UNIT 1 The Early Middle Ages Germanic kingdoms

UNIT 1: The Early Middle Ages. Germanic kingdoms and the Byzantine Empire Geography & History 2ºESO

1. The Middle Ages. Stages and civilisations. 1. 1 The Early Middle Ages and its stages. • 3 rd century: Germanic tribes began infiltrating the Roman Empire • 395: Theodosius divided the empire into two parts – Western Roman Empire (capital Rome) – Eastern Roman Empire (capital Constantinople) • Different historical path. – Western Roman Empire • It suffered invasions from germanic tribes and was losing territories. • Finally, in 476 it fell into the hands of the Heruli and disappeared. – Eastern Roman Empire • It survived to the invasions. • Lasted until 1453 defeated by the Turks. • MIDDLE AGES STAGES – Early Middle Ages – 5 th c. (476) - 10 th c. – High Middle Ages – 11 th -13 th c. – Late Middle Ages – 14 th – 15 th c. (1476 or 1492)

1. The Middle Ages. Stages and civilisations. 1. 2 Medieval civilisations • Orthodox Chistianity – Byzantine Empire – Roman traditions but with greek language – They do not recognise the religious primacy of the Pope of Rome. • Latin Christendom – Roman Catholic Christian religión – Pope as the leader of the Church – Many different kingdoms: Feudal Monarchies. • Visigoths, Franks, Holy Roman Empire, etc. • Islam – – New religion from the preaching of Mahoma 7 th century Arabia Its followers were called Muslims

2. The Byzantine Empire (I) General Characteristics. 2. 1 Historical Evoluction • From the 5 th century, different periods. – 6 th c. • The empire reach its peak (period of splendor) • Emperor Justinian I – He wanted to restore the old Roman Empire – Conquered the territories of north Africa, Italy and the south of the Iberian peninsula. – They were lost upon his death. – 7 th c. • Muslims conquered the richest provinces. • Period of crisis. – Middle of the 11 th century on… • Deep crisis • The turks conquered Constantinople in 1453. End of the empire.

2. The Byzantine Empire (I) General Characteristics. 2. 2 Government and administration. • Emperor – All the power – Title of Basileus • Administration – Civil servants – Legistation based in Roman law. – Corpus Iuris Civilis: Code of laws compiled and upgraded by Justinian I • Territorial administration – Territory organised into provinces – Provinces governed by a political and military head.

2. The Byzantine Empire (I) General Characteristics. 2. 3 The Byzantine economy • Agriculture – – It was the basis of the economy Latifundia: Large properties of land. Owners: monasteries, nobles. Workers: serfs • Cafts – Luxury articles • Commerce – Benefitted from the strategic position of Constantinople. • Between Europe and Asia. • Between The Mediterranean and the Black sea.

3. The Byzantine Empire (II). Society and art. 3. 1 Byzantine society • Organised into three levels – Upper class (owners of latifundia, ocuppied high positions in government) • Aristocracy • High-ranking Church officials – Middle class • Wealthy businessmen • Free farmers – Lower class • Serfs • Slaves

3. The Byzantine Empire (II). Society and art. 3. 2 The Church and its problems. • Great power and influence – Crowned the emperor – It held large latifundia – Great influence in population (it controlled the spiritual aspects) • It faced two problems – Iconoclastic controversy • Emperors vs Church • The emperor prohibited the icons (to reduce the power of the church) • The icons were finally accepted. – East-West Schism • Rivalry between th Patriarch of Constantinople and the Pope of Rome. ¿Who was the head of the Church? • 1054: Separation of the Eastern and the Western Church • Eastern Church= Orthodox Church Evangelization of the Slavic tribes.

3. The Byzantine Empire (II). Society and art. 3. 3 Byzantine art. • Architecture – Poor materials (brick) – Supports • • Columns Semicircular arches Flat or vaulted ceilings. Pendentives – Main building: church. – Plan • Rectangular/ Square/ Octagonal/Greek cross. – Examples: Hagia Sophia. • Mosaics – Decoration of the walls and domes (interior) – Examples: Mosaic of Justinian and his wife Theodora • Icon – Religious images on boards decorated with gold leaf.

