The Early Middle Ages

1. The Early Middle Ages 330 CE to 1000 CE (very approximately)

2. Dark Ages Gibbon’s book The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire (1788)set the tone Roman/ Greek civilization was best Barbarians were forces of darkness No culture or unified society in Europe Middle Ages Newer understanding Medium aevium – latin for middle age Source of English word medieval Seen as a time of change rather than decline Society is fragmented – local cultures flourish Dark Ages or Middle Ages?

3. The Byzantine Empire

4. Legacy of Rome • Language, laws, culture spread rapidly after Roman rule • Roman model of government • Military governors, bureaucracy • Imperial army (mercenaries) • Taxes and monopolies

5. Pope (means father) Bishops of Rome Independent of military Patriarch (means father) Bishops of Constantinople Under firm control of Emperor of Byzantium The Church in Control St. John Chrysostom Patriarch of Constantinople b.344 d.404 CE Pope Gregory of Rome b.540 d.604 CE

6. Heresy and Heretics Magic Soothsaying Astrology • Heresy • holding beliefs that contradict the official religion • Established with the Nicene Creed in 325 11th Century Zodiac Council of Nicaea 9th century Greek Testament

7. Theodosius on Heresy • We command that those persons who follow this rule [belief in the single Deity of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit] shall embrace the name of Catholic Christians. The rest, however, whom we adjudge demented and insane, shall sustain the infamy of heretical dogmas … and they shall be smitten first by divine vengeance and secondly by the retribution of Our own initiative, which We shall assume in accordance with the divine judgment. • Emperor Theodosius 380 CE

8. Unity through Christianity Suppressed all heretics including: Monophysites - Christ has a single divine nature Arians – Christ and Holy Spirit are secondary gods, mediating between Father and world Unity through military conquest Recaptured Rome in 554 Justinian the Great ruled 527-565 CE

9. Justinian Code • Codified all Roman laws in the Justinian Code or “Body of Civil Law” • Basis of all law even today Mosaic of Justinian in San Vitale, Ravenna

10. Empress Theodora • Appropriate? • Plebian not Patrician • Former actress • Justinian had law changed so he could marry her • Monophysite • Never gave up her beliefs • Legal changes • Prevent sale of girls • Reformed divorce laws to protect women

11. Nika Riots • Nika = victory • Anger turns into rebellion • Rebels proclaim new emperor – city on fire • Theodora’s speech • Justinian kills rebels in Hippodrome The Purple makes a fine winding sheet - Empress Theodora

12. Greek Language • After Justinian-565 CE • Greek becomes common language of Byzantium • Latin in western empire • Another end of Roman Empire Song of Seikilos Found in Byzantium, dated to 100 CE Be, as long as you live, a sunshine, do not be sad. Cause life is surely short, and time demands its toll

13. Iconoclastic Controversy • Iconoclasts • Image destroyers • 730 CE • emperor bars icons • persecutes worshippers • destroys 700 years of art • 787 CE • images re-established • 815 CE • banned again • 843 CE • icons restored for good Page from the iconoclastic psalter 9th century

14. Church Was granted favours by Roman Emperors/Kings land exemption from taxes immunity in courts positions in courts In return church helped kings secure control of territory Kings Got a supply of educated administrators from Church In return kings would enforce laws that prohibited other religions Church and Kings

15. Monasticism and Saints • Monasteries grew 400 -700 CE • centres of education, literacy and learning • Rule of St. Benedict • Reformed conduct • Saints • performs miracles as evidence of a special relationship with God • Must be canonized after death • St. Augustine • wrote “Confessions” • ideas of ethics, self knowledge, and the role of free will • Wrote treatise allowing violence against heretics – the “just war”

16. MerovingiansLong Haired Kings • Clovis I - 481 CE • United Franks & expanded territory • Converted to & spread Christianity • Built churches & monasteries • Salic Law • Financial value to everyone • Trial by oath and ordeal • Art • Metalwork, Cloisonne enamel • Glasswork and ivory carvings • Illuminated manuscripts • Decline – mid 7th century • Kings became figureheads

17. Carolingian Dynasty • Charles Martel (the Hammer) • Mayor, not king • More powerful than kings • Expands empire of Franks • Pepin the Short (son of Martel) • Pope Leo declares him king • Pepin seizes land for Pope • now Papal states • Establishes • Pope as King-maker • Kings as protectors of Papacy

18. Charlemagne & Holy Roman Empire • Charlemagne – ruled 771-814 CE • Restores Pope Leo III to power • Leo crowns him Emperor of the Romans 800 CE • Holy Roman Empire • Includes much of Europe for 700 years

19. Charlemagne’s Legacies • Church Reforms • New liturgy & Latin Bible translations • Sermons in vernacular • Preachingmanuals Impact • Latin common language of empire • The most scholarship since Rome • Scholarship • Latin standard, new textbooks, new pronunciation • Carolingian miniscule

20. After Charlemagne End of the Holy Roman Empire 1600 CE Treaty of Verdun – 843 CE

21. Serfs Rural slaves Provided labour for land owner Received protection from land owner Slaves Conquered peoples Varied treatment Slaves and Serfs Slave dress Tapestry depicting serfs

22. Women • Active in Monastic movement • Radegund – Queen of Franks in 500s • Founded monasteries • Had a relic of the cross • Irene – Emperor of Byzantium 780

23. 711 Moors invade Christian reconquista 790-1250 Iberia

24. British Isles • Angles & Saxons invade • Britons flee to Cornwall and Wales -Arthur? • Alfred the Great 9th C • Danes invade & settle • Venerable Bede 673 • Ireland saves civilization

25. Vikings traders to pirates to settlers

26. Modern Languages • Vernacular languages develop written works • Old English • French • German • Norse Oldest surviving text in Old English Beowulf 7th – 10th century

27. The Dark Ages Were they really dark? Class Debate