The Early Middle Ages

The Early Middle Ages

1. Characteristics

   • Political
     • In Western Europe
       • Wars and sackings
       • Monarch depended on nobles
     • In the Late Middle Ages
       • Monarch's power increased
     • In Eastern Europe
       • Byzantine Empire declined
       • Muslim Empire expanded
     • In the High Middle Ages
       • Muslim World fragmented
       • Christians
         • The Crusades
   • Economic
     • Internal conflicts
     • Trade and cities declined
     • Agriculture
       • Rural areas
     • Craft production and trade routes
   • Social
     • The highest authority
       • The lord
         • Protected
           • Vassals
     • Peasants / Serfs
       • Worked for
     • Nobles
   • Cultural
     • Christiantity
     • Islam
     • Artistic styles
       • Romanesque
         • XI - XIII
       • Gothic
         • XII - XV
       • Renaissance
         • XV - XVIII

2. The Germanic Invasions

   • Defeated Western Roman Empire
   • Reasons for the migrations
     • Changes in climate
     • Population increased
     • Pressure from other peoples
     • Political / military weakness (neighbouring states)
   • Germanic Peoples
     • Franks
       • Gaul
       • The Carolingian Empire
         • Origins
           • Mayor of the palace / Major-domo
           • Pippin I the Younger
             • Ocuppied the throne
           • The Pope needed help
             • The Lombard invasion
               • Pippin and his son helped
           • Charles / Charlemagne
             • came to the throne
               • 768 A.D.
             • was crowned emperor
               • 800 A.D.
               • by Pope Leo III
           • Capital
             • Aquisgrammum
         • Political structure
           • A marquis governed the border provinces
             • Marches
           • A duke governed the strategic lands
             • Duches
           • Governed from the palace
           • The count ( a group of trusted advisors )
           • Counts governed provinces
             • Countries
         • Economy and society
           • Agriculture
           • Charlemagne
             • Rewarded their nobles large states / latifundia
           • Peasants
             • Worked the lands that belonged to the nobles
         • Culture and art
           • Monks
             • Copied ancient texts
           • Scribes
             • Carolingian minuscule
             • Miniatures to ilustrate the texts
               • The Carolingian Renaissance
           • Carolingian architectural style
             • Semi-circular arches
             • Stone and brick walls
     • Visigoths
       • Iberian Peninsula
     • Suebis
       • North-east Iberian Peninsula
     • Ostrogoths
       • Italian Peninsula
     • Vandals
       • North Africa
     • Angles
     • Saxons
       • Great Britain

3. The Byzantine Empire

   • Origins
     • Theodosius I
       • DIvided the Roman Empire
     • Capital
       • Byzantium
         • Canstantinople
           • On the Bosphorus Strait
     • Justinian the Great
       • Its maximum size
         • Spania
           • Capital: Cartagena
   • Eastern Roman Empire
   • Political structure
     • The Byzantine Empreror / Basileus
     • Officials
     • Mercenaries ( soldiers )
     • Stratego ( governed the themes )
   • Economy
     • Arable and livestock farming
       • Latifundia
     • Trade
       • Europe and Asia
       • Europe and Africa
     • Craftmanship
       • Gold and silver
   • Society
     • Landowning
     • Poor peasants
       • Taxes
     • A busy city llife