Early Middle Ages Midterm Terms

Ghassanids

Arab kings integrated into Roman and Persian spheres, becomes Christian (as Foederati). Bring wealth into Roman world from Rome/Persia.

Slavs

By mid-6th century, groups identifying as TERM start appearing in ROman writing, north of the Danube. Barbarians across border. In 550, a TERM army defeats Roman army at Adrianople, but Justinian maintains Danube pitting TERM against TERM.

Avars

Nomadic barbarian group, succesors to Huns and Central Asian nomads. Show up in 557, by 561 have migrated west. Paid by Romans to fight Barbarians. TERM allies with Lombards in 557 to invade Italy, build an Empire from Czekia to the Black Sea.

Maurice

Eastern Roman Emperor 582-602, makes peace with Persians, fights Avars. Gets usurped, causing a big war between Avars, Rome, and Persia.

Diocese

System by Diocletian, split provinces into 12 smaller TERM led by a vicar, separating civil and military rule of the prvinces.

limitanei and comitatenses

Border troops and field armies (in order), split by Diocletian in his bureaucratic reforms.

The Great Persecution

Began 303, Diocletian's persecution of Manicheans and Christians, forced sacrifices to the emperor, Christians handed over books. Created lots of Christian Martyrs.

The Battle of the Milvian Bridge

Constantine defeats Maxentius, North of Rome. Myth of Constantine's "Christian Vision," he says in Rome for 3 months building monuments, such as the Arch of Constantine.

Arch of Constantine

Built in a rush by Constantine after defeating Maxentius, used reliefs from older Emperors. After, Constantine leaves Rome and never comes back.

Edict of Milan

313 peace treaty with Eastern Emperor Licinius, tolerance of religion across Roman lands. Constantine begins to support Christianity, but still allows pagan cults. Starts building massive Churches in Constantinople. Constantine the only Emperor-Saint (recognized by Eastern Church).

Constantinople

324, Constantine defeats Licnius to become sole Roman Emperor, begins building TERM. Christined in 330, small Roman colony to large planned city as a "New Rome." Massive walls and cisterns for protection, great Harbor and aqueducts. Constantine rules from 306-337

Hipodrome

Huge, horse-racing track built by Constantine. Filled enter with spols from Empire, a proto-British Museum of sorts.

Helen

Constantines mother, credited with his conversation, a lifelong Christian. On pilgramage, finds the "true cross" and becomes a saint.

The Donatist Controversy

Constantine attempts to unify Church by persecuting North African Christian sect, siezes Churches, doesn't work. Donatists believed in absolute purity for church leaders.

Council of Nicaea

Constantine calls all bishops together, Church starts being institutionalized in Empire. Calendar of Easter agreed upon, start of Canon Law. Called to deal with religious devision, condemns Arians who believed that Jesus was not equal to God the Father. Nicene Creed states that all three of the Trinity are equal. By 40-50s CE, Jesus worshiped as God, by 4c, Jesus seen as God. How can he be both God and Man?

Constantius II

Arian Emperor, 336-361 became sole ruler of Empire after Constantine.

Julian the Apostate

Ruled from 361-363, studied with great pagans in Athans. Attempt to standardize paganism to fight Christianity, wrote "Against The Galileans." Paganism taught in schools, encouraged Christian sectarianism.

Valentinian I

Ruled West 364-375 (late 4th century).

Battle of Adrianople

Large Roman defeat by Goths in 378 against Eastern Emperor Valens, who is killed.

Theodosius the Great

Became Eastern Emperor in 379 after Valens killed, last Emperor to rule united empire from 392-395. Christianity official religion in 380, outlawed paganism in 381. Called the First Council of Constantinople.

Askesis

Training/exercise from Greek philosophy, cleansing sole from early desires. Adopted by Chrisitan monastic movement.

Anthony the Great

Father of monasticisim, "The Life of Anthony" by Athanasius of Alexandria skyrocketed his fame. A hermit, lived in a cave, growing appeal to martyr oneself from the world.

Anachoresis / anachorite

Hermit form of monasticism, hidden an separate from society. Now Christianity is legal, less martyrs more monks.

Pachomius

Upper Egypt (Southern) farmer-soldier, converts to Christianity. Set up early communal (Cenobitic) monestaries, based on poverty + chastity + obedience. Very popular, builds 9 monestaries.

Cenobitic Monasticism

Communal monastic life based on poverty, chastity, and obedience. Opposite of Eremitic Monasticism.

Monastic Rule

Rules for Monastic life. First one in 4th century coptic by Pachomius gave one mat, 2 sleeveless garments, no property, no leaving monestary, and continuous labor.

Lavra

Monasticism spreads to in 4th century, monks live by themselves for the week and come together on Sundays to pray. Eremtic/cenobitic mix. Mar Saba most famous monestary (in Palestine).

Stylite

Extreme Monastic form in 4th century Syria, monks stand on columns slightly away from cities. Extreme acts, became wise men. Monasticism as a spectacle. Symeon the Stylite notable in Syria.

Jerome

4-5th century Balkan Saint who studied in Rome and monasticism in Syria. Returned to Rome, rich women followers, establishes monestary in Bethlehem. Translated Pachomius' rule and the Bible to Latin.

Martin of Tours

4th century from Gaul, becomes bishop. Promots monasticism.

John Cassian

Founds monestaries in Gaul after deacon of Constantinople. Studied in Egypt, know latin and greek writes in latin and translates Eastern monastic ideas.

Rule of Benedict

From Nursia, 5th century after fall of Western Empire. Builds a great monestary near Naples and writes TERM. For 500-600 years, used as Monastic Rule in West. No strict rule in East, each monestary followed counder.

Arius

From Alexandria, preached that God the father created Christ the son. Time existed before Jesus, therefore the son can't equal teh father. Fathers are older than sons whatever is born is created. God is eternal, Jesus the son is lesser. Was excommunicated, exiled 5 times. Gets Pope on his side, beliefs after his death spread outside of Empire. After 4th century, no Roman Arians. Constantine was baptized on deathbed by an Arian bishop.

Homoousios

Of the same substance, Nicene.

Homoiousios

Of similar substances, Arians.

Heresy, Heresiarch

TERM seen as a follower of someone, someone who engages in TERM is a SECOND TERM.

Athanasius of Alexandria

340-360, extreme Nicene, hated Arians, exiled 5 times. Fought Arians in "On the Incarnation" and wrote "Life of Anthony."

On the Incarnation

4th century anti-Arian book written by Athanasius of Alexandria. Was written before controversy.

Cappadocian Fathers

4th century well-educated intellectuals and Bishops, studed in Athans inc. St Basil. Integrated Greek philosophy (pagan literature) into Christianity, against Arianism in Empire, big on Trinity. Wrote many of most important works of the Middle Ages.

First Council of Constantinople

Theodosius the Great, a Nicene emperor, confirms Nicene Creed and expanded it in 38, institutional introduction of Holy Trinity. Becomes basis of Christian theology, Nicene Christianity given legal status in Empire. Arian Churches siezed, given to Nicenes.

Theodore of Mopsuestia

Trained Nestorius of Constantiople, literal interpretation of the Bible, no allegory. Christ has two natures, 1 divine and 1 human, which suffers and dies. 5th century.

Nestorius of Constantinople

5th century, Achean (school of thought) Bishop of Constantinople, trained by Theodore of Mopsuestia, literal interpratation, 2 natures. Opposed calling Mary "theotokos" as Mary can only bear the human nature of Christ. Popular opinion was against him, raised by Cyril of Alexandria, and he was exiled.

Theotokos

The Virgin Mary, "god bearer."

Cyril of Alexandria

5th century, affective political operator, goal to make Patriarch of Alexandria most important, strong anti-Pagan. Publishes 12 letters to Nestorius, claiming him a heretic.

Theodosius II

5th century Eastern Emperor, calls Council of Ephesius (I) in 431 to deal with Nestorius. Dies in 451.

Council of Ephesus (I)

In 431, Cyril has Pope and imperial court on his side and wins, bribary, Nestorius a heretic and sent to a monestary.

Miaphysite

Only 1 nature of Christ, he is both fully human and fully divine.

Council of Ephesus (II)

In 449, furthers anti-Achean (championed by Nestorius) philosophy, led and won by Dioscorus for Miaphysites.

Council of Chalcedon

In 451, this council nulled Ephesus II. It was a compromise, Christ is 1 person but has 2 natures, Dyophysite. Alexandrians reject this, schism, Egyptians really against. Monestaries are officially under Bishops.

Dyophysite

Christ is one person but has 2 separate natures, divine and human.

Jacob Baradaeus

While Justinian leans Chalcedon/Dyophysite, TERM ordains Miaphysite bishops, somesimtes "TERM-ites."

Melkites

Dyophysites in Middle East seen as followers of the Emepror.

Monoenergism/Monothelitism

Two theological ideas that that failed to create compromise after Chalcedeon, that Christ has two natures but has tone energy or will.

Pope Honorius I

Pope condemned for following Monotheletism.

Church of the East/East Syrian Church

Distinct from Roman Church. Anti-Achaean, Shapur persecutes in 3rd century. In 6th century, Esyrrian church is well established and supported by the state. Missionaries spread far into Central Asia. In era, lots of distinct Christian groups with distinct hierarchies that all view each other as heretics. Everyone claims that Athanasius agrees with them.

Barbarians

Non-Roman groups across Europe, Africa, and Asia.

Ethnogenesis

The process in which an ethnic group forms over time.

Historical Materialism

Material conditions of a society drive history. Marxian (Structural) vs Marxism.

Mode of production

The dominant way in which surplus i produced and the social connotations, Marxist.

Slave Society

Rome was this kind of society, as a mdoe of production. Not a racial system, but deeply oppressive.

Coloni

Tenant-farmers tied to land, proto-serfs, legally free without freedom of movement. Inherited. A result of peasants becoming less free, rather than a transition from slavery (which continued). Most sources on TERM are from Egypt.

Solidus

The dollar of the middle ages, East Roman coin.

Late Roman villa

Huge elite estates, sizes of towns (would often become towns).

Paterfamilias

Family as the basis of Roman Society (wealth and status), TERM held nearly absolute power over family, which included extended family and slaes. Augustus passed laws to encourage marraige and children.

Melania the Younger

A rich follower of Jerome, moved with him to Judea to establish a monestary. Insanely rich, becomes mnastic, money funds convents and monestaries across the region. Ascetic life as an escape for women from family from marriage as new ideas of gender expectations develop (virginity idealized).

Huns

A nomaic group, moved across the Steppe from China, pushing other Barbarian groups West in 5th century. Other TERM more south.

Arcadius

Son of Theodosius I, ruled East after father from 395-408. West in decline as East grows.

Honorius

Son of Theodosius I, ruled West after father in early 5th century. West in decline as East grows. Starts rule at 10 years old, Stilicho (half-Roman military leader) rules for him.

Theodosius II

Reigns Eastern Empire from 402-450, Anthemius in charge for the first few years, buitl Theodosian walls around Consatntinople. Court dominated by Pulcheria. Propogates Theodosian Code, single code for all laws after Consatntine. Becomes Roman Law in West, will be replaced by Justinian Code in East.

Stilicho

Rules for Honorius, half-Roman military leader. Pitted Barbarian groups against each other. Fights Alaric the Visigoth.

Visigoths

Foederati group in Italy, led by Alaric in 5th Century. Most long-lived Barbarian group. After Aleric sacks Rome, becomes Foederati against Vandals in spain. As WRE declines, takes control of land, kingdom centered in Aquitaine, later Toledo.

Foederati/foedus

Distinct Barbarian groups within the empire, gave soldiers to Roman Army.

Alaric

King of Visigoths 395-410. Rebel, campaigns into Italy, wanted increased power inside the Roman state. Stilicho pushed TERM and Goths back to Croatia.

Gothic Sack of Rome

In 406, Vandals move across Rhine into Roman territory, Alaric uses this to invate Italy again, in 410 TERM happens, a shocking event. Alaric is a ROman general, but is also a rebel and a Goth.

Valentinian III

Rules West after Honorius, 425-455 from 6 years old. Civil war during his reign, Roman armies try to get Foederati all on their side. Vandals migrate to North Africa in 429, by 434 Roman-Vandal peace. Assassinated in 455.

Aetius

Roman military leader, controls Roman army. Employs hunic mercenaries agross Gaul, Vandals take advantage of North Africa. Defeats Atilla and Huns. Is killed by Valentinian III

Attila

Unites the huns, starts attacking Rome. Aetius defeats Huns with Foederati.

Vandal conquest of Carthage

In 439, Vandals enter Carthage, economic base of Rome is lost. West go into economic decline.

Petronius Maximus

After assassination of Valentinian III, becomes Western Emperor. Refuses treaty with Vandals, they invate and sack Rome.

Vandal Sack of Rome

In 455, Gaiseric leads Vandals into Rome, destroys city. Petronius Maximus stoned to death.

Odoacer

Non-Roman leader in Roman army, deposes Romulus Agusutus and rules Italy. No more need/desire for strong-men to rule under the name of Roman Emperor.

Romulus Augustus

The last Western Roman Emperor, deposed by Odoacer in 476.

Parthians

Parthians, a Hellenized royal family, ruled the Persian world, the one true rival of Rome. Would be replaced by the Sasanians.

Seleucia-Ctesiphon

Capital city of the Parthians, combining 2 cities. Would become the capital of the Sasanians.

Shapur I

3rd century, captures Valerian and expands Persian Empire by sacking Roman cities in Persia. Stronger rular than the Parthians, Sasanian family from Fars.

Zoroastrianism

Sasanians claimed divine right through this religion, reformed in their image.

Pahlavi

Royal language of Sasanians, from Middle Persian, grows across Persian Empire. Monotheistic.

Kawad I

5th century Sasanian, captured Roman cities, deport Romans for population transfers to build new cities in Persia (helped to establish Christianity in Persia).

Khusro I Anushirvan

6th century Sasanian, emands more money from Romans. Anastaius I refuses to pay, Kawad invades in 502. Led Persia during most of the Roman-Persian wars, large infrastructure projects, reorganized imlitary, taxation, and admininstrative systems. Strengthened Zoroastrianism by giving more power to Priests, expands control to Yemem (foreshadowing Islam), archetypal king of kings.

Xi’an Stele

Chinese stele that mentions Essyrians (parts written in Syriac) in 8th century.

Byzantium

A name for the Eastern Roman Empire, centered in Constantinople. They referred to themsleves as Romans, the name was used to continue a "Dark Ages" view of the Early Middle Ages.

Middle Ages

In between the Roman Empire and the Rennaisance of the 14th century, terms to define the Middle Ages as a period in decline were developed in the Renaissance.

Periodization

By using "Middle Ages" or the "Dark Ages" we are making an argument of the historical era. For the Early Middle Ages, that the West moves away from older ideas.

Dark Ages

Discourse as an era of fragmentation. The decline of the Roman Empire and deurbanization, economic regionalization, and the rise of Christianity.

Edward Gibbon

Late 1700s. Monumental "Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire," invented the "Dark Ages" to define the Middle Ages, an era of barbarism and religion.

Late Antiquity

A term supported by Peter Brown, rebranding the Dark Ages as an era of integration and transformation. Transformation Continues. For our purposes, Early Middle Ages = TERM.

Roman Empire

A large state stretching from England to Persia at its peak. In 3rd century, has been around for 3 centuries, all free citizens are Roman, not an ethnic term.

Latin

Main language of the West, the language of law and military. Cultural break in Balkans.

Greek

Main language of the Agean, the language of sience and philosophy. Cultural break in Balkans.

Aramaic

Lingua-franca of the Persian world, associated with Jesus and early Christianity, Talmud.