1. Medieval Fusion The creation of a distinctly medieval culture: 300-1000

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

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

4. 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

5. 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

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

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

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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

11. 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

12. 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

13. 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

14. 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

15. Usurpers: Constantine the Great c. 306

16. Roman Villas

17. High Quality Coins 380

18. More quality coins 408

19. St. Augustine of Hippo 354-430

20. 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

21. Did Rome fall? When did Rome fall? How did Rome fall?

22. Niccolo Machiavell c. 1500

23. Edward Gibbon Decline & Fall of the Roman Empire 1776-1789

24. Barbarian Migrations 350-500

25. Hunnish Empire c. 400

26. Hunnish Cavalry

27. Aetius – Master of the Roman Army c. 450

29. Stilicho: Vandal and Roman Consul c. 400

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

31. Romano-Saxon Pottery

32. Barbarian Migrations 350-500

36. Sutton Hoo Burial Mounds

37. Burial Mounds in Sweden

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

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

40. Beowulf

41. Barbarian Migrations 350-500

42. “The Empire” c. 500 CE