Category: Yale – Early Middle Ages

Notes 7 The Roman Empire committed suicide by accident? The further back the events the easier it is for the historian to “see it coming” Who are the Barbarians? Burgundian code Refer to themselves as Barbarians not Romans What do we know From Archaeology Have settlements but not urban  Have grave sites Have trade with…

Notes 6Transformation of the Roman Empire  410 to 480 West empire disintegrated Dismembered by Barbarians Wanted to share in wealth and accomplishments not destroy it 476 fall of the Western Empire Barbarian deposed a Roman emperor  Barbarian leader Odavacer Deposed Romulus Augustus Us means little He didn’t appoint new emperor and said he would follow…

Notes 5 Why study the Confessions? Christianity had a great impact on Roman Empire late fourth and fifth century 3 problems 1. Problem of evil 2. Relation between body and soul 3. Understanding of sin and redemption  All of these are dealt with thoroughly in Augustine’s work More thorough than any other Ancient thinker Philosophical…

Christian Roman Empire Tolerated Official Then sole legal religion except Judaism Arianism Donatists Manicheans Constantine died 337 When he died empire restored to former glory Fourth century often seen through the lens of 410 sacking  Inequality one of signs/problems Time of social mobility  Many paths open Barbarians taking major positions in Roman Empire, especially in…

Conversion of Constantine Permanent change Hard to explain on strategic grounds Starts the Christianisation of Roman Empire Been illegal for 250 years Romans killed Jesus Polytheism and its ceremony was rife First becomes tolerant Then favoured Then official and almost only religion Paganism – polytheistic Local variation Eclectic – different gods in places times and…

Early medieval notes 2 Crisis of Third Century Diocletian  Was awesome Saved the Roman empire Problems Problem of succession – how next one chosen Size Urban and rural  Cities draining country East west imbalance Armies – staffed by barbarians Problems of replacing generations Disease  Death childbirth Infant mortality Problems in 3rd century Invasions – Persian…

Fall of Roman Empire Survival in east as Byzantium Barbarian invasions and kingdoms set up on ruins of rom empire Triumph of Christianity Survive extinction  Crisis of Roman Empire Legacy peculiar  Pope Latin Catholic Church best preserver of Roman Empire now After 5th century Byzantium Abandon Latin for Greek 6th 1453 end Other preserver is…