UNIT I:

I FROM
ANTIQUITY TO
MIDDLE AGES 1
INDEX MAIN THESIS:

1. URBAN AREAS The Middle Ages doesn’t replace the Ancient World due to the
Barbarian Invasions. The effort of Byzantium and the Visigoths
2. THE WORLD’S CITIES (Charlemagne) extend the R.E. keeping the same -but weakened-
roman structures (economic, commercial, political institutions,
3. LIFE IN URBAN cultural, religious, etc.) despite the emergence of new monarchies.
AREAS
This new conditions were led by the invasion of the Vikings and the
Islamic civilisation (11th century), which broke the roman
structures: commercial routes disappeared since all were dangerous,
most of the roman paths vanished, the population is rooted to the soil
and the only economic activity is agriculture. This is the end of the
Antiquity.

Then, a new formula was created: feudalism: it removed commerce,

it rooted people to the farmland and a new lifestyle and perspective
of the world was crystallised as compared to Rome.

2
I.
I THE DIVISION OF THE
ROMAN EMPIRE

Your Company Name 3

 TERRITORIAL CONQUESTS STOPPED PRESSURE FROM
Stopping territorial conquest meant the reduction of precious metals FOREIGN
and slaves. It led to the Roman Empire to an economic crisis. PEOPLE
Germans came to Western
Europe.

THE FALL OF ROME Two classes of barbarians: those

who agreed with R.E. (federati:
Ostrogoths entered in housing and feeding afforded by
Rome and took control individuals in exchange of
of it. protection -against aggressive
barbarians AND the R.E.) and
The political unity of those who kept harassing the
the Roman Empire Empire.
was fractured by small
kingdoms: visigoths However, the Great Invasion
(Spanish monarchy); (407) was unholdable.
frankish (France);
Vandals (North
Africa); Ostrogoths
(Italy).
Your Company Name
 I
WHO IS GOING TO ORGANISE THE WORLD NOW AS
THE ROMAN EMPIRE WAS DOING BEFORE?
I BYZANTINE EMPIRE
It claims itself as the heir of
I Western empire when
the
Rome fell. Phases:
a) Succeed at conquering:
south Italy, Sicily and
south of Spain.
b) Several fails.
c) Not being able to
recover that territories,
the B.E. transformed
Yourinto
a Greek
Company Name empire.
I OSTROGOTHS
Despite the fact Theodoric is a
barbarian, he wanted to restore
I
the Roman Empire.
The aim of restoring the
Roman Empire was
subordinating the Catholic
Church to the political power
(the Roman Empire).
They were removed by
Lombards
I THE CATHOLIC CHURCH
The main idea of Augustine is
Ithe salvation is not depending
on the individual but a task of
the Catholic Church: a new
spiritual power.
Why was the Catholic Church a
candidate? When the Roman
Empire fell, CC considered itself
as organise, educate (paideia)
and repress (motto of
5
Augustine).
I TRAITS OF THE GERMANIC KINGDOMS

Monarchies They were a

reduced amount of
Kings were elected by free
men. However, insofar they population
I didn’t have any political I
organisation, the crown German and Roman
was inherited by the sons laws coexisted.
of the kings.
I

Economy
German population .
adapted itself to Roman Despite the fact the
culture economy weakened, the
Since most of them main economic activity
I I(agriculture) and its
weren’t aggresive invaders,
their culture wasn’t structures (tertium) were
imposed. Latin and maintained. Also, the
Christianity kept alive. commercial circuits were
Your Company Name
the same. 6
 II. FRANKISH KINGDOM:
I
CHARLEMAGNE

Your Company Name 7

Why did a German kingdom considered itself as the heir In the Frankish Kingdom, kings didn’t have as much power as
I
of the Roman Empire through Catholicism? the palace butlers (they controlled the estate and the army); yet,
they weren’t the political authority (kings). At the same time, the
I
Pope was harassed by the Lombards. The treat was about
Consequences agreeing Donation of Constantine (it was a falsified document by
DONATION OF Stephen II)
a) Pepin the Short is the CONSTANTINE:
new king. Constantine I gave to the
b) A new kingdom is Pope the control of Rome
created: the Papal (1) and the authority for
States. interfering in political
c) The Frankish issues of the Western
kingdom had to Roman Empire (2).
defend it, convert
other barbarians to Pepin the Short recognised
Christianism the control of the Pope over
d) The Frankish Rome (founding a new I
kingdom was monarchy) in exchange of
recognized as the heir (1) being crowned as the
of the WRE new Frank king and (2)
e) Most important: now receiving the sovereignty of
the Pope has the the Western Roman
power of appointing Empire.
kings.
Your Company Name 8
CAROLINGIAN
I EMPIRE:
CHARLEMAGNE

Programme of Politics (1)

Charlemagne
The capital of the
Charlemagne, as the heir of
I I Carolingian Empire
the WRE and supporter of
the Pope, conquers new is Aachen. The laws
territories converting those were known as
people to Christianity. capitularies.
I

Politics (2) Politics (3)

The Frankish Kingdom Missi Dominici (palace

I was organised into inspectors)
I were appointed
counties. The borders were to make sure everyone was
led by a military paying taxes, respecting
commanders (marquis). capitularies and did not
gobern independently.
Your Company Name
 I
THE END OF THE CAROLINGIAN EMPIRE: THE
BEGINNING OF THE MIDDLE AGES
I NORMANS I SARACENS

From Scandinavia and Jutland,

the Normans (vikings, pirates) North African muslims
invaded Europe in a pretty took the control of the
aggressive way.
Mediterranean sea
It interrupted the commerce harassing people and
with Great Britain and Ireland; interrupting the
they took part of France commerce.
reaching Paris and Reims.
Your Company Name 10
I III. BYZANTINE EMPIRE

Your Company Name 11

 6th century: succeed
The Byzantine Empire, whose capital was Constantinople, was the other half of
- Justinian conquered
Ithe Roman Empire. It didn’t suffer the Germanic invasions; on top of that: the Italy, North of Africa
main idea was the Empire was one and therefore it should conquer these and the South part of
territories. Spain.

7-9th centuries: fail

- Byzantine Empire lost
its Mediterranean
territories -but the
south of Italy-. And the
Balkans by Bulgars.

10-11th centuries: fail

- The Byzantine Empire
I lost territories in Middle
East by the Ottoman
Turks.

12-15th centuries: fail

- The Byzantine Empire
was reduced to the area
of Aegean Sea and then
Your Company Name
to the surroundings of
Constantinople.
 I BYZANTINE EMPIRE: CHARACTERISTICS
The highest authority
was the emperor
(basileus) who had an
absolute power and a
divine origin.
I Iactivity (luxury item as
The Empire had a
large administration
and a legislation based
on roman law.
The main economic
activity was
agriculture (thanks to
the control of several
territories); craft
silk); and trade (since
it was the core of
intermediate routes
that connect the East
with the West.

I
Byzantine Empire maintained its Latin
heritage as it considered itself as the successor
of the Roman Empire.

I However, its political expansion to the Greek

areas turned its culture into a Hellenistic one,
specially when the idea of restoring the
Roman Empire was not possible (Latin was
Your Company Name
replaced by Greek).
II.
I
GERMANIC TRIBES ON
IBERIAN PENINSULA

Your Company Name 14

 BARB INVASIONS VISIGOTH KINGDOM POLITICS

The Iberian Peninsula suffered the
invasion of germanic tribes (suebis,
alans and vandals). Visigoths
(federati) were in charge of expelling
them.
After the fall of the Western
Roman Empire, Visigoths formed
a kingdom in the Iberian
Peninsula.
- Capital: Toledo.
- Elective monarchy; then hereditary
monarchy.
- Different laws.
- Institutions: Assembly of free men;
Aulia regia; dukes.

I I I

Your Company Name 15

 VISIGOTHIC HISPANIA:
I
CHARACTERISTICS

Your Company Name

 VISIGOTHIC HISPANIA:
I
CHARACTERISTICS

I
I

WARRIOR NOBILITY
It was the dominant group: they formed the army
and that’s why they owned lands and took part in
the political institutions.
Your Company Name They were linked by ties of
personal dependence.
 VISIGOTHIC HISPANIA:
I
CHARACTERISTICS

I
I

AGRICULTURE

Ruralisation replaced urban life: the main

economic activity was agriculture and fewer
Your Company Name
commercial and craft activities.
 VISIGOTHIC HISPANIA:
I
CHARACTERISTICS

I
I

SERFS & SLAVES

The serfs and slaves were working the lands of

the nobility. Growing cereals and rearing
Your Company Name
livestock (especially sheep) were their main job.