Medieval Europe and the Rise of Islam: A Historical Timeline
Where Did Germanic Tribes Live?
They lived to the north of the Roman Empire.
Why Did Theodosius Divide the Empire Between His Sons?
To make it easier to defend.
Who Was the Last Emperor of the Western Empire? When Was He Deposed?
He was Romulus Augustulus.
Name and Write About the Smaller Kingdoms
- Franks, in France.
- Visigoths, in Spain.
- Ostrogoths and Lombards in Italy.
- Angles and Saxons in Britain.
Who Were the Visigoths?
They entered the Roman Empire at the end of the 4th century to escape from the Huns. In 410, the Visigoths attacked Rome.
When Did the Visigothic Kingdom Disappear?
It disappeared after the Muslim invasion in 711.
What Was the Byzantine Empire Like? And Its Capital City?
It was the Eastern Roman Empire, it was known as the Byzantine Empire. Its capital was Constantinople.
Who Was Justinian?
He was the most important Byzantine emperor.
Beginning in 476, End in the 15th Century, in 1453
What Were the Greek Customs?
- Greek replaced Latin as the official language.
- In 1054, there was a separation between the Roman Catholic Church and the Byzantine Orthodox Church, called the East-West Schism.
What Did the Emperors Prohibit in the 8th Century?
The emperors tried to prohibit the worship of holy images or icons.
What Kind of Religious Art Did the Byzantines Produce?
They produced some impressive churches with a Greek-cross plan and large domes. Mosaics, which covered the walls and ceilings of churches and palaces.
Who Was Muhammad?
He was a merchant from Mecca. He learned about two monotheistic religions, Judaism and Christianity. One day he heard the call of God and he preached a new religion: Islam. He moved to Medina in 622.
What is “The Koran”?
It is the sacred book of the Muslims.
Who Was the Highest Authority of the Islamic Empire?
It was the caliph.
When Did the Umayyad Family Take Power?
In 661.
Where Did the Umayyad Move the Capital To? What Did They Conquer?
They moved the capital of the empire to Damascus. They conquered many territories, from Persia to the Iberian Peninsula.
When Did the Abbasid Family Come into Power? Which Was the New Capital?
In 750. Baghdad became the new capital of the empire.
When Did the Turks Become the Most Powerful People?
After the 13th century, the Turks were the most powerful people.
What Was the Islamic Economy Based On? What Did Merchants Buy?
It was based on agriculture, craftsmanship, and trade. They bought cloth and spices in Asia; gold, ivory, and slaves in Africa; and metal in Europe.
What Inventions Did the Muslims Introduce?
They introduced Asian inventions such as gunpowder and the compass.
Who Was the Most Important Mayor of the Palace?
The most important of these was Charles Martel. He defeated the Muslims in France, at the Battle of Tours in 732. He had a son, Pippin the Short.
Whom Did Charlemagne Divide the Empire Among?
Charlemagne divided the Empire into counties or administrative units.
Who Were Charlemagne’s Sons?
Charles, Louis, and Lothair.
What is the “Treaty of Verdun”?
The confirmation treaty of the division of the Empire.
Name Three New Peoples Who Invaded Europe
- The Vikings came from Scandinavia. They conquered the British Isles, northern France, and southern Italy, and they founded kingdoms.
- The Magyars or Hungarians came from the steppes of Asia. They settled in Eastern Europe and founded the Kingdom of Hungary.
- The Saracens were Muslim pirates who attacked the Mediterranean coasts of Europe.
What Do You Know About the Origins of Feudalism?
After the Carolingian Empire, Europe was divided into numerous kingdoms. They had no armies and could not protect their land. As peasants could not depend on the king’s protection, they turned to the nobles for help.
Who Was the Court Formed By?
The court was formed by a group of lawyers, clergy, and soldiers.
Where Did the King’s Main Income Come From?
The king’s main income came from his fiefs and from some towns.
When Did the King Receive Help From the Church?
In special circumstances such as wars or marriage agreements.
What Was a Fief?
It is a land exchange for swearing alliance to the king.
Groups in Medieval Society. Who Were They Formed By?
- The nobles were the knights and their families.
- The clergy were the monks and priests.
- The workers were mainly peasants, but also craftsmen and merchants.
VASSAL → military aid → counsel → economic aid → LORD → military protection → legal defense → sustenance.
What Were the Nobles’ Main Activity and What Did They Fight With?
War was the nobles’ main activity. They fought on horseback, and their weapons were the lance, the shield, and the mace.
What Were the Functions Assumed by Noblewomen?
- Noblewomen who married organized the servants, educated the children, and did sewing and weaving.
- They had to obey their husbands in everything. They rarely left the castle.
- Women who did not marry went into convents.
Who Were the Clergy Formed By?
- The leaders of the secular clergy were bishops. They controlled a large area called a diocese. In each diocese, there were various parishes where priests worked.
- The regular clergy were members of religious orders. Each order had superiors who managed the monasteries, where friars, monks, and nuns lived.
The Most Important Religious Order in the Early Middle Ages
The most important religious order in the Early Middle Ages was the Order of Saint Benedict.
What Were Nuns’ and Monks’ Lives Like?
Nuns and monks lived in convents and monasteries. They spent most of their time in prayer and meditation. They worked in gardens and looked after the poor and sick.
What Were the Differences Between Serfs and Freemen?
- SERFS: They were completely subjected to the lord’s authority. They could not leave the fief or get married without permission. They were not paid for their work. The lord often treated them badly.
- FREEMEN: They could leave the fief and make personal decisions. They worked on the lord’s land and paid rent, but they kept some of the harvest. They paid a tithe, a percentage of the harvest, to the Church.