Medieval Fusion The creation of a distinctly medieval culture:

Overview Background Barbarian culture Classical institutions and traditions The Judeo-Christian Culture Discussion of Irish

During the Middle Ages, several cultures fuse within Europe Barbarian –Germanic/Norse –Celtic –Gothic –Slavic Ancient –Roman –Greek –Middle Eastern Christian

Germanic Literature Literature as a source and its difficulties –Ancient literature: Tacitus - A Roman writes about Germania –Medieval literature: Beowulf, Njal’s Saga Glorification of warrior heroes –great fighters –overcome incredible odds –superhuman strength Often fatalistic in outlook; the inevitably of death Love of gold and riches: plunder Vengeance and retribution: law of the talion –barbarian legal codes

Germanic Literature: Beowulf Composition of the poem Sometime between 580 and 1000 Based on oral tradition For public recitation –musical accompaniment –recited lyrically Written manuscript from 11th century Contains approximately 1/10th of all written Old English

Germanic Literature: Beowulf Pagan/Germanic Elements Mythical monsters Norse gods Magical weapons Celebration of booty Heroism Fate and Mortality Kinship

Germanic Literature: Beowulf Christian Undertones Moral anecdotes Warnings against excessive pride Tension with pagan themes The ephemeral nature of life Beowulf’s moral conscience

Barbarian Legal Codes Often include Ten Commandments as a preamble Often written after conversion to Christianity Money payments specified as punishment for –breach of the king’s peace –remuneration for theft and acts of violence Money payments reflect higher value associated with members of upper class –acts of violence against members of the kings household require higher fines than acts of violence against members of the earl’s household

Summary of Barbarian Cultures Rural or agrarian Illiterate with exceptions Strong kinship Weak kingship Social bonding –guilds of mutual assistance –comitatus Violent and militaristic Hero worship Religion of magic and superstition

The Classical Contribution In Contrast to barbarian culture, the Greco-Roman world was –more urban –less influenced by oral tradition an abundance of literature, such as philosophy, letters, and speeches, were not stories –could be much more introspective reflections on the human condition –classical humanism: focused on issues related to this life little concern for the afterlife –more systematic legal codes were based on system of classification administrative structures were hierarchical

The Classical Contribution The Greco Roman world preserved, modified, or enhanced many of the greatest achievements of the ancient Near East (Sumeria, Egypt, the Hebrews) –mathematics/astronomy –philosophy/religion The classical world also developed forms of art and expression that were either scarce or totally absent in the barbarian tradition –theater –sculpture that accurately depicted the human form In general the classical world was much more literate than the barbarians who had virtually no institutions for the transmission of learning i.e. schools

Christian Culture Provided a method for the transmission of the tradition of literacy –precise theology: trinity and christology –administered by Church hierarchy Shared ideology –otherworldliness: emphasis on afterlife –resurrection/redemption –God’s intervention in human history Pliable and absorbing –Barbarian holidays –Roman organizational structure –Greek philosophy, rhetoric, and logic became embedded

Christian Culture Monasticism –emerged as a powerful social force in the fourth through sixth centuries –huge influence on Christian ideals –institutional framework for the preservation of the Christian tradition –the primary means of education between 500 and 1100 in the West –preservation of classical texts

Summary After the fifth century the Byzantine Empire continued the Greco-Roman traditions with only minor influence from the barbarian invasions By contrast, the Western Empire became increasingly barbarian in outlook and culture so that many aspects of the classical culture perished from most of western Europe Monasteries played a vital role in the preservation of the classical tradition and particularly of the Roman tradition, which was not so highly valued in the Byzantine Empire

Usurpers: Constantine the Great c. 306

Roman Villas

High Quality Coins 380

More quality coins 408

St. Augustine of Hippo

Why did Rome fall? What have you heard? A.Lead in the water B.Christianity C.Depletion of the soil in Italy D.Lack of infrastructure E.Something else

Did Rome fall? When did Rome fall? How did Rome fall?

Niccolo Machiavell c. 1500

Edward Gibbon Decline & Fall of the Roman Empire

Barbarian Migrations

Hunnish Empire c. 400

Hunnish Cavalry

Aetius – Master of the Roman Army c. 450

Stilicho: Vandal and Roman Consul c. 400

Greek mythology on a Gallo-Roman plate from 4th century

Romano-Saxon Pottery

Barbarian Migrations

Sutton Hoo Burial Mounds

Burial Mounds in Sweden

Raedwald East Anglian King Baptized 605 Died 625 Induced to adopt Christianity by Ethelbert of Kent Bretwalda Both pagan and Christian

Approximately when was the Beowulf manuscript written? A.C. 600 B.C. 700 C.C. 800 D.C. 900 E.C. 1000

Beowulf

Barbarian Migrations

“The Empire” c. 500 CE