Cover created by Cristina de la Vega Lienhart

1. THE DIVISION OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE

In 395 A.D. Emperor Theodosius divided the empire into two parts:

• Western Roman Empire • Eastern Roman Empire

The Western Roman Empire was invaded by barbarians and disappeared in 476 A.D., considered as the start of the Middle Ages. The territory was slpit up in several kingdoms (a patchwork of kingdoms) : Franks, Visigoths, Ostrogods, Angles and Saxons.

Split up: separarse, dividirse

However, all these kingdoms had things in common:

• Elected monarchy.• A rural way of life.• An economy based on

agriculture and livestock farming.

VERY

IMPORTANT

2. THE BYZANTINE EMPIRE2.1. TERRITORIAL DEVELOPMENT

• The Eastern Roman Empire was also called Byzantine Empire. This part survived after barbarian attacks.

• At the beginning of the 6th century the territories were: Greece, the Anatolian Peninsula, The Balkans, Syria, Palestine and Egypt.

• Emperor Justinian (527-565)-Justiniano- conquered many places. It was the golden age of the Byzantine Empire.

• The Italian Peninsula, part of Northern Africa, South-East of the Iberian Peninsula.

What happened after his death?

The Empire began to lose all the conquered territories.

Why?• External enemies: Persians

and Muslims.• Political crisis• Religious crisis

Finally the Empire was reduced to Constantinople and this region was conquered by the Ottoman Turks in 1453.

2.2. THE POLITICAL ORGANISATION

Emperor had absolute power, and he was believed to be like a God.

• He was the highest political authority and head of the army.

• He was also the supreme legislator and judge. He compiled a code of laws called Justinian’s code.

The Byzantine Empire was divided in the themes (provinces), ruled by a strategoi.There was an efficient administration system run by many skilled officials.

oficiales habilidosos, formados.

2.3. ECONOMY

• Agriculture was the main source of wealth: olives, cereals, etc.

• Craftwork: silk, jewllery, perfumes• Trade: textiles, wine, jewels, were

exported, and furs, ivory, spices and perfume were imported.

2.4. SOCIETY

Rural society:• Landowners (latifundia)• Peasants

Urban society:• Ruling class (landowners, high

officials, wealthy merchants)• Lower class (small merchants,

craftmen, slaves)

2.5. CULTURE, ARCHITECTURE AND ART

Culture:• Influenced by both East and

West.

• Literary activity: encyclopedias, poetry, biographies of Saints, etc.

Architecture and art:• Churches: Basilical plan and

Greek cross plan. (Check vocabulary unit 1) !!!

• The main example of a basilica is Hagia Sophia (Constantinopla, Istambul)

Activity.

This video shows up the history of Istanbul, old Constantinople and years after Byzantium, the capital of the old Byzantine Empire. It is interesting to analyze how it is today with all the historical remains, basically temples, we can visit and have the experience to travel back in time.

Listen to it and then answer the questions;

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oYUPjJ6ZrQo

1.  What is the main particularity of the city of Istanbul in geographical terms?2. Who promoted Hagia Sophia? (He was an emperor)What kind of building is it?3. What happened to this temple in 1453?4. According to the video where was the center of the city social life located?

For more information about HAGIA SOPHIA and its construction:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aOExHX45jLQ

3. THE FRANKS AND THE CAROLINGIANS

3.1. THE FRANKISH KINGDOM

• The Franks settled in Gaul (France)

• The Frankish ruler Clovis (481-511) converted to Catholicism, unifying Gallo-Romans and Franks. He defeated the Visigoths in the Battlle of Vouillé (507).

• The Visigoths settlled permanently on the Iberian Peninsula with its capital in Toledo.

• During the 7th century, Clovis’ successors left government in the hands of the mayors of the palace. Among them was CHARLES MARTEL, who defeated the Muslims at the Battle of Poitiers (732).

• When Charles Martel died, his son Pippin the Short (Pipino el Breve) deposed the last Frankish king with the Pope’s approval. This was the start of the Carolingian dynasty.

3.2. THE CAROLINGIAN EMPIRE

a) Territorial development

• After Pippin’s death, his son, Charlemagne(CARLOMAGNO) became king.

• His empire extended across the north-east of the Iberian Peninsula end the Centre and South of Europe.

• He was proclaimed Holy Roman Emperor by pope Leo III in Saint Peter’s Church in Rome (San Pedro de Roma) at Christmas in 800.

• Succeeded by his son Loius the Pious (Luis el Piadoso), 814-840, the reign power struggles began to break out.

• After his death the Empire was divided by his three sons, in the Treaty of Verdum (843).

• Charles the Bald (Carlos el Calvo) received the Western zone.

• Lothair (Lotario) received the middle zone.• Louis the German received the Eastern zone.

b) Political Organisation

1. Central organisation. Organised around the palace (emperor’s court) in Aachen (Aquisgrán). The Most important officials were:

• The cancellor (canciller), who drew up official documents.

• The seneschal (senestral), who was in charge of household provisions at court.

• The count of the palace, (conde de palacio/primer ministro) who presided over the royal tribunal in the emperor’s name.

2. The Administration of the Empire’s territory.

• Counties (condados): territories ruled by a count (conde) appointed (elegidos) by the emperor. His duties were collecting taxes, carrying out imperial commands, administrating justice, recruiting troops.

• Marches (marcas): territories lying on frontier or recently conquered areas. Governed by a marquis (marqués) in charge of the troops.

Both positions were controlled by palace inspectors called missi dominici, consisting of: two court officials, a noble and a bishop.

Important!!!

c) Economy

• The main economic activity was agriculture. Villages were self-sufficient (autosuficientes).

• Trade wasn’t very important, although we find some markets. Comercial exchanges declined because of the expansion of the Islam.

d) Society

It was hierarchical (jerárquica) It is considered to be the origin of the feudalism or manorial system!

e) Culture

Charlemagne founded the Palatine Academy in Aachen with the aim of educating his officials. It was directed by Alcuin of York (Alcuino de York)

They studied:

• Grammar• Rhetoric• Arithmetic• Geometry• Astronomy• Music

THE PALACE COMPLEX

Watch the following video about Charlemagne:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ER5pZ4sj85g

Answer the questions:

1. What are the other names given to the emperor Charlemagne?

2. When a were was he crowned and by who?

3. What happened to the Western Roman Empire that made it so difficult to govern?

4. What happened to the Papal States?