What’s happening in this picture? Where are these events occurring?
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By 395 AD, Diocletian had divided the Roman Empire Byzantium = eastern empire Rome = western empire 476, Germanic forces from the north conquered the Western Roman Empire Byzantium survived for almost another 1000 years and carried on the Greco-Roman tradition.
476: Germanic tribes conquered the old Roman Empire Territories
Middle Ages = European history between the fall of the Roman Empire (476) and the Modern Era (1450) Also called the Medieval Period (“Medium” is Latin for Middle; “aevum” is Latin for age) Early Middle Ages = 500 – 1000 C.E. High Middle Ages = 1000 – 1300 C.E. Late Middle Ages = 1300 – 1500 C.E.
pestilence, war, famine, & death Some believed that were also the times of the
Instability after Rome’s fall Lawlessness, corruption, political assassinations, & starvation No national government; local regional lords held the power Lords controlled estates through feudalism Constant fear of plunderers and robbers High inflation and low trade C.E.
Christianity spread throughout Europe by the 4 th Century Church established a hierarchy parishes = local communities headed by a priest bishopric = several parishes Cathedral in Exeter, England
Catholic Church filled the gap left by no strong leaders Preserved literacy & the classics Controlled all aspects of medieval life Maintained some semblance of civilized living
590 - Pope Gregory Increased Pope’s power - Governed large territory around Rome - Encouraged the growth of Monasticism - Nunneries -Helped spread Christianity to Eastern Europe & the Slavs
: Catholic Church debated several issues Was Jesus flesh, spirit or a combination of both? Use of relics – bones/objects connected with saints
The Eastern Church disagreed with using relics and images. They were iconoclasts = image breakers Monks white-washed images of Jesus & the saints
Romans believed that Rome should be the head of the Church because the apostle Peter spent his last years in Rome. Byzantines didn’t accept Rome’s leadership of the Catholic Church Schism = separation - Eastern Orthodox Church (Greek & Russian) - Western Catholic Church (Roman)
Jesus Christ giving Saint Peter the keys to the kingdom of heaven. Catholic doctrine says that Jesus made Saint Peter the first pope. This established a link between Jesus and the papacy. The pope is viewed as the apostles’ heir. This doctrine gave the papacy tremendous power. The advantages taken by certain popes of this and other doctrines was later criticized by many Christian reformers. Fresco by Perugino Vatican Museums and Galleries, Vatican City, Italy/Bridgeman Art Library, London/New York
Kingdom of the Franks Only 1 of the Germanic states that lasted 510 C.E. – Established by Clovis Clovis = 1 st Germanic ruler to convert to Christianity
Charles Martel defeated the Muslims ** Stopped Muslim conquest of Northern Europe 732 C.E. – Battle of Tours
Renaissance = rebirth Established monastic and palace schools Renewed interest in Latin & Greek culture Carolingian Renaissance Carolingian Empire (768 – 814) Charlemagne = Charles Martel’s grandson Intelligent, fierce warrior, strong statesman Created Missi Dominici = king’s messengers Strengthened Frankish military
Monks reproduced many of the texts used in medieval European education. They monks diligently copied entire texts in a monastery room called a scriptorium (writing room). Thanks to their efforts, Roman and Greek classics were preserved for future readers.
An image of Saint Matthew writing in the Lindisfarne Gospels. The author and artist was possibly Eadfrith, Bishop of Lindisfarne. Illuminations are hand-drawn scrolls that are embellished with paintings and decorations.
The Book of Kells Illuminated Irish manuscript of the Gospels in Latin Contains incredibly beautiful illustrations on vellum This page illustrates the arrest of Jesus Christ from the Gospel According to Matthew. The manuscript dates from around the mid-8th century Located in Trinity College Library in Dublin, Ireland. Many monks fled to Ireland to escape Barbarian attacks in between the 5 th and 9 th centuries Click on the website on the right and view a power point about The Book of Kells ookOfKellsDVD-ROM-short.html
800: Charlemagne is crowned Holy Roman Emperor by Pope Leo III 1 st Roman Emperor since 476 Symbolized the emergence of the Middle Ages ( ) Blended Roman, Christian, & Germanic elements A Germanic king was crowned by a Roman pope (spiritual leader of western Christendom)
814: Charlemagne died Charlemagne’s grandsons fought over the empire 843 = Treaty of Verdun - Heirs divided Carolingian Empire - East (Germany), West (France), & Middle Kingdom (Alsace Lorraine) - Alsace Lorraine fought over for centuries Local nobles gained power Carolingian Empire began to crumble
9 th & 10 th Centuries = Another wave of Barbarian Invasions Islamic
Germanic tribes from Scandinavia Raided Northern Europe 9 th -11 th Centuries Fierce warriors Greatly Feared Called Barbarians Sacked towns, destroyed churches, raped, and pillaged
Scandinavia - Harsh land - Scarce food - Clan warfare Built long ships = Dragon Ships Sailed up European rivers and attacked far inland
Vikings established inland bases Launched several raids from these points
Established settlements - Kiev = (Rus) - Normandy (France) - Jorvik (Britain)
Viking long ships were narrow & fierce Enabled them to navigate narrow inland European rivers
Conversion to Christianity made them a part of the European civilization
Mongol Empire Genghiz Khan – Conquered China in early 1200s Kublai Khan – Extended Mongol control over most of Asia, Russia and eastern Europe in Hungary. Traded extensively with the West. Entertained Marco Polo. Pax Mongolia – time of peace and prosperity during Mongolian rule
Superb horsemen Covered 120 miles a day Cut their horse’s leg and drank the blood if thirsty Invented the stirrup Ride and shoot arrows Greatly feared “Barbaric”
Largest land empire in the world