đź“…Weekly Schedule and Objectives: Late Antiquity
Topic: The Byzantine Empire and kingdoms in Europe
| Due Date | Activity |
|---|---|
| Oct 27 |
Read & Examine this week's module Textbook: Chapter 10 Watch: All Videos |
| Oct 27 | Homework: Byzantine Empire |
Image: Mosaic of Empress Theodora
Summary:
The Roman Empire underwent a major transition as it lost the ability to maintain peace within its borders. The empire fragmented into three culturally distinct parts in which language, religion, and loyalties separated people. In the west, Germanic invaders established new kingdoms, converted to Christianity and blended their own culture with that of Romans now living under their rule. In the east, the Roman empire persisted for approximately another thousand years, but Byzantium was centered upon Constantinople and began to develop different characteristics with time. The language changed to Greek, while Slavic tribes in the north and Latins in the west influenced the development of a new empire. Finally, in the desert of Arabia, a prophet founded a new religion, which would soon spread rapidly, conquering the eastern and western shores of the Mediterranean and most of the Iberian peninsula. These three civilizations coexisted uneasily, and their differences and conflicts would destroy Roman unity and shape Europe's future.
After the disruptions of the fifth, sixth, and seventh centuries, western Europeans struggled to restore order to their societies. A new social order emerged, in which all members of society were tied to one another through mutual obligations. The basis for the new culture that accompanied this social system was a mixture of Germanic, Christian, and Roman traditions. Early Germanic kings struggled to bring stability to their lands with the use of written law codes. Kings also encouraged intellectual activities which flourished with their patronage and participation. In Anglo-Saxon England, the blending of customary law with the other traditions planted the seeds of a constitutional government. On the continent, under Frankish rulers, this blending of traditions met with the most success. Cooperation between church and state gave Charlemagne's dynasty great legitimacy. The peace and prosperity of these newly consolidated and centralized kingdoms was short-lived, however, as invasions of new peoples in the tenth century undermined the achievements of the preceding centuries.
Learning Objectives
Upon completion of this week's module, students will be able to:
- Examine the major historical events that led to the disintegration of Roman unity
- Explain the survival of the Eastern Roman Empire (Byzantine Empire)