Transcript The Middle Ages: The Germanic Kingdoms

The Middle Ages:
The Germanic Kingdoms
• There are three
heirs to Rome
• Germanic kingdoms
• Eastern Roman
Empire
• Islamic Empires
Three Heirs to Rome
The Visigoths
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Settled on the Danube by Rome
Adrianople 378 A.D.
Sack of Rome 410 A.D.
Migrate to Spain 410-440 A.D.
Vandal Invasion 440-450 A.D.
Vandals driven to Africa 455 A.D.
Rome Sacked again 455 A.D.
Odoacer deposes the last emperor
Valens Draws up His Army
Valens attacks/The Gothic
Cavalry Arives
The Roman Collapse
Visigothic Spain
• Coexist with the Romans
• Warrior caste dominates the Roman
bureaucracy
• Intermarry with Catholic Romans
• Never developed orderly system for
selecting kings (civil wars)
• Muslims conquer Spain in 711 A.D.
The Ostrogoths
• Subjects of the Huns until 453 A.D.
• Allies of the Eastern Roman Empire after the death of Attila
Ostrogothic Italy
• King Theodoric commissioned by the
emperor Zeno to attack Odoacer
• Theodoric rules independently of Zeno
• Integration of Roman government and
German culture
• Separate legal systems for Goths and
Romans
• Goths control the army
• Religious friction (Arians vs. Catholics)
• Conquered by Byzantium in 535 A.D.
• Conquered by the Lombards in 554 A.D.
The Merovingian Franks 456
A.D. to 751 A.D.
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Clovis 456-511A.D.
Converts to Catholicism during a battle
Supported by Popes to fight Arianism
Religious justification for expansion
3 sons divide the Kingdom
The Franks
Frankish Society
• Clovis’ sons cannot maintain political
control
• Noble’s power grows
• Agriculture increases, trade declines
• Clergy is corrupt and is dominated by
nobles
• Drifting towards feudalism
Frankish Culture
• Extended family/male dominated
• Kingship is limited
– Kings elected
– Military councils
– Loyalty to persons or kings, not the state
Frankish Law
• Salic Law
• Customary Laws
- Offenses are personal not crimes against
the state
- Fines for insults, wounds, and murder
- Punishment stratified by class
- Trial by battle, ordeal, or oath
- Rough and ready methods of settling
disputes
Frankish Family
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Extended family
Male dominated
Arranged marriages
Bride price
Virginity verified
Divorce permitted
Widows can own property