4. The settlement of the Germanic tribes in the West. 4. 1 The Germanic Kingdoms. • After the disappearence of the Western Roman Empire Germanic Kingdoms. • Most important ones: Franks and Visigoths. • Other Germanic Kindoms – Ostrogoths • Italy. • King Theodoric. • Conquered by the Byzantine empire (Justinian I) – Lombards • North of Italy • Powerful kingdom • Lasted two centuries. – Angles and Saxons • England

4. The settlement of the Germanic tribes in the West. 4. 2 The consequences of the settlement • Political consequences – Disappeareance of the Western Roman Empire. – Fragmentation of the territory into small independent kingdoms. • Economic consequences – Process of ruralisation: process of change from an urban economy (crafts and commerce) to a rural economy (agriculture and livestock) • Workshops and commerce almost dissapeared. – Autarchy: self-sufficient economy (no commerce) • Social consequences – New elite: germanic peoples – Middle class lost importance – Serfs and slaves multiplied • Cultural consequences – Period of crisis – Knowledge was reduce to isolated places: monasteries.

5. The Germanic Kingdoms (I). The Visigoths. 5. 1. Historical evolution • Visigoths settled in the Roman privince of Gaul – Pact with the Roman Empire • Visigoths governed the region in exchange of defending it from attacks by other tribes. KINGDOM OF TOULOUSE (415 -507) • Both sides of the Pyrenees • Capital in Toulouse • Heyday with Euric • Battle of Vouillé (507) • Franks defeated the Visigoths • Alaric II died • Visigoths move to the Iberian Peninsula. KINGDOM OF TOLEDO (507 -711) • Capital in Toledo • Leovigild • Conquered the entire Iberian Peninsula • Reccared • Converted to Catholicism in the third Coulcil of Toledo. • Battle of Guadalete (711) • Muslims conquered the Iberian Peninsula • End of Visigothic Kingdom

5. The Germanic Kingdoms (I). The Visigoths. 5. 2. The way of life of the VIsigoths • Political organisation – – Elective monarchy weaker monarchy Aula Regia • Council for advising the King • Composed of nobles and important ecclesiastics • Economy – – • Centred on agriculture Latifundia in the hands of the nobility and Church. Society – – Upper class • Nobles • High level clergy (bishops and abbots) Lower class • Small landowners • Latifundia workers • Craftsmen • Merchans • Serfs • Culture – – • Impoverished In the hands of the Church Art – – Small churches Horseshoe arch.

6. The Germanic Kingoms (II). The Franks and the Caroligian Empire. 6. 1 Historical evolution. From kingdom to empire. • Franks settled in the Roman province of Gaul (after the Visigoths). – Merovigian dinasty • Founded by Clovis. – Caroligian dinasty • Pepin the Short – Founded the dinasty. • Carlegmagne – – – Pepin´s son. Period of greatness Wanted to re-established the old Roman Empire Conquered a lot of territories in central Europe Was crowned emperor by Pope Leo III (800) • Louis the Pious – Charlemagne´s son. – After his dead, the empire was divided between his three children.

6. The Germanic Kingoms (II). The Franks and the Caroligian Empire. 6. 2. The Caroligian way of life. • Government – Emperor • Territorial administration – Counties • Count • Interior provinces – Marches • Marquis • Defensive borderland provinces • It had a powerful army. • Economy – Based on agriculture – Latifundia belonged to the aristocracy and Church. – Urban activities declined – Commerce was limited to luxury items to the rich and powerful people. • Society – Higher class • Nobles • High ranking ecclesiastics – Middle class • Farmers • Craftsmen • Merchants – Lower class • Serfs: bound to work They could not leave the land without permission.

6. The Germanic Kingoms (II). The Franks and the Caroligian Empire. 6. 3. Culture and art • Cultural reinassance – During the period of Charlemagne – Capital of the empire in Aachen. – Alcuin of York.