bcn the city and its history

Capital of Visigoth kingdom

Barcelona

Visigoths were

a minority in Visigoth Barcelona

Visigoth religion

Arianism

When did the Western Roman empire officially fall

476

How many member states in modern EU

27

When did Spain join the EU

1986 alongisde Portugal, growing EU from 10 to 12 states

When did Barcelona host Olympic games

1992, city transforms

Roman name of Barcelona

Colonia Iulia Augusta Faventia Paterno Barcino

Colonia in Roman name of Barcino

It was a colony, military settlement for retired veterans

Iulia in Roman name of Barcelona

Founded to honor Julius Caesar’s family

Augusta in Roman name of Barcelona

Founded under emperor Augustus

Faventina in Roman name of Barcelona

With the favor of the gods

Paterno in Roman name of Barcelona

City founded by Roman descendants, they are considered the fathers

Barcino in Roman name of Barcelona

Romanization of Barkeno

First human evidence in Barcelona

Dates 11,000 years ago in the paleolithic era

From the 3rd century BC, what was inscripted on Barcelona coins

BARKENO, this was during Laietania

Barcino was founded

15 BC, Augusta was emperor

When did Christianity become the official religion in Barcino

380

When were first Christian communities established in Barcino

2nd and 3rd centuries AD

Edict of Milan

(313 AD) signed between Constantine Augustus and Licinus Augustus to allow people to practice religion of their choosing, basically legalized Christianity

When did crisis of Roman empire begin

3rd century

5 main causes of the fall of the Roman Empire

1. Fiscal pressures

2. The ruralization of socity

3. Political Crisis

4. Time of calamities

5. The German peoples

Fiscal pressures on the Roman Empire

Increase of bureaucracy / Need to maintain a large army to protect the frontiers / Empire stopped expanding: taxes to pay for the army now had to be levied on Roman people rather than the people they were conquering

The ruralization of society

To avoid the payment of taxes (higher to pay for armies protecting vast borders), some wealthy citizens leave the city and move to rural villas. Cities lost population and economic prominence.

1. Roman public buildings had been funded by the tax dollars of rich families; buildings are now in disarray. This is why the forum of Barcino was taken apart stone by stone. One use of the stones was to renew countryside villas.

Political crises

3rd and 4th centuries marked a period of “military anarchy”: army was appointing and disposing of emperors, factions fought amongst themselves. Imperial authority was weakening as wealthy rural citizens gained prominence. Unprecedented 20 emperors in 50 years

Death of Teodosius I

(395) Empire was divided after the fact. Arcadius was emperor of the Eastern empire. Honorius was emperor of the western empire

A time of calamities

Beginning in the 3rd century, the West faced a time of economic depression and did not see signs of recovery until the 11th century. Period of climate cooling, famine, and plague

Eastern roman empire survives as

The Byzantine empire for another ~1000 years, did not have to deal with Germanic people, east was wealthier with more resources

The Germanic peoples

*Could arguably be the most important cause of the fall of Rome – large external threat

From the third century several Germanic peoples – Vandals, Suebi, Alans – crossed the borders of the Empire and sacked Roman towns and cities. A climate of great insecurity began. Most of the Catalan cities suffered arsons and abandonments during this period. Cities such as Barcelona rebuilt their walls to increase security. Nothing like the Romans, the Germanic tribes fought one another, would sack towns and cities, were barbaric

How did Rome respond to the Germanic people

Did not fight. While Germans were less advanced, their armies were far more numerous. Rome let some people in so they could serve in the Roman army, trade with Rome.

Roman crisis of cities 3rd and 4th centuries affecting Barcino

Lost economic/political influence, lost population, rebuilt city walls

What year did the Visigoths enter Hispania

415

Name of Barcelona under Visigoths

Barcinona

When was the Visigoth kingdom

6th and 7th centuries

The Visigoths allied with the Romans

To expel the Vandals, another Germanic tribe, from Iberia

King Ataulf

Visigoths settled in Barcino and made it their capital

Progression of Visigoth Capitals

1. Barcinona

2. Seville

3. Merida

4. Toledo

The Visigoth political system was characterized by

Elective monarchy, constant fights for power

The Visigoth kings

Ruled the Iberian peninsula and Septimania for 200 years

Visigoths became referents of power

In 476 with the fall of the Roman empire

Lex Visigothorum

Visigoth legal code that was a mix of Roman and Visigoth laws. Showed a commitment to coexsitence, power sharing.

