THE MIDDLE AGES. STAGES AND CIVILISATIONS

1.1 The Early Middle Ages and its stages

In the 3rd century, Germanic tribes, that until then had remained on the other side of the borders of the Rhine and Danube rivers, began infiltrating the Roman Empire. In order to better defend the Roman Empire, in 395 Emperor Theodosius divided it into two parts: the Western Roman Empire, with its capital in Rome, and the Eastern Roman Empire, with its capital in Constantinople.

From then on, each part followed a different historical path.

• The Western Roman Empire endured invasions from a series of Germanic tribes, such as the Visigoths, the Suevi, the Vandals and the Alans. Finally, in 476, it fell into the hands of the Germanic tribe called the Heruli and disappeared. Its territory fragmented into different Germanic kingdoms.

• The Eastern Roman Empire, however, managed to survive the fall of Rome and the Germanic invasions. Historians refer to it as the Byzantine Empire, and it lasted until 1453, the year in which the Turks conquered its capital, Constantinople.

The dates 476 and 1453 have been considered by many historians as the defining dates of the Middle Ages, although others consider its end to be the discovery of America in 1492. This extensive historical period is usually subdivided into three great stages of varying duration: the Early Middle Ages, which

The Middle Ages and its stages and events

The division of the Roman Empire (395)

Theodosius I the Great (346-395 BCE). Born in Italica (Hispania), he was the last

Focus on English

encompass: encompassing something means to include it.

During the Middle Ages, three civilisations coexisted and contended with one another in the territory of the old Roman Empire: the Byzantine Empire, Latin Christendom and Islam.

• At first, the Byzantine Empire in the East maintained the Roman traditions, but in time it ended up adopting the Greek language and culture. It is also called Orthodox Christianity as it does not recognise the religious primacy of the Pope of Rome.

• Latin Christendom in the West brought together the kingdoms established in the old Western Roman Empire, such as the Visigoths and the Franks. These tribes adopted the Roman Catholic Christian religion, which recognised the authority of the Pope, and the feudal system, which is why they are also called feudal monarchies.

• Islam was a new religion that arose from the preaching of Mohammed in the 6th century. Beginning in the 7th century, its adherents, called Muslims, conquered part of the territories of the Byzantine Empire and the old Western Roman Empire. With this they created a new civilisation between the East and the West that broke the Christian bloc on both shores of the Mediterranean.

many centuries is this?

2 Put these events in chronological order: a) the conquest of Constantinople by the Turks; b) the division of the Roman Empire; c) the discovery of America; d) the beginning of Islam; e) the end of the Western Roman Empire.

Working with maps

3 Compare the maps and answer these questions: a) What territorial changes can we see in the West? b) Which are the main Germanic kingdoms and where are they located? c) What territorial changes have taken place in the East?

Making a case

4 Look for the information and write down the answer: a) When and why did the Middle Ages receive its name? b) How do Catholic and Orthodox Christianity differ?

• The administration was organised into provinces governed by a political and military head. The cavalry and the navy played a fundamental role.

2.3 The Byzantine economy

• Agriculture was the basis of the Byzantine economy. Most of the land was in latifundia, which were large estates that belonged to the nobility and the monasteries, and were farmed by serfs.

• Craftspeople made luxury articles, such as silk fabrics, carpets, jewellery, ivories and enamels

• Commerce benefitted from the strategic position of Constantinople, located between Europe and Asia, and the Mediterranean and Black Seas. Silk from China; spices, ivory and pearls from India; and amber, skins and wheat from the north of Europe all found their way to Byzantium.

In the 6th century, Justinian tried to restore the Roman Empire. With this aim, he conquered the Vandal Kingdom of North Africa, and he took Italy from the Ostrogoths and settled in the southern Iberian Peninsula.

By the middle of the 7th century, the Muslim conquests had reduced Byzantine territory to the Balkan Peninsula, Asia Minor, Sicily and some coastal territories of the Italian Peninsula.

Skill progress

Working with concepts

1 Explain these terms briefly: Basileus, Corpus Iuris Civilis, enamels, spices, amber. Check the glossary at the end before starting.

Working with maps

2 Study the maps above to answer the following questions: a) What territories did Justinian conquer? b) What was the objective of these conquests? c) What do the arrows that appear on the map indicate? d) Which territories did Byzantium lose in the 7 th century and who conquered them?

Emperors and Constantinople

Given its position, Constantinople dominated the routes that joined Europe and Asia, and therefore, it was a privileged place for commerce (1). And the Golden Horn was a great natural port (2)

The emperors established their court in Constantinople, formerly Byzantium. The city, protected by a triple wall, housed the palace of the emperor, the senate and the court of justice, and had broad commercial streets, spaces for public life, such as the forum and the hippodrome, and notable cultural and religious buildings, such as the university and the Hagia Sophia church.

Interpreting sources

3 Using the explanatory text and pictures, answer these questions: a) Why was the location of Constantinople favourable for commerce? b) Which countries did it trade with, and what products? c) What was the city of Constantinople like?