Dark Ages

Theodosian Walls

In Constantinople, as the city grew the famous double line of the walls, They saved the city, and the Byzantine Empire with it, during sieges by the Avar-Sassanian coalition, Arabs, Rus', and Bulgars, among others. The advent of gunpowder siege cannons rendered the fortifications vulnerable, but cannon technology was not sufficiently advanced to capture the city on its own, and the walls could be repaired between reloading

Justinian

was an ambitious leader of the Eastern Roman Empire with a mixed record of success.  He fought several expensive wars against Arian Christians such as the Ostrogoths and Vandals, exhausting the treasury.  Under his leadership during the Nika Revolt, many important buildings in Constantinople were destroyed by rebel

Theodora

was a former prostitute who became empress by marrying Justinian. Just as it appeared that the Justinian would lose during the Nika Revolt, Theodora said something to the effect of “empire is a fitting burial shroud,” meaning she would rather die fighting than flee to save her life.  This inspired Justinian and his generals to fight back against the rebels, and Justinian eventually crushed the revolt

Nika Revolt

When fans of the chariot races at the Hippodrome rioted, Justinian arrested the leaders.  The people revolted against Justinian (the Nika revolt).  When it looked as if Justinian would lose against the rebels, his wife Theodora shamed Justinian into action and inspired him and his generals to fight back.  35,000 people are killed in one day as Justinian punishes the revolt

Justinian’s Code

On a more successful note, Justinian assembled Roman laws from his own and previous eras, creating a body of law that would be the basis for modern laws throughout Europe.  Many of the laws were inspired by Orthodox Christian values

Hagia Sophia

The Hagia Sophia is an opulent temple built by Justinian in Constantinople (present day Istanbul, Turkey), known as the “temple of holy wisdom.”

Herakleious

created Themes System, exachartes, returned from war with the true cross, Yarmouk, more in notes

Caesaropapism

The state defining church policy; the emperor acting as the church/Pope

Iconoclasm

Many Christians develop faith in icons, such as worshipping religious symbols (a statue of Jesus for example) or believing these icons can cure ailments.  Religious leaders in the Eastern Roman Empire view the worshipping of images/icons/symbols as heretical, “the breaking of images.” Instituted by Eastern Roman Emperors Leo III and his son, Constantine V, the church and the state outlaw the veneration of symbols (icons).

Empress Irene

Irene is a regent for her underage son (who is technically the Emperor).  She eventually has her son killed so that she could continue rule.  Irene formally announces that iconoclasm is heresy. Irene also fostered closer ties with the Frankish ruler Charlemagne, a close supporter of the Pope.  Irene is eventually sent into exile, but is considered saint by the Church for she restored the veneration of icons

Basil II

the Eastern Roman Empire expanded, but at great financial costs.  He became known as the Bulgar-Slayer for his exploits in conquering ancient Bulgaria. With a tight hold on Byzantine purse strings and a private army of giant Vikings, Basil got the better of at least two significant usurpers for his throne, reconquered Greece and all of the Balkans, won victories in Syria and doubled the size of the empire. Also, areas that served as buffers to potential enemies were now part of the empire, meaning parts of the empire were directly exposed to invasion. After Basil’s death, many parts of the empire revolted and the empire fell into decline

Battle of Manzikert

Saljuq Turks, under the rule of Alp Arslan, successfully held off a large attack by the Byzantine Empire.  The victorious Seljuk army captured the Byzantine emperor Romanos IV Diogenes, and, with the empire in disarray as generals squabbled for the throne, nothing could stop the Seljuks sweeping across Asia Minor. Manzikert was not a terrible defeat in terms of casualties or immediate territorial loss, but as a psychological blow to Byzantine military prowess and the sacred person of the emperor, it would resound for centuries and be held up as the watershed after which the Byzantine Empire fell into a long, slow, and permanent decline. This defeat for the weakened Eastern Roman Empire (Byzantines) allowed the Muslim Saljuqids to settle the eastern region of the Byzantine Empire in Asia Minor

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).

Saint Benidict

Founded many monasteries based on the idea of ora et labora (“work & pray”). The idea was for monks to concentrate on becoming self-sufficient through their labor in addition to their spiritual work.  The Benedictine Rules for daily life of monks were created to guide them in their journey to be self-sufficient.

Pope Gregory

 major supporter of Christian monasteries which Gregory sees as useful for providing education and training future church officials. Pope Gregory was also a supporter of missionaries; one example is ordering monks to convert Germanic tribal groups such as the Angles and the Saxons.  This was done by absorbing pagan customs into the Christian faith

Saint Patrick

lived as a slave in Ireland after his capture by pirates.  He eventually escaped but returned to Ireland, in order to convert the inhabitants to Christianity. Ireland becomes a Christian stronghold, and Irish monks branch out to many other locations to spread the religion.

Book of Kells

an example of the religious texts produced in monasteries; the Book of Kells contains parts of the Christian Gospels with elaborately ornate illustrations.

Lombards

Three years after the death of Justinian, the Lombards invade the weakened Western Roman Empire. Like the other “barbarian” groups, they are Arian Christians. Initially the Lombards conflict with bishops and popes of Orthodox Christianity (who by this time have acquired political power beyond their power in the church).

Theudelinda

A lomard Queen, onvinces her second husband, Agilulf,  to convert to Orthodox Christianity.  From this point forward, the Lombards follow Orthodox Christianity

Visigoths

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

Councils of Toledo

Franks

Roman federates (semi-autonomous group under Roman government rule), more in notes

Clovis I

the founding father of the Merovingian Dynasty, The family name "Merovingian" comes from Clovis' grandfather Merovech, who had also fought alongside the Romans, dying in 456 CE. Although raised a pagan, Clovis realized that conversion to Christianity would be extremely beneficial to him if he ever hoped to secure the loyalty of all of the Frankish people. His conversion to Orthodox Christianity makes the Franks Christians.  Under his rule, the Franks expand their power quickl

Gavelkind

or the division of property equally among the children of the deceased property owner, was the traditional principle of inheritance among the Franks, and so the royal lands, as well as the royal title -- which was also considered a personal possession, were divided among the sons of a dead ruler. There was competition among the heirs to gain a greater share of the patrimony, and a rivalry arose between Neustria, Austrasia, and Aquitaine -- the three regions into which the realm was often split to be passed on to the heirs

Salic Law of Succession

 the rule by which, in certain sovereign dynasties, persons descended from a previous sovereign only through a woman were excluded from succession to the throne. Gradually formulated in France, the rule takes its name from the code of the Salian Franks, the Lex Salica (Salic Law).

2 reasons Muslims expanded into Spain

- economic, eruope as a source of slaves and wealth
- religious, looking for new converts, win converts

Charles Martel

mayor of the Palace, details in notes

Pepin the Short

was King of the Franks from 751 until his death in 768: Pepin the Short was a son of Charles Martel and also a Mayor of the Palace. Pepin gets the Pope to declare Pepin as the new king, thereby replacing the Merovingian dynasty’s control of the Franks to Carolingian control of the Franks. In exchange, Pepin gives land to the Pope (the “Donation of Pepin”), Papal states

Papel States

were land territories under the direct administrative control of the Orthodox Christian Church and the Pope. 

Charlemagne

- expansion of the kingdom of Franks, March of Barcelona
- protects christianity, also expands
- revived learning

missi dominic, Counts, duke, Palace Chapel at Achen

missi dominic

translates to the "lord’s emissaries,” lord meaning king. The missi dominici 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.

Duke

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

Palace Chapel at Aachen

Charlemagne’s favorite palace (in present day Germany); also symbol of how Franks were influenced by Muslim architecture (from Umayyads in Spain) and the Christian East.

Frankish Education

The Franks push for greater literacy resulting in the standardization of writing (before the printing press, legible and standardized writing is an important development).  The push for literacy results in the standardization of uncial (upper-case) and miniscule (lower-case) letters.

Treaty of Verdun

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

branch out from areas around present day Scandinavia (present day Denmark, Finland, Norway). They attack new territories from  high-speed, elusive ships. Vikings attack the British Isles (England, Scotland, Ireland), Constantinople, Paris, and other areas, exposing the limitations of the Frankish/Carolingian power.  Viking excursions even lead to settlements in Iceland and Greenland, and in 1000 AD, Vikings briefly settle in what is now Canada, were all from Scandinavia but the term did not designate a homogeneous group; rather, it referred to one who joined an expedition expressly for the purpose of raiding others for personal gain. The Old Norse phrase fara i viking (meaning “to go on expedition”) is understood as meaning something closer to piracy and robbery than legitimate trade.

Viking Raids

The raids started when three ships docked at the shore by the abbey of Lindisfarne. The abbey's reeve, Beaduheard, believed he recognized them as those of Norse traders and, thinking they had lost their way, went out to direct them up the coast to the estate he thought they had been aiming for. Upon approaching the ships, however, he was instantly killed by the sailors who then sacked the abbey and murdered everyone they found inside or on the grounds; this was only the beginning.

The raids continued when Viking ships sacked the monastery of Jarrow in Northumbria, when they struck at the monastery of Iona in Scotland and, in the same year, attacked sites in Ireland. Raids and military incursions continued in Britain through ending with the invasion by the great Norwegian king Harald Hardrada, known as “the last of the Vikings”, whose victories over the Anglo-Saxon king Harold Godwinson contributed significantly to William the Conqueror's Norman victory over Harold at The Battle of Hastings later in the same year.

Viking raids in Frankish Territory

845: Attacked Paris successfully under Ragnar Lodbrok. West Frankish king Charles the Bald bribes Ragnar to leave with 7,000 French livres or 5670 pounds of silver and gold

November, 885 – October, 886: Vikings lay siege to Paris again. This time unsuccessfully. Defense of Paris by Odo, Count of Paris. An account of the siege was left by a monk Abo Cernuus. The account is probably biased to favor the French and Cernuus is well known for his exaggerations. Vikings eventually bribed to leave after the arrival of the Frankish king Charles the Fat. He offers the Vikings 700 livres of silver to leave.

Charles the Simple

Charles the Simple gives land grant to Viking leader Rollo.

This grant will become known as Normandy. Purpose of this gift: 

1. To encourage Vikings to stop raiding Frankish territory.

2. To have Rollo protect the mouth of the Seine River against future Viking raids.