Byzantine Empire and the Early Middle Ages

• These notes cover key figures, events, and concepts from the late Roman Empire through the Middle Ages.

Constantine (c. 272–337 CE)

• Roman Emperor from 306 to 337 CE.
• Known for military and administrative reforms.
• Constantine was the first Roman emperor to convert to Christianity.
• He ended state persecution of Christians.
• The Edict of Milan was issued in 313 CE, granting religious tolerance to Christians.
• Constantine moved the Roman capital to Byzantium and renamed it Constantinople in 330 CE.
• Constantine's support for Christianity led to its spread and dominance in the Roman Empire.
• He established Constantinople as a lasting center of power, influencing the Byzantine Empire.
• Constantine strengthened imperial administration and the military, stabilizing the empire.
• He helped shape medieval Europe by linking Christianity with imperial rule.

Constantinople (Founded 330 CE)

• The capital of the Eastern Roman (Byzantine) Empire, founded by Emperor Constantine.
• Constantinople was built on the site of Byzantium, strategically located between Europe and Asia.
• It became a major political, cultural, and economic center of the empire.
• Constantinople was defended by massive walls, making it one of the most secure cities in the world.
• Constantinople served as the seat of the Byzantine Empire, preserving Roman governance and Christianity.
• It became a key hub for trade, connecting Europe and Asia.
• Constantinople played a major role in spreading Christianity throughout Eastern Europe.
• Its fall to the Ottoman Empire in 1453 marked the end of Byzantine rule.

Justinian (c. 482–565 CE)

• Byzantine Emperor from 527 to 565 CE
• Known for military expansion and legal reforms.
• Justinian reclaimed lost Roman territories in North Africa, Italy, and Spain.
• He commissioned the construction of the Hagia Sophia, a masterpiece of Byzantine architecture.
• Justinian codified Roman law into the Justinian Code, influencing European legal systems.
• His military campaigns temporarily expanded Byzantine control but drained resources.
• The Justinian Code became the foundation for medieval and modern legal traditions.
• The Hagia Sophia reinforced Constantinople as a center of Eastern Christianity.
• Justinian marked the height of Byzantine power, shaping governance, law, and religion.

Clovis (c. 481–511)

• The first king of the Franks that united all Frankish tribes under one ruler.
• Founder of the Merovingian dynasty, ruling from 481 to 511 CE.
• Converted to Christianity around 496 CE and aligned with the Roman Catholic Church.
• Expanded Frankish territory through military conquests in Gaul.
• Clovis strengthened the alliance between Frankish rulers and the Catholic Church.
• His conversion helped consolidate power and legitimacy over Christian subjects.
• He laid the foundation for medieval European kingdoms under Christian rule.
• Clovis paved the way for the Carolingian dynasty and the rise of the Holy Roman Empire.

Charles Martel (c. 688–741 CE)

• Frankish military leader and de facto ruler of the Frankish kingdom.
• Best known for his victory at the Battle of Tours in 732 CE against Muslim forces.
• Strengthened Frankish control over Gaul and expanded their influence.
• Laid the groundwork for the Carolingian dynasty, which would later rule as Holy Roman Emperors.
• His victory at Tours prevented Muslim expansion into Western Europe.
• Charles Martel strengthened Frankish military power and centralized governance.
• He established the Carolingian dynasty’s dominance, leading to Charlemagne’s rise.
• Introduced land grants for military service, contributing to feudalism.

Charlemagne (c. 747–814 CE)

• King of the Franks from 768–814 CE and Holy Roman Emperor, crowned in 800 CE.
• Expanded the Frankish Empire, uniting much of Western and Central Europe,.
• Promoted education, religious reform, and the Carolingian Renaissance.
• Formed a close alliance with the Papacy, reinforcