The Early Middle Ages

Unit 1

2º ESO

Maira Gil Camarón

Source: Santillana Richmond

1- What were the Germanic migrations?

• They were different tribes from the North of Europe, they were called “barbarians” by the Romans

• They invaded the Western Roman Empire from the 3rd to the 5th Century

• The Western Roman Empire ended in 476 due to these invasions. This date marks the beginning of the Middle Ages

The Germanic Kingdoms• The Franks, in France• The Visigoths, in Spain• The Ostrogoths, and later

the Lombards, in Italy• The Angles and the

Saxons, in BritainTravel became too

dangerous: there was very little long-distance trade and many industries dissapeared. Cities declined and people moved to the countryside

2- Who were the visigoths?• The Vandals, Alans and Suevi were tribes

from Northern Europe. They invaded Hispania in 409 A.D.

• To fight against them, Romans asked for help to the Visigoths, another Germanic Tribe who has invaded Rome previously

• They accepted and expelled Suevi, Vandals and Alans from Hispania. In exchange, Rome gave them the Gaul.

• But the Franks expelled the Visigoths from the Gaul, and Visigoths established their own kingdom in the Iberian peninsula

Visigothic Kingdom• The Visigothic Kingdom was ruled by a

King• Toledo was its capital• The main kings were Leovigild and his

son Reccared• They unified their new kingdom by

changing their own language (to Latin), religion (from arrianism to Christianism) and laws (based their laws on Roman laws)

• During the 7th century there was constant fighting between the kings and the nobles

• The Visigothic Kingdom disappeared in 711 after the Muslim invasion

Reccared and bishops

Visigothic ArtThe art is the result of local Roman traditions combined with Byzantine

influences. Some of the characteristics of their architecture are:• Generally basilican in layout, sometimes a Greek cross plan.• The spaces are highly compartmentalised.• Usually short and wide in elevation.• Horseshoe arches.• A rectangular and exterior apse.• Use of columns and pillars with Corinthian capitals of unique design.• The architecture was small in scale, but its masonry work was excellent.• Decoration commonly of animal or plant motifs. Ornamental sculpture

was a distinctive feature of these churches.• Little and small windows that makes a dark interior.

San Juan Bautista (Baños de Cerrato, Palencia)

San Pedro de la Nave (El Campillo, Zamora)

San Pedro de la Nave

How to interpret an artwork

1- WHAT IS IT?

2- WHO OR WHICH CIVILIZATION DID IT?

3- WHICH IS ITS APPROXIMATE DATE?

4- HOW IS IT? (form, material, decoration, theme...)

5- WHAT INFORMATION FROM THE PAST DOES IT GIVE US? (facts, government, population...)

6- WHAT WAS IT USED FOR?

3- What was the Byzantine Empire like?

After the Western Roman Empire fell to German barbarian invasions in the 5th century, the Eastern Roman Empire, with its capital at Constantinople, repelled the invasions and went on to survive for 1000 more years.

Known by historians as the Byzantine Empire, it played a important role preserving and spreading the culture of ancient Greeks and Romans

JustinianJustinian was the most important Byzantineemperor and ruled between 527-565. He tried to reconquer the former territories ofthe Roman Empire.

He commanded the army and government, and was the religious leaderThe Justinian Code modernised Roman lawsAfter Justinian, the Byzantine Empire began to lose territory

4- What were Byzantine religion and art like?RELIGION

At first, the Byzantine Empire followed the traditions of the Roman Empire, after Justinian, they adopted several Greek customs

Regarding religion, in 1054, after many confrontations, they separated from the Catholic Church, and became the Orthodox Church (East-West Schism).ART

They created churches with a Gree-cross plan and large dome: Hagia Sophia

Mosaics, which covered the walls and ceilings of churches and palaces

Hagia Sophia

5- What is Islam?MUHAMMADHe was the founder of Islam. Before him, Arabia was

polytheistic

He was a merchant who learnt about two monotheistic religions (Judaism and Christianity) in his trade travels

He heard the call of God and founded a new religion Therich merchants of Mecca thought that he was a danger tosociety and in 622 he moved from Mecca to Medina. Thisis called the Hegira, and it is considered the beginning ofthe muslim calendar, when Muhammad started spreadingIslam throughout Arabia

Islamic religionTheir sacred book is the Koran, and

they have 5 main pillars in their religion:

1. There is no other God but Allah and Muhammad is his prophet

2. To pray 5 times a day3. To go on a pilgrimage to Mecca

at least once in ther life if it is possible

4. To fast during the Ramadan5. To give alms to the poor

Islam temple: Mosque

6- How did Islam evolve?

7- What was the Carolingian Empire?• Frankish kingdom (Germanic tribe).• Power in the Mayors of the Palace.• Charles Martel, the most

important mayor of the palace, was famous for defeating the muslims.

Carolingian Empire

• Pippin the Short started the Carolingian Empire after the defeat of the Frankish Kingdom.

• His son CharleMagne succeeded him and tried to restore the Western Roman Empire. In 800 he was crowned by the Pope as Emperor of the West.

Carolingian EmpireCharleMagne divided his Empire in counties

and marches to better control the territory.

• Louis the Pious succeeded his father, and when he died, his three sons inherited the Empire, so it was divided in three parts (Treaty of Verdun, 843).

Palace of Aachen CharleMagne made Aachen its capital, and built a Palace there.