5. The fragmentation of the Ancient World
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The document summarizes the fragmentation of the ancient world following the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 CE. It describes how Germanic tribes invaded and established kingdoms across Europe as the empire dissolved. One such kingdom was the Visigothic Kingdom in Hispania. Meanwhile, the Eastern Roman Empire, centered in Constantinople, managed to survive as the Byzantine Empire for another 1000 years by repelling invaders. It also covers the emergence of Islam in the 7th century and the expansion of Muslim rule across former Roman territories in North Africa and the Middle East.
5. The fragmentation of the Ancient World
- 1. 5. THE FRAGMENTATION OF THE ANCIENT WORLD 2nd ESO Maira Gil Camarón Source: Vicens Vives
- 2. What happened to the ancient Roman Empire? The end of the western Roman Empire Early 5th century: the Huns invaded Eastern Europe led by Attila End 5th century: various Germanic kingdoms arrived in Europe (they were called “barbarians” by the Romans): Ostrogoths, Visigoths, Franks, Burgundians, Alemanni, Angles and Saxons The Western Roman Empire ended in 476 due to these invasions. This date marks the beginning of the Middle Ages Travel became too dangerous: there was very little long-distance trade and many industries disappeared. Cities declined and people moved to the countryside
- 4. The birth of the Germanic kingdoms (first invasions) Germanic peoples = Barbarians. They had no formal writing, laws or state structure They lived in family tribes and were ruled by a military leader, who also acted as a king. They occupied a territory imposing their military power and traditions, but latin continued to be the official language and Christianity prevailed
- 5. The eastern empire and the invasion of Islam From the 6th century, the Eastern Roman Empire, or Byzantium, was Hellenised (Greek language and eastern political and cultural practices 7th century: many territories were taken over by followers of Islam, a new religion from Arabia This religion invited its believers to fight a holy war to expand the new faith
- 6. A Germanic Kingdom: the Visigoths in Hispania The formation of the Visigothic kingdom of Toledo 5th century they formed the Kingdom of Tolosa (southern Gaul) Franks defeated the Visigoths and drove them into Hispania, where they organized a kingdom. Its capital was Toledo The organization of the kingdom Strong monarchy (elected, but often hereditary) Control of the entire Peninsula Legal and religious unification of the Visigoths and the Hispano- Romans King Liuvigild repealed the law banning mixed marriages King Reccared achieved religious unity: Catholicism King Recceswinth established a single law for the whole kingdom: Liber Iudiciorum (654), based on Roman laws The Visigothic kingdom disappeared in 711 after the Muslim invasion
- 7. Hispania in the 6th century Reccared with catholic bishops
- 8. Visigothic art and culture Cultural fusion: Hispano-Romans and the Visigoths Christian clergy: read and write St. Leander and St. Isidore of Seville (intellectuals) Art and architecture San Juan de Baños, San Pedro de la Nave Small churches were built in rural areas They didn’t have many windows They have a basilica floor plan, isolated columns and Corinthian capitals (from the Roman era) Horseshoe arches
- 9. Metal and gold work was also important Treasure of Guarrazar Artisans worked precious metals (gold and silver) and with bronze and iron. They also used irregular pearls They used various techniques: casting and engraving, gilding, welding and inlays. Votive crown of Recceswinth, from the treasure of Guarrazar
- 10. Byzantium, the Roman Empire in the east After the Western Roman Empire fell due to Germanic barbarian invasions in the 5th century, the Eastern Roman Empire, with its capital at Constantinople, repelled the invasions and went on to survive for 1000 more years. Known by historians as the Byzantine Empire, it played an important role preserving and spreading the culture of ancient Greeks and Romans
- 11. 476: the end of the Western Roman Empire Roman heritage survived in the east under the Byzantine Empire The age of Justinian Justinian was the most important Byzantine emperor and ruled between 527-565, conquering some of the western provinces that had been lost He held political, military and religious power, and compiled the Justinian Code (Roman laws) Justinian (mosaic)
- 12. The “easternisation” of the Empire After Justinian, the Byzantine Empire began to lose territory At first, the Byzantine Empire followed the traditions of the Roman Empire but after the 8th century they adopted several Greek customs The Emperor enjoyed absolute power and was considered the head of the Roman world and also of Christianity. But in 1054, after many confrontations, Christianity was divided: the Catholic Church and the Orthodox Church (East-West Schism) From the 11th century the Empired started to decline and Constantinople was conquered by the Turks in 1453
- 13. Byzantine art It includes characteristics of Greco-Roman and eastern art Architecture: classical features like columns, arches, domes… and materials such as brick, stone and marble. Hagia Sophia
- 14. Coloured mosaics were used to decorate the walls. Here, the mosaic of Theodora (Justinian’s wife) Icons were religious images made from an original prototype. They were painted on wooden panels and were brightly coloured. Here, an icon of Jesus
- 15. The Carolingian Empire The Frankish Kingdom The Frankish kingdom put the power in the hands of the Mayors of the Palace 7th century, Charles Martel, an important Mayor of the Palace, stopped Muslims defeated them near Poitiers His son, Pepin the Short became king of the Franks (a Germanic tribe) and founded the Carolingian dinasty. Pepin’s son and successor, Charles the Great (Charlemagne) reunited most of the Western Roman Empire
- 16. Charlemagne, the emperor He conquered a large part of western Europe and stopped the advance of Islam. He secured borders in the entire territory throughout marches, such as the Spanish March He strengthened the union between political and religious (Christianity) power bishops had to declare their loyalty to him 800: Charlemagne was crowned emperor of the Romans
- 17. The Carolingian renaissance It is a period of cultural revival (8th -9th centuries): literature, writing, the arts, scriptural studies… special importance of education and architecture (Palace of Aagen was built during this period? Palatine Chapel
- 18. Organizing and administering the Empire The empire was divided into 250 counties which were ruled by counts To defend the borders, Charlemagne established marches, led by a military commander (marquis) Missi dominici were corps of royal commissioners to enforce the laws and control the counts and marquis A system based on personal loyalty Government based on personal relationship: loyalty and protection Charlemagne protected the nobles and granted them lands; they became his vassals and swore loyalty to him (respect and military aid) These nobles received on oath of allegiance from lesser vassals, and gave them land and protection
- 19. Towards feudal Europe Charlemagne died Louis the Pious (his son). After his death, the territories were shared between his sons: Lothair (who inherited the title of emperor), Louis and Charles Treaty of Verdun (843): it was signed after a war between the brothers. They signed the treaty to form independent kingdoms the partition of the Carolingian Empire 9th century: new invasions Muslims, vikings, magyars… The kings couldn’t protect anybody, so the population could only be protected by local lords: the origin of the Feudalism
- 21. The emerge of Islam Arabia, Muhammad’s land Arabian Peninsula: desert where people worked as nomadic shepherds or farmers (in oases) Mecca: large city. It was a crossroads for caravans (trade routes) and governed by powerful families Religion: polytheistic, and Mecca was an important religious centre
- 22. Muhammad, the prophet He was a merchant from Mecca who learnt about two monotheistic religions (Judaism and Christianity) in his trading journeys. He married a rich widow called Khadiya He used to meditate in a cave where the angel Gabriel announced that he was the new prophet chosen by Allah to preach a new monotheistic religion: Islam He was prosecuted because of his ideas, so he fled to the city of Medina in 622 HIJRA He converted the people of Medina to the new religion and attacked Mecca destroying its idols. Many Arabian tribes converted to Islam from 630 onwards. Muhammad died in 632
- 23. What is Islam? Koran: the holy book for Muslims. The teachings of Muhammad were collected in it. It contains the Islamic creed and defines religious obligations It also dictates codes of behaviour Imans are Islamic leaders who lead worship and ulamas are scholars who interpret the Koran Mosque: the religious building for Muslims