Timeframe: c. 500-1100 CE
Key Regions: Scandinavia, Hiberno/Saxon Britain, The Holy Roman Empire
Definition: A roughly 1000-year period from the fall of the Western Roman Empire (5th century) to the Renaissance (15th century).
Historical Context: Earlier historians viewed this era as a "dark age"; modern historians recognize complexities and innovations that contributed to modern Europe.
Division: The Middle Ages are divided into three periods: Early Medieval, Romanesque, and Gothic.
Leadership Transition: As Roman authority declined, local leaders known as Warrior Lords emerged.
Tribes: Northern tribes (Germanic Franks, Visigoths, Saxons, Celts, Norse) invaded or settled Roman territories.
The Church's Role: The Church, remaining centered in Rome, gained influence and stability.
Key Changes:
Breakdown of centralized power
Fusion of tribal cultures with Roman culture
The rise of Christianity created new political, cultural, and social forms.
Post-Roman Empire, Western territories were overrun by indigenous and migrating tribes.
Cultural Blending: Art from this period reflects the merging of Antique Roman and native tribal styles.
Styles:
Anglo Saxons: Abstract animal and figure representation
Celts: Use of animal and ribbon interlacing patterns
Timeframe: c. 600-900 CE
Description: Prevalent by the 5th century CE, showcasing various animal forms.
Character: Symmetrical works displaying animals from multiple perspectives, often in a stylized manner, as if x-rayed.
Description: Viking seafaring bands invaded Europe, arriving in large flotillas (up to 350 ships).
Activities: Explored, plundered, traded, and colonized regions including Iceland, Greenland, the British Isles, and parts of France.
Viking Group: The Rus established colonies in areas that would become Russia.
Location: Oseberg, Norway, ship burial, ca. 825
Details: Wooden head ornament, representative of Viking art's curvilinear movement of the Interlace Style, designed to intimidate enemy seafarers.
Location: Sweden, 8th century.
Features: Rune stones with inscriptions and Picture stones with figural decorations; themes of heroic deaths and journeys to Valhalla depicted.
Description: Norway, 815-820, a 75-foot burial ship containing the remains of two women, with treasure looted upon discovery.
Type: Brooches popularized by Roman military campaigns.
Structure: Composed of body, pin, and catch; commonly found in grave sites; important for understanding literacy in barbarian groups.
Origin: Merovingian-Frankish, seen as examples of cloisonné techniques using semi-precious stones.
Mid-6th century CE, silver gilt with garnet inlays; functional yet decorative, worn to denote status, often found in wealthy graves.
Pre-Roman Era: Well-populated agricultural land of Celts.
Roman Conquest: Conquered in 43 CE; experienced wealth and prospered up to 370 CE when Christianity began spreading.
Timeline: Roman army withdrawal in 406 led to power struggles among Germanic tribes.
Cultural Recovery: By the beginning of the 7th century, Anglo-Saxon kingdoms emerged, reviving art through diverse influences.
As Christianity spread north, Northern artistic traditions influenced southern styles, creating innovative artistic expressions.
Content: Descriptions of jewelry, military equipment, and hero burials, notably in the epic 'Beowulf'.
Discovery: Sutton Hoo burial site revealed treasures, suggesting the grandeur of the buried warrior.
Details: Found in the Sutton Hoo ship, c. 615-630, combining motifs of different origins, showcasing Hiberno-Saxon style elements.
Emergence: The Church became a critical source of patronage for education and the arts, intertwining its influence with that of the nobility.
Churches commissioned various artworks for liturgical purposes, leading to developments in the artistic scene.
Initially pagan, Christianity spread through the efforts of missionaries, notably Augustine.
Characterized by unique artistic traditions linked to the Church, including illuminated manuscripts and reliquaries.
Origin: A notable monastery established in 635 C.E., key in preserving Christian art and literature.
Highlight of medieval art, epitomized by the Lindisfarne Gospels, elaborate in design and craftsmanship.
Fusion of pagan animal motifs and Christian themes, reflecting the stylistic interplay of cultures.
Symbolism: Each Evangelist represented by specific animals correlating to concepts of Christ's nature and mission.
Reference to Viking raids and their impact on Britain, particularly in relation to the destruction of the church on Lindisfarne.
Emergence led by Charlemagne (crowned in 800) aimed to revive Roman glory and enforce Christianity across his empire.
Charlemagne's empire was a significant geographical and cultural entity, promoting Church reforms and artistic revival.
Charlemagne's Palace Chapel draws inspiration from San Vitale, characterized by its octagonal structure and stability.
A significant work of monumental sculpture depicting a humanized suffering Christ, marking a shift from early Christian representations.
The period marked political migrations and the unifying force of Christianity, giving rise to centers of learning in regions untouched by Roman rule, alongside a blending of Germanic and Roman styles in art.