TRANSITION IN EUROPE THE EARLY MIDDLE AGES

SO FAR…. CATEGORYEGYPT (%)GREECE (%)ROME (%) CITIES CENTRALIZED GOVERNMENT AGRICULTURAL INTENSIFICATION JOB SPECIALIZATION SOCIAL CLASS STRUCTURE MERCHANTS & TRADE STATE RELIGION SCIENCE & WRITING TOTAL81 %78%77%

 Previously: We’ve studied specific Civilizations and their contributions  Now: There is so many expanding civilizations that it becomes more about significant events & people  We are looking predominantly at Europe as a whole (North of the Mediterranean) THIS UNIT

SO FAR…

 Early Middle Ages represent a transition from Roman dominated society to “Medieval Society”  The next 500+ years will be dominated by Northern Europe TRANSITION

EUROPE – 200 AD

EUROPE – 300 AD

EUROPE – 400 AD

EUROPE – 500 AD

EUROPE – 600 AD

EUROPE – 700 AD

EUROPE – 800AD

EUROPE – 900 AD

EUROPE – 1000AD

 Based on those maps, what do you think Europe is like in the Early Middle Ages ( BC)  How do the East & West differ? TRANSITION IN EUROPE

EUROPE – 500 AD THE “DARK” AGES 500 – 1300 AD

 Given the name because the “intellectual light” of Rome had been extinguished by the barbarian hordes ending in the Italian Renaissance in the 14 th Century  The west does undergo tumultuous times – the “Barbarians” fight for control of the land and the boundaries of each empire are constantly contested and changing.  This “Dark” barbarian transition period really only takes a few hundred years, not 800 as is suggested THE WEST: THE “DARK” AGES

 THE CELTS  Natives of Western Europe  Gauls – France  Britons – UK  Bretons – France  Picts - Scotland  Warband societies who just wanted to raid, rape and plunder THE WEST: WHO WERE THESE “BARBARIANS”?

 GERMANIC TRIBES  Most barbarians were Germanic from Scandinavia  Included:  Goths  Franks  Vandals  Angles  Saxons  Jutes  Frisians THE WEST: WHO WERE THESE “BARBARIANS”

 MONATACISM: The birth of Monasteries & Monks extend the influence of the church into the west and serve as mini- conversion centers.  Not surprisingly this is met with some resistance and by some I mean bloody resistance…but over 100s of year it is somewhat successful. THE WEST: BARBARIAN CONVERSION

 As things change, they stay the same…  Byzantine Empire = Eastern Roman Empire  Roman Model of Government still used with Emperor appointing military commanders etc.  People still heavily taxed  After the time of Justinian they went from Latin to Greek as the preferred language  The bezat was the standard gold coin of international trade

 Constantine was the first Christian Emperor, he was appointed by God as Christ’s representative  The Emperors that succeeded Constantine therefore also were seen as the peoples connection to God and ruled the church with an iron fist.  There were 2 leading church officials…  In Byzantium – the Patriarch = head of the church  In the Byzantine Empire the Patriarch would still be under control of the Emperor  In Rome – the Pope = head of the church  In Rome…there is no Emperor anymore? So the Pope had more freedom.

 They co-exist for about 500 years (during the Early Middle Ages)  11 th Century there is a divide… BYZANTIUM The Greek Orthodox Church following the Emperor & Patriarch of the Church ROME The Roman Catholic Church following the Pope (this means the church is free to try and spread Christianity at its own will). THE CHURCH SPLITS

HEADS OF THE CHURCH ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH THE POPE EASTERN ORTHODOX CHURCH THE BYZANTINE EMPEROR

 AKA: Justinian the Great (getting a little redundant now isn’t it)  Attempts to Re-conquer & Re-unite Rome as a Christian Empire  Completely crushes the last remnants of the previous ‘pagan’ religion (The Olympians)  Justinian Code: Took 16 years to finish, clarified all the old Roman laws, gave instruction on how property was passed to heirs, how disputes should be resolved. Became the basis of Civil Law in Europe and across the world.