The Early Middle Ages

Unit 1

2º ESO

1- What were the Germanic migrations?

-They were different tribes from the North of Europe.-They invaded the Western Roman Empire from the 3rd Century to the 5th Century.-The Western Roman Empire ended in 476 due to these invasions.

The Germanic Kingdoms

Homework

Exercises 1 and 2 on page 7.

This video will explain you what happened in the Iberian Peninsula during the MIDDLE AGES.

2- Who were the visigoths?

-The Vandals, Alans and Suevi were tribes from Northern Europe. They invaded Hispania in 409 A.D. -To fight against them, Romans asked for help to the Visigoths, another Germanic Tribe who has invaded Rome previously. -They accepted and expelled Suevi, Vandals and Alans from Hispania. In exchange, Rome gave them the Gaul.-But the Franks expelled the Visigoths from the Gaul, and Visigoths established their own kingdom in the Iberian peninsula.

Visigothic Kingdom

-The Visigothic Kingdom was ruled by a King.-The made Toledo its capital.-The main kings were Leovigild and his son Reccared.-They unified their new kingdom by changing their own language (to Latin), religion (from arrianism to Christianism) and laws (based their laws on Roman laws).

Homework

Visigothic ArtThe art produced during this period is largely the result of local Roman traditions combined with Byzantine influences.Some of the characteristics of their architecture are:●Generally basilican in layout, sometimes a Greek cross plan.●The spaces are highly compartmentalised.●Usually short and wide in elevation.●Horseshoe arches.●A rectangular, exterior apse.●Use of columns and pillars with Corinthian capitals of unique design.●The architecture was small in scale, but its masonry work was excellent.●Decoration commonly of animal or plant motifs. Ornamental sculpture was a distinctive feature of these churches.●Little and small windows that makes the interior dark.

Examples

● Church of San Juan Bautista in Baños de Cerrato (province of Palencia)● Church of San Pedro de la Nave in San Pedro de la Nave-Almendra (province of

Zamora)

San Juan de BañosInterior of San Juan de Baños

San Pedro de la Nave

San Pedro de la Nave

REMINDER! - How to interpret a work of art

1- What is it? It is a sculpture, it’s a capital from a column inside a church. It belongs

to San Pedro de la Nave, Zamora.

2- Who did it? or Which civilization? It is from the visigothic style in the Iberian

Peninsula.

3- Which is its approximate date? It was made about the end of the 7th century.

4- How is it? (form, material, decoration, theme...) It is made from stone, it is part

of a column, and the sculpture is on relief, adapted to the architectural element. This is

a scene from the Bible, a religious theme, depicting the sacrifice of Isaac. It is very

clear, designed for the people, who were illiterate in those days, to easily understand

it.

5- What information from the past does it give us? (facts, government,

population...) In the Visigothic kingdom, in the medieval era of history, churches were

small, and used the decoration in order to teach people about christianity.

6- What was it used for? (function) Churches were a place to pray, and capitals

were an element of the architecture, part of the column and therefore a support

element. The real function of the decoration in this capitals was to show people the

scenes of the Bible in a simple form.

Homework

Exercises 2 and 3 on page 9.

3- What was the Byzantine Empire like?

Justinian

Justinian ruled between 527-565. He was the most powerful basileus in the Byzantine Empire. He tried to reconquer the former territories of the Roman Empire.

After Justinian the Byzantine Empire started its slow declined.They changed their traditions, language and customs into the greek ones.

4- What were Byzantine religion and art like?

-After Justinian they changed into greek customs.-Regarding religion, in 1054, after many confrontations, they separated from Catholicism, and became the Orthodox Church (East-West Schism).-In art, they created famous mosaics and greek-cross plan churches mainly.-The best example is Hagia Sophia in Constantinople.

Hagia Sophia

Exercises 1 and 2 on page 11.

5- What is Islam?MUHAMMADHe was the founder of Islam.He was a merchant who learnt about the monotheistic religions in his trade travels.He heard the call of God and founded a new religion.Before him, Arabia was polytheistic.In 622 he moved from Mecca to Medina, what it is calledthe Hegira, and it is considered the beginning of themuslim calendar.Muhammad started spreading Islam through Arabia.

Islamic religion

Their sacred book is the Koran, and they have 5 main pillars in their religion:1- Allah only god, Muhammad his prophet.2- Pray 5 times a day.3- Give alms to the poor.4- Ramadan fast.5- Pilgrimage to Mecca.

Islam temple: Mosque

Complete activity 1 on page 12.

Kaaba, the most sacred temple

6- How did Islam evolve?

Phases of the Islamic Conquest

Homework

Activity 1 on page 13.

Web Task 1

7- What was the Carolingian Empire?

-Frankish kingdom (germanic tribe).-Power in the Mayors of the Palace.-Charles Martel, the most important mayor of the palace, was famous for defeating the muslims.

Carolingian EmpirePippin the Short started the Carolingian Empire after the defeat of the Frankish Kingdom. His son CharleMagne succeeded him and tried to restore the Western Roman Empire. In 800 he was crowned by the Pope as Emperor of the West.

Carolingian EmpireCharleMagne divided his Empire in marches to better control the territory.Louis the Pious succeeded his father, and when he died, his three sons inherited the Empire, so it had to be divided in three (Treaty of Verdun, 843).

Palace of Aachen

CharleMagne made Aachen its capital, and built a Palace there.

Homework

Activities 1 to 3 on page 15.

Exercises

Activities 1, 2 and 3 (a & b) on pages 16-17.