Transforming the Roman World: Germanic Kingdoms, the Carolingian Empire, and Charlemagne
Lecture 19: Charlemagne s Roman Empire
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Topics: Eurasian empires (?) and Nomads Period from 600-1100 CE Intellectual life, government, and the economy Questions: What were the characteristics of early medieval European society? What was the nature of intellectual life? How does it compare with Tang China or the ‘ Abbasids? What explains the difference? Lecture 19: Charlemagne’ s “Roman ” Empire
Transcript of Lecture 19: Charlemagne s Roman Empire
Topics:
Eurasian empires (?) and NomadsPeriod from 600-1100 CE
Intellectual life, government, and the economy
Questions:
What were the characteristics of early medieval European society?
What was the nature of intellectual life?
How does it compare with Tang China or the ‘Abbasids? What explains the difference?
Lecture 19:Charlemagne’s “Roman” Empire
Europe in the 6th & 7th centuries CE
• Population decline• De-urbanization• Rural• Subsistence-level agriculture• Low-level of commerce/trade• Not monetized• Germanic kingdoms• Germanic law• Illiterate• Christian• Mutual assimilation of
Germans & Romans
Political fragmentation & instability
Lombard Gospel, ca. 600
Helmet plate of Lombard King, ca. 600
Europe in 700 CE
SLAVS
AVARS
GERMANIC
CELTS
Bishops and Monasteries
Manuscripts = copied by hand
Parchment = sheepskin
TOWN & COUNTRYSIDE
Preserved Roman-Christian Inte"ectual Life
Books = luxury
Codex Amiatinus (716 CE)Made in Northern England as a gift for the Pope
Oldest surviving complete text of Latin Bible
Christian Clergy = Inte"ectuals
Religious needInstitutional resources
Christianity in Ireland and England
Book of Kells (betw. 750 and 825 CE)
Latin = foreign language
MISSIONARY EFFORTS
Book of Durrow (ca. 675 CE) Lindisfarne Gospels (ca. 698 CE)
Religion of the Book
From No Rome to New Rome
Europe in 800 CE
CarolingiansNew dynasty as kings of Franks
Charlemagne
732 CE Battle of Poitiers
SLAVS
Charlemagne (768-814 CE)
• Military expansion
• Administrative reform
• Standardization
• Public building
• Promotes learning and culture at court
• Alliance with Pope in Rome
Crowned “Roman Emperor”by Pope Leo III
on December 25, 800 CERoyal chapel at Aachen (Aix-la-Chapelle)
Handwriting Reform
Before
Aftercaroline minuscule
Political, religious, intellectual practicality
ADMINISTRATION
The Carolingian “Renaissance”
Palace at AachenBishoprics and monasteries
Promote basic education
• Latin grammar
• Christian doctrine
• Copy books
• Establish schools
• Educate future church leaders & government administrators
Very rudimentary!
No intellectual breakthroughs(even in Christian theology)
Chief advisor: Alcuin of York
9th- & 10th-century Europe: Nomads
Marauders!
One by land:Magyars
Two by sea:MuslimsVikings
Scandinavians: Danes, Norwegians, Swedes
Nomads of the North Sea Supplement limited agriculture withfrequent raiding (“viking”)
EnglandNormandyIcelandRussia
Hacksilver
Migration and Settlement
Runes
Long-Distance TradersEstablish towns as trading outposts Raw materials & northern luxuries for silver & gold
FursAmberSlaves
Europe in 1000 CE
CHRISTIANITY
