Dark Ages

Theodosian Walls

The barriers that protected the city of Constantinople up until it was captured by Sultan Mehmed II of the Ottoman Empire

Justinian

A Byzantine emperor who became the closest emperor to reviving the Western Roman Empire but failed due to plagues and wars bankrupting the Eastern Roman Empire. He also fought back the Nika Revolt, built the Hagia Sophia, instated the Justinian Laws, and was the husband of Theodora.

Justinian’s Code

The basis of modern European laws that were inspired by Orthodox Christian values.

Hagia Sophia

A grand temple built by Emperor Justinian that was known as the “temple of holy wisdom”.

Herkleios

A Byzantine emperor who created the exarchate and fought against the Persians, allowing the Muslims to gain more power.

Exarchate

The military headquarters located outside of the heart of the Eastern Roman Empire. This system eventually evolved into the Themes system.

Themes system

The evolution of the exarchate that involved military districts where soldiers would work as part-time warriors and part-time farmers.

Caesaropapism

When the emperor acts as the church/Pope; the state defines church policy.

Iconoclasm

Means “the breaking of images”. When Christians worshiped religious symbols and believed that they could heal ailments. It was seen as heretical by religious leaders in the Eastern Roman Empire and policies in accordance will it were condemned by the Pope. Due to this, the Emperor removed control of Papal lands from the Pope, which deepened the divide between the Western Roman Empire and the church.

Empress Irene

Empress of the Byzantine Empire who killed her son to gain power and is considered a saint because she restored the veneration of idols.

Basil II

A Byzantine emperor who conquered Bulgaria, Greece, and parts of Syria.

Constantine XI

The last Byzantine emperor.

Battle of Manzikert

The Saljuq Turks sacked the Byzantines, allowing Muslim Saljuqids to settle in Asia Minor.

Monasticism

The idea of monks living in monasteries

Monasteries

Isolated places meant for fasting and prayer. They were self-sufficient and allowed monks to produce written religious works during the time even though literacy was uncommon. It allowed the monks to receive an education, unlike most of the population.

Abbot

Head of a church

Saint Benedict

A man who founded monasteries based on ora et labora (“work and prayer”) so that monks could become self-sufficient. He also created the Benedictine rules.

Benedictine Rules

Guiding rules for monks that dictated daily activities down to the hour.

Pope Gregory I

A man who was supportive of monasteries because he thought they were useful for training future church officials. He also supported missionaries because they converted Germanic tribal groups. The groups were often converted by absorbing pagan customs, increasing the power of the Pope in turn.

Saint Patrick

A British man who made Ireland a Christian stronghold and had Irish monks spread Christianity.

Book of Kells

An example of a text written by monks

Lombards

A nomadic tribe that invaded the Western Roman Empire and became Arian Christians because their queen, Theudelinda, convinced their king to convert.

Visigoths

An Arian Christian nomadic tribe that converted because their Emperor Reccared converted. They created the Council of Toledo

Council of Toledo

A church council from the capital of the Visigoths. It nominated kings and passed measures to oppress non-Christians.

Franks

A group of Roman federated that eventually became the French. They converted to Orthodox Christianity first, unlike most group who usually began with Arian Christianity. This allowed them to be considered civilized rather than barbarians.

Clovis I

King of the Franks who founded the Merovingian dynasty, named after his grandfather, Merovich. He unified the Franks through bloodshed and was the first to convert to orthodox Christianity and get baptized so that he could receive aid from the monks and priests for educational purposes. His name is a version of Louis; a popular name for French royals.

Gavelkind

The equal division of property and titles among the sons of the dead. The division of royal titles often caused rivalry and conflict between brothers.

Salic Law

The principle in Frankish culture that things and titles are only passed down through the male line.

Dagobert I

King of the Franks who ruled during the peak of the Merovingian dynasty and was the last of the Merovingian kings to assert holy authority due to the increased power of the mayor of the palace.

Mayor of the Palace

A vizier in the Frankish court who was delegated power over Austrasia, giving the position too much power.

Charles Martel

A Frankish mayor of the palace who stopped the Muslim invasion as the Battle of Tours. He also began feudalism and was offered the position of king by the Pope but refused.

Battle of Tours

A battle between the Muslims inhabiting Spain and the Franks, led by Charles Martel. This battle was fought over slaves, wealth, and the religious rivalry between Islam and Christianity.

Pepin the Short

King of the Franks who was the son of Charles Martel and became king as a gift from the Pope because he fought off a Lombard invasion. He also donated land to the church, known as the donation of Pepin and thus creating papal states. He was the official beginning of the Carolingian dynasty.

Papal states

Land under the administration of the Orthodox Christian church and the Pope.

Charlemagne

A Carolingian king of the Franks crowned because he conquered the Lombards. He also conquered the Saxons, fought against the Muslims in Spain, and pushed for greater literacy. He created a standardization of writing and increased usage of uncial (uppercase) and minuscule (lowercase).

Missi dominici

A Latin phrase the translates to lord’s (king’s) emissaries. This was the system under Charlemagne where their were two officials (one secular and one clergy) who would inspect the work of dukes and counts.

Counts

Administrative officials who were in charge of cities and administered royal justice under Charlemagne.

Dukes

Administrative officials who were in charge of large geographic areas under Charlemagne.

Alcuin

An advisor of Charlemagne who introduced methods of learning English to Frankish schools and encouraged the usage of the Carolingian minuscule script, an ancestor of modern Roman typefaces.

Louis I the Pious

The only heir of Charlemagne who upon his death, due to gavelkind, split the kingdom between his three sons: Louis Lothar, and Charles the Bald.

Treaty of Verdun

The treaty that dictated the separation of land between the sons of Louis I the Pious. Charles the Bald received the Western Frankish kingdom, Lothar got Italy, and Louis II got Germany. This weakened the Franks but also laid the groundwork for modern countries.

Invaders of the Franks

Muslim Moors, Magyars, and the Vikings

Vikings

A classification for people who were originally from Scandinavia and began pillaging for personal gain. They utilized piracy rather than trade and normally attacked monasteries because they were rich and the monks would not fight back.

Viking Age

A time in Europe characterized by frequent raids but also the development of culture and language as a result. The Anglo-Saxon king, Harold Godwinson, was attacked during this time, giving way to William the Conqueror beating him in the Battle of Hastings.

The Viking Raid of Paris 845 CE

Paris is attacked under Ragnar Lodbrok and he bribes the Vikings to leave for good.

The Viking Raid of Paris 885 CE

Paris is attacked but it is unsuccessful because of defenses devised by Odo, Count of Paris.

Charles the Simple

Frankish ruler who gave a land grant to Viking leader, Rollo. This land eventually becomes Normandy and it was given in order to encourage the Vikings to stop raiding and have them protect the mouth of the Seine from other raiders.