King Reccared converts to Catholicism

587-89

Catholicism becomes official Visigoth religion

III Council of Toledo (589)

613 in Visigoth kingdom

Jews forced to become Christian

680 in Visigoth kingdom

Jews become slaves

Barcelona in the 6th century

Within the 1st century BC Roman space but power moves from city center to the Northeast angle

Sagrera

Areas around Catholic churches in Visitoh times that were considered safe in a time in which noblemen exploited peasants, fought for power

First human evidences in Barcelona was from

a jasper quarry in Cantera Morrot (now Montjuic). Paleolithic hunter gatherers produced their tools here

Neolithic occupation of Barcelona

(6th - 4th century BC) concentrated in two areas: around Sant Pau del Camp (modern Raval), around Placa Sant Jaume (modern Mons Taber). Both areas were on marshland, close to streams, marshland.

Evidences of neolithic occupations of Barcelona

Habitat areas (hut floors), storage areas (silos), funerary areas (tombs)

Neolithic Barcelona residential areas

Small clusters of huts made with perishable materials, floors dug into rock

Neolithic Barcelona funerary practices

Simple graves (cists). Isolated in Placa Villa de Madrid, group in Sant Pau del Camp. Grave goods included pottery vessels, stone/bone tools, personal ornaments

Bronze Age in Barcelona

(1800-800 BC) Around Sant Pau del Camp and Hospital de Sant Pau. Ancient records reference existence of megalithic monuments in Montjuic and Camp de l’Arpa

Bronze Age evidences in Sant Pau del Camp

Some floor huts with hearths, some burials

Bronze Age evidences in Hospital de Sant Pau

Remains of a stone wall, floors of three big huts

The founding of Empuries

(575-550 BC) Founded by the Phoceans (Greek traders). Emporion means trading port and market

Empuries was connected with

Surrounding local peoples, Southern Iberian Phoenician colonies, Etruscans, Atlantic

4 centers of Empuries

Palaiapolis, Neapolis, Roman Emporium and local settlements

Palaiapolis

“the old city” of Empuries. Under current town of Sant Marti D’Empuries

Neapolis

The new city of Empuries. Relocation at mid 5th century BC. Orthogonal layout, great importance of the harbor. Most current visible remains are dated 3rd-2nd location BC

Empuries remains

Medical sanctuaries (Asclepius and Serapis), civic centers (agora and stoa)

Almanzaor dies

In 1002, caliphate of Cordoba then falls apart.

Ramon Berenguer I

(Count of Barcelona) Restores his authority over the Catalan nobility and creates a feudal state between 1060-1070

Union with Crown of Aragon

The king of Aragon dies without an heir, so his brother comes out of the monastery, marries and has a daughter named Petronila. In 1150 she marries Ramon Berenguer IV, the count of Barcelona. Count of Barcelona now also rules Aragon, and crown of Aragon is born, Barcelona is the wealthiest most powerful city.

Vila nova

New settlements founded outside the city walls around churches and monasteries at the end of Muslim lootings

Construction of Santa Maria del Mar

1329-1383

Fast construction of Santa Maria del Mar

Reflects vitality of merchants at the time, how wealthy merchant class was able to fund projects.

Wealthy merchants

Lived in palaces within Barcelona

At the end of the middle ages architecture in Barcelona

Sober, austure, luminous. Use of pointed arch supported by several pillars allows for large windows. Vertically, strong presence of light, maintenance of Latin cross strcture. Materializes new conception of God. Gothic architecture not just for churches

1391 in the Call

Citizens and peasants are attacked, neighborhood is destroyed. More than 400 Jewish people murdered, Synagogue and its properties become property of the Crown

In 1424 unconverted Jewish people

Were expulsed from Barcelona

In 1492 unconverted Jewish people

Were expulsed from Castilla and Aragon kingdoms, 100k-150k jewish people left Iberia

Medieval Barcelona size

35,000-40,000 population, one of Europe’s largest cities.

Romanesque art

Appears in the 10th century over fears of the end of the world. Religious art, simple shapes, little decoration, symmetry

Culture in feudal era

Culture controlled by monks, no one can read. Church controls people’s lives, art and culture centered on religion

When did the Visigoths arrive in Hispania

415

Visigoths become referents for political power

In 476 with the fall of the Western Roman Empire

Visigoth political system characterized by

Elective monarchy, fights for power

Where did power move in Barcelona between Roman and Visigoth times.

From the forum in the center of the city to the episcopal complex in the NE part of the city. Close to a Roman domus, which is likely now the Bishop’s house. Bishop built the episcopal complex and is the center of power. Modified basilica and bapistery, wine and garum also produced here

Milliaria

Every 10 Roman miles there were millaria markers on Roman roads where horses could be changed and fed. Every 30 miles there was housing for travelers.

Full Roman name of Barcelona

Colonia Iulia Augusta Faventina Paterna Barcino

Where Barkeno / Barcino were built in almost the same place

Natural harbors, fertile land, small hill in the agricultural plain: Mons Taber, Close to Via Augusta, natural protection from harbors and mountains, rivers provide clean water

Two main streets in Barcino that intersected at the forum

Cardus maximus and Decumanus maximus

Garum

Food very important to Roman diet and trade. Made from mixing and grinding several fish, adding aromatic plants