DARK AGES WORLD CIV

Justinian

To erase the memory of the Nika Revolt, Justinian tried to recover Western Roman Empire lands lost to the Arian Christian Ostrogoths and Vandals. He largely succeeded through 20 years of warfare, but could not maintain his victories. The wars were expensive, as were the terms of treaties that bought off some enemies. In addition, a plague spread throughout most of the Eastern Roman Empire territories in the west. As a result of the wars and plagues, the Eastern Roman Empire was bankrupted and weakened.

Irene

She starts off as a regent for her underage son, eventually killing her son to remain on the throne. She formally announces that iconoclasm is heresy which gains her support from religious people. She also tried to become closer with Charlemagne, who closely supported the pope. She is eventually sent into exile but is considered a saint by the Christians.

Heraclius

an effective emperor who ruled for 31 years and realized changes needed to be made. Responsible for creating a military government and theme system. Fought several wars, most notably against the Persians. He returned from these wars with the true cross. The many wars against the Persians led to the Eastern Roman Armies being tired and the country being more susceptable to Islamic invasions.

Constantine the 11th

Ruler of the Byzantine Empire when it fell. He was killed in the siege by the ottoman Turks. He could have fled the city but chose to stay with his people.

Pope Leo

Eastern Roman Emperor who also took control of the church. He practiced and created iconoclasm and declared the worshiping of these “fake” idols to be heresy. he condemns them.

Constantine the 5th

Son of pope Leo. Also an Eastern Roman Emperor who took control of the church. He also practiced iconoclasm.

Pope Gregory

Is known for changing Christian beliefs and ideas to be able to convert pagan people to Christians. Also known for sending missionaries out to convert people and he built a lot of monasteries. Created Christmas.

St Patrick

He is an example of trying to spread the Christian faith and trying to convert the pagans. Went to Ireland to try to convert them.

St Benedict

The idea of work and pray. Created the benedictine rules. He spreads the Christian faith through his monasteries.

Theudelinda

A Lombard queen who convinces her husband to convert to orthodox Christianity. From this point on the Lombards follow Orthodox Christianity.

Clovis

King of the Franks. He united several Frankish tribes around Gaul. Led the Merovingians

Charles Martel

A Mayor of the palace who led the Franks to a victory over Muslim invasions of Spain at the battle of Tours. He used this victory to become more powerful than the actual Merovingian king. He was a Carolingian, and the victory at Torus gave the Carolingians great prestige.

Pepin

He was a son of Charles Martel and also a mayor of the palace. He gets the pope to declare him as the new king, thereby replacing the Merovingian dynasty’s control of the Frnaks to Carolingian control of the Franks.

Charlemagne

Considered a model of kingships in this era. As the protector of the Church, Charlemagne is the champion of Christendom. Charlemagne conquers the Saxons (and forces them to become Christians) to expand his empire. He also leads armies into Spain to protect Christianity from the Muslim Umayyads.

Iconoclasm

The breaking and destruction of icons. Deepens the split between East and West. Put into effect by Pope Leo and his son Constantine the 5th.

Visigoths

The Visigoths were another Arian Christian “barbarian” group located in present day Spain. In 586, a Visigoth emperor, Reccaredm, converted to Orthodox Christianity.

Councils of Toldeo

Powerful church councils from Toledo (capital of the Visigoths) with strong influence over Visigoth government and society, including nominating Visigoth kings. They pass measures that oppress non Christian communities.

Treaty of Verdun

Divides the Frankish controlled kingdoms into three territories. West Frankish Kingdom go to Charles the Bald( modern day France), Lothar gets modern day Italy and other territories, and Louis 1 gets modern day Germany. This division shows the beginning of Modern European states such as Italy, Germany, and France.

Theme System

military districts where civilian administration of territory is replaced with military administration of territory(grew out of the Exarchates). Soldiers in the themes typically were part-time warriors and part time farmers, living in the territory year round. Soldiers now had a personal interest in defending their own land and farms. Began under Herakleios. 

Book of the Kells

An example of the religious texts produced in monasteries, the Book of Kells contains part of the Christian Gospels with elaborately ornate illustrations.

Missi Dominici

Lord’s emissaries, lord meaning king. They were two officials working together, one secular member and one member of the clergy( a layman and a bishop), who inspected the work of dukes and counts

Counts

Administrative officials in charge of cities, with limited control of municipal territories, and administer royal justice.

Dukes

administrative officials similar to countries, but in charge of larger geographic areas (more authority than the counts).

Gavelkind

The division of property equally amongst the children of the dead parent.

Salic law of succession

The rule by which certain people descended from a previous sovereign through a woman, are excluded from succession to the throne.

Justinians Code

Emperor Justinian chose ten men to review 1,600 books full of Roman Law(Twelve Tables) and create a simpler law code. These men were able to create the Justinian Code with just over 4,000 laws. The laws were recorded in four books. Many of the laws in Justinian’s Code reflect the point of view of his wife, Theodora.

Exarchates

Military headquarters outside the heart of the Eastern Roman Empire, such as those in Ravenna and Carthage.

Ora et Labora

The idea of work and pray in monasteries, made up by Saint Benedict.

Papal States

Created by Pepin. Land territories under the direct administrative control of the Orthodox Christian Church and the Pope.

Caesaropapism

The state defining church policy, the emperor acting as the church/pope.

Basil the 2nd

The Eastern Roman Empire expanded under him, but spent a great amount of money doing this. He reconquered Greece with a private army of Vikings, and ended up doubling the size of the Empire. Also, areas that were buffers to potential enemies were now a part of the Empire, meaning parts of the empire were directly exposed to invasion. After he died, much of the empire revolted and the empire fell into decline.

Battle of Manzikert

Byzantine empire fought against the Saljuqid Turks. The Saljuquid Turks won this battle, and the result was the weakening of the Eastern Roman Empire that allowed the Muslims to settle in the Byzantine Empire.

Monasticism

The idea of monks (holy men living in monasteries. Monasteries are generally in isolated places where monks can focus on things like fasting and prayer without distractions. Monks produce many religious written works during this period (literacy is uncommon, but monasteries provide monks with access to education).

Lombards

They invade the weakened Western Roman Empire. They are Arian Christians. They initially conflict with various popes and bishops from Orthodox Christianity until a queen finally converts them all to Orthodox Christianity.

Benedictine Rules

Created by Saint Benedict. They were created to guide monks in their journey to become self sufficient. These rules dictated the daily activities of the monks down to the hour.