Notes on the Fall of the Roman Empire and the Middle Ages

Barbarian Groups and the Fall of the Roman Empire

• The map illustrates the routes taken by various barbarian groups in Europe after the fall of the Roman Empire.
• Groups discussed include the Goths, Vandals, and Normans, previously considered the enemy 'other' to Greeks and Romans.
• Focus on how these pagan groups adapted to medieval Christianity later.
• After the fall, descendants of Celts, Vikings, Goths, and others establish modern European boundaries and languages still observed today (e.g., Burgundy in France, Lombardy in Italy).

Linguistic Developments Post-Rome

• The lack of a central authority led to the isolation of Latin in various regions.
• As these regions diverged from standardized Latin, local dialects developed, forming distinct languages:
  • Spanish Latin evolved into modern Spanish.
  • French Latin evolved into modern French.
• Romance languages (Spanish, French, Portuguese, Romanian, Italian) stemmed from local adaptations of Latin.
• English, however, is a Germanic language heavily influenced by French.

Religious Transformations

• Without central authority, local interpretations of Christianity led to heretical groups.
• Rulers like Charlemagne sought to eliminate these groups, sometimes violently.
• Key areas of focus: Northern France, Reconquista Spain, British Isles, connections to Nordic countries and Vikings.
• Emergence of Anglo-Saxon and Hibernian arts in the British Isles; mixture of Celtic, Germanic, and Roman traditions.

Re-evaluating the Dark Ages

• The term "Dark Ages" suggests a period of cultural stagnation; this perception originates from Renaissance ideals.
• Giorgio Vasari, a Renaissance figure, deemed medieval art inferior, dismissing a rich, diverse cultural legacy.
• Historians now categorize the Middle Ages into Early Medieval, Romanesque, Gothic, and Gothic Proto-Renaissance.

Misconceptions about Medieval Life

• Common belief: medieval life was brutish and short.
• Average life expectancy figures skewed by high infant mortality; many adults lived into their 50s or beyond.
• Young marriages often referenced from royal and aristocratic contexts; typical peasant marriages occurred later in life.

Merovingian Art and Culture

• Notable for intricate metalworking and jewelry, such as pieces from the grave of Merovingian Queen Arnagund.
• Grave goods found from the Merovingian dynasty, showcasing skilled craftsmanship.
  • Examples include detailed brooches and belt buckles made using the cloisonné technique.
  • Animal motifs prevalent in the artwork, representing the "animal style" characteristic of the time.

Cultural Influences on Art

• The British Isles had varied influences: Roman styles supplemented original native art.
• The fusion of Celtic, Roman, Germanic, and Norse styles is termed Hiberno-Saxon.
• Sutton Hoo burial site indicates cross-cultural exchange, featuring artifacts from diverse backgrounds including Celtic gold and Roman items.

Monasticism and Manuscript Production

• Monasteries as centers for manuscript production during this period; scriptoria were designated areas for this work.
• The Bible was the most important manuscript, often copied and illustrated by multiple monks due to the manual nature of the process.
• St. Jerome's Vulgate Bible held notable importance; it had translation inaccuracies leading to peculiar depictions, such as Moses with horns instead of light.

Illuminated Manuscripts and Symbolism

• Illuminated manuscripts distinguished by recurring symbols for the four Evangelists:
  • Matthew: Man or Angel
  • Mark: Lion
  • Luke: Ox
  • John: Eagle
• The symbolic representations provide both artistic expression and theological depth in medieval manuscripts.