was later to arise the kingdom of Sicily.
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