Transcript Fall of Rome and Rise of Early Medieval Europex

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Divisions of the Restored Roman
Empire, c. 300
Map 7-1, p. 181
ndst Wave
2
The
end
of an era
1 Wave
Rome
Before
Map 7-2, p. 185
The Germanic Kingdoms
The Northern boundary of the empire was the Rhine and Danube Rivers
All peoples beyond those boundaries called “Germans” by Romans
Considered Barbarians (which is a Greek term for foreigner) but
meant as one is lesser
Never fully unified, German tribes would change based on the strength
of the leader
For example, the Goths in the BBC Video
Mainly a herding, farming people, NOT advanced trade like Romans
Many tribes were “Romanized” living close to Roman borders
Many were allowed to live in Roman territory in return for payment
Became educated in limited fashion with Latin, coinage, and Military
tactics
Germans in the 2nd-3rd c. CE were absorbed with little problem to
Roman society and were often hired as mercenaries to fight other
Germans
This changes in the 4th and 5th c. CE due to external threats from the
Huns
The Germanic Kingdoms
Huns, a fierce warrior tribe from the Steppes of Asia moved
into the Black Sea
Wanted riches of the Eastern Empire
Eventually pushed back by Eastern Empire, and into the Western portion,
which was much much weaker.
Tribes such as the Goths were pushed from their homelands
and forced to flee
Many were given refuge, but were treated terribly by the Romans
• Ex: In some cases, the Romans would not give them food without payment in gold, and
even then it was dog meat and rotten food
They revolted in 378, and the Emperor Valens and 40,000
Roman Soldiers were destroyed at the battle of Adrianople
Policy became resettlement as the numbers were too great for
Rome to handle
Alaric, from the BBC Vid, sacks Rome in 410 AD after being
double-crossed multiple times
The Germanic Kingdoms
When the last Roman Emperor, Romulus
Augustulus was deposed in 476 A.D by Odoacer, a
Roman Ally (who was German).
Declared himself essentially to be emperor
Roman Imperial authority, that of the Emperor,
either in the Western or Eastern halves, was gone
by the mid 400’s, and erased after 476 A.D
The intellectual, cultural, and governmental
traditions continued to live on in the new Germanic
Kingdoms
The Germanic Kingdoms
The Ostrogothic Kingdom of Italy
Theodoric defeated Odoacer, and made himself King of
Italy and part of Switzerland
Is able to keep MOST of the Roman government in
place
Ruler, Theodoric, was Roman educated
Created a ruling system different for Germans and
Romans
• German laws administered by Germans to Germans, Roman laws by
Romans to Romans
Religion was the major issue
• Ostrogoth's were a different version of Christianity than the Romans,
who viewed them as heretics.
The Germanic Kingdoms
Ostrogoths are destroyed by Lombards, who
practically erase much of Roman custom and
culture
More concerned with fighting and plunder
Eastern Empire, under Justinian (more on him later),
reconquer much of Italy
Destroy Rome in the process
Keep some parts of Italy until the early 600’s
The Germanic Kingdoms
The Visigothic Kingdom of Spain
Coexistence between Romans and Germans was key, like the
Ostrogoths
Warrior Caste was main part of society, which was dominant over
everyone else
Converted to “Catholic” Christianity, developed a common law for
both people, and allowed intermarriage.
No procedure for choosing rulers; results in destruction my
Muslims in 711 A.D
5 Major changes to society
•
•
•
•
•
Disruption of Trade
Downfall of Cities
Population shifts
Severe Decline in Learning
Loss of common language
Why is trade disrupted?
• What can cause this?
• Think of Rome prior to this
• Merchants no longer have safety
• Roman Legions no longer secure the
countryside
• Money becomes almost non-existent
Cities are abandoned as
administrative centers, and
centers of economic trade.
• Think of Trade disruption:
• If you can’t trade, then cities
loose a lot of importance
• There is no central gov’t;
People realize a few things:
•We don’t have food
•We can’t grow food
•We are not safe here
Shifting People
• No gov’t to run cities
• Italian cities decline less than
others
• Cities are taken over by ‘nonromans’
A common language, Latin, no longer
is the only language spoken.
Germanic dialects (variations of language) are
spoken by many people, and mix with Latin to
form:
• Italian, French, and Spanish
By 800 AD, these three ‘languages’ are
in their “old” period (old English)
Germanic people could mostly
not read or write
• Roman families fled the cities to the
countryside
• Away, from schools and learning
• Only churches remain (monasteries) to
teach language
Examples of Old English
Examples of Old English
1Hwæt. We Gardena in geardagum,
LO, praise of the prowess of people-kings
2þeodcyninga, þrym gefrunon,
of spear-armed Danes, in days long sped,
3hu ða æþelingas ellen fremedon.
we have heard, and what honor the athelings won!
4Oft Scyld Scefing sceaþena/ þreatum,
Oft Scyld the Scefing from squadroned foes,
5monegum mægþum, meodosetla ofteah,
from many a tribe, the mead-bench tore,
6egsode eorlas. Syððan ærest wearð/
awing the earls. Since erst he lay
7feasceaft funden, he þæs frofre gebad,
friendless, a foundling, fate repaid him:
8weox under wolcnum, weorðmyndum þah,
for he waxed under welkin, in wealth he throve,
9oðþæt him æghwylc þara ymbsittendra
The Society of the Germanic
Peoples (Franks)
Time period (500-800) is very violent
Different Germans
Changed significantly through contact with Romans
Roman & German nobility intermarry
Franks adopt Roman architecture; Romans adopt
weapons
Family becomes the most important bond among
Germans
Extended family becomes significantly so
Economic and Military benefits
The Society of the Germanic Peoples
Roman law was based on our system:
A Crime was committed against the state, not
against a person
Germanic Law is personal
Blood Feud
• Retribution was against the kin of the offending family
• Could get violent and out of control
Wergeld
• “Money for Man” – was a fine paid for crimes instead
of violence
German Law (cont.)
Compurgation and Ordeal
• Means for determining guild or innocence, and if one
would pay the Wergeld
Compurgation was an oath swearing
• ‘oathhelpers’ would also swear that the person should be
believed (usually 20 or so)
Ordeal
• Divine intervention basis of ordeal
• Idea: Divine forces would not let an innocent person be
hurt.
The Society of the Germanic Peoples
The Frankish Family and Marriage
Family Center of Social Organization
• Male is at the head of family
• Chief economic/political unit
Marriage
• Political or economic gain
• Wergeld of married person much higher
Engagement Ceremony
• “Dowry” or payment made to bride’s family
• Virgin was required – that way they knew kids were theirs
Women
• Woman was under father’s rule until married, then husbands
• Adultery is heinous crime
In former Gaul (France), one man
begins to unify the Franks.
He was ruthless and very good at
pillaging.
1st major ruler to become Catholic
Christian
Established the “Merovingian”
Dynasty (famous holy grail people)
Reasons for Converting
• Unites the people he’s conquered
– Their Roman AND Catholic
• Unites his own people in one common
religion
• Allies himself with a very powerful
institution:
– The Catholic Church
• Can use the excuse of being ‘defender of
faith’ to expand and conquer/kill people
Another Reason…
Since the people he rules are Roman, and
Catholic…
Why not be the religion they are?
Clovis’ Successors
After his death, kingdom divided up
• Each son gets a piece
Marriage with old Roman nobles became common
Eventually, nobles took advantage of the weaker
monarch
• Weaker because kingdom more divided
Major Domus (Mayor of the Palace)
• Chief official in King’s house; becomes more powerful than the
king
A new society based on:
Rome’s
classical
heritage
Germanic
tribal
customs
Beliefs of
the Roman
Catholic
Church
Development of the Church
St. Augustine (354-430)
• Used pagan ritual and culture to further
Christianity
• City of God vs. City of the World
• Idea that Godly men would be loyal to 1st
City
• 2nd City is necessary though to control
man’s imperfect sins
• Argued that secular gov’t & Authority were
necessary for pursuit of true Christian life
St. Augustine
By arguing that secular authority is
necessary to a Christian life, he justifies
the rule of kings/nobles
Augustine & Sex
• Celibacy – means having no sex at all
• Considered by Christians as ultimate way of
living
• Augustine knew that not EVERYONE can,
so marriage is best alternative
St. Jerome (345-420)
Was an exceptional Latin scholar
Turned from liberal studies to God
• Had a dream
Extensive knowledge of Hebrew & Greek allowed him
to translate Bible into Latin
• More readable by everyone
Created “Latin Vulgate” – standard Bible for entire
middle ages
• Has many errors
Development of the Christian Church -Organization and Religious Disputes
Bishops
• Leaders of early Christian church
• Responsible for area called Bishoprics
• Historical roots in Timothy & Titus – Paul commands
them to oversee the churches and “rebuke all with vigor”
• Become quite politically powerful – take over many
imperial functions
Councils Nicaea
• Many different ones
• Settle disputes about the Trinity, Nature of
Christ, dates of major holidays such as Easter,
Christmas, and procedures for appointments of
Priests/Bishops
Development of the Christian
Church
Bishop of Rome (today known as the Pope)
Leader of the Western Christian Church
Peter the Apostle, First Bishop
• Crucified upside down in Rome (stigmata)
• All “Bishops of Rome” claim decent;
Doctrine of Petrine Supremacy
• All bishops of Rome claim superiority, by scripture,
over every other clerical person
• Become known as “papa” (father);
Warm-Up
Explain how the Church was able to justify
its power-structure
In other words, why is it setup like it is
What did St. Augustine write/say that later
rulers would use?
What is the significance of Clovis I’s
conversion to Christianity
• Pope Gregory I
• Sets the Papacy in the direction of
having immense power
• Sets up the Church to be primary
force in “Civilizing” Germans
• Expands territory to what is called
“Papal States” around Rome
• Intervened in Church issues all
across Europe
• Started Christianization of Britain
• Whose justification is he using?
The Spread of Christianity, A.D.
400-750
The Monks and Their Missions
YOUR NOTES!!
Summarize the section “Monks and Their
Missions”
What is the purpose of monasteries?
Who is responsible for creating the “rule”
system of monastic life?
What was the emphasis of this?
• Primary ‘job’ everyday
Who has authority in Monasteries?
Why were Monasteries so important in
Europe?
• What did they do besides religion
Monks as Missionaries
Monasteries provide the “glue” to European civilization
They provide the services once provided by Rome
• Knowledge & local governance in some cases
“Go your way, sell whatsoever you have, and give to
the poor, and you shall have treasure in heaven: come,
take up the cross, and follow me.”
Discussion Questions
How did the Germanic tribes differ from the Romans?
Why was monasticism so important and influential in
Europe during the first millennium?
How did the Catholic Church begin to gain its power?