The Early Middle Ages

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The Early Middle Ages

• Barbarian Invasions and Byzantine Italy, c. 400 -
  c. 1130 AD

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• The Visigoths reached Italy at the beginning of
  the fifth century
• Other Barbarians were approaching Italy. The
  Vandals arrived in Africa in 429. Their control
  of North Africa deprived Rome of her source of
  corn.
• The Goths settled in Italy and acquired the
  trappings of Western civilization
• In 370 the Huns arrived from Russia (Mongols)
• In 452 Attila (dies a year later) arrived in
  Northern Italy and after a three month siege
  conquers the city of Aquileia.
• Pope Leo I (440-61) can be considered the
  founder of Catholicism. Connected to two myths
• He stopped Attila from entering Rome

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• A forged document, known as the Donation of
  Constantine, which professed to record
  Constantines gift of the Western Empire to the
  Papacy (document entirely discredited by Lorenzo
  Valla during the Renaissance)
• In 476 Romulus Augustalus was deposed by Odovacar
  (476-493) at the head of a mixed group of
  Teutonic invaders nominally at the service of the
  empire
• Theodoric followed Odovacar as a Gothic king
  (488-526). His reign was peaceful and prosperous.
  He ruled the Gothic peoples without interfereing
  in the culture, life and laws of the Romans. He
  insisted on religious tolerance
• Under the reign of the emperor Justinian (in the
  Eastern part) the Gothic rule ended. Justinians
  fame is connected to the CODEX (529) and the
  INSTITUTIONES (533)

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• Ravenna experienced an architectural Renaissance
  during the time of Theodoric
• In the last decades of the sixth century
  conditions in Italy deteriorated. Barbarian
  invasions continued. Ravenna, Rome, Genoa and
  Naples preserved remnants of Roman institutions.
  Many towns were abandoned (villa).
• The exarch ruled in Ravenna (capital of the
  Western Empire), and elsewhere military governers
  predominated over civilian ones

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• LOMBARD ITALY AND THE FOUNDATION OF THE PAPAL
  STATES c. 600 - 800 AD
• Pope Gregory I (Gregorius Magnus) (540-604) His
  administration of the church was thorough, he set
  the pattern for catholic services and rituals
  (Gregorian Chant, Gregorian Calendar). A
  humanitarian, Gregory, improved the conditions of
  the slaves (free bread). He repaired aqueducts
  and showed respect for a lost, pagan,
  civilization. (IV Father of the Church) (Ambrose,
  Quintillian, Tertullian)
• The Lombards arrived about 568 and heavy
  fighting followed until 605. Contemporary
  accounts tell of wholesale disasters, floods,
  famine, the plague. What happened to the Romans
  or Italians in this period is imperfectly known
  (Dark Age between Alboins death in 573 and the
  accession of Agilulf (590)

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• Lombards (200.000 at their arrival) quickly
  disappeared in Italian society. Their language
  did not survive except in a few Italian words
• Roman law survived, property law in particular
  was adopted by the Lombards (VIII-IX)
• Lombards became city dwellers and were found in
  Brescia, Vicenza and Pavia (northern towns)
• The capital of Lombard Italy was Pavia, which
  remained an important cultural center, as it was
  intended to rival Ravenna. Paul the Deacon lived
  here (famous historian)

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PAVIA
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• The Exarchate of Ravenna was a separate entity.
  The first Exarch had been appointed by the
  Byzantine Emperor Maurice (582-602). Once
  appointed, the Exarchs retained virtual
  independence (declared in 619 and in 651). The
  organization of the Exarchate was sophisticated.
  Taxes were collected, troops were paid regularly.
  The Exarchate was conquered by Lombards (Aistulf,
  749-56)

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• In 754 and 756 the Franks invaded Italy under
  King Pepin . Pepins arrival provided the
  opportunity for the foundation of the Papal
  States. The Donation of Pepin (756), gave land
  that was nominally under the Eastern Empire to
  Pope Stephen II. Added to the Donation of
  Constantine, the Donation of Pepin virtually
  proclaimed the Pope to be the heir of the Roman
  emperors.
• Charlemagne became king of the Franks in 774 and
  visited Rome that year. His presence illustrated
  Frankish domination of the Papal States

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RAVENNA AND ITS MOSAICS
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CHARLEMAGNE
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The Coronation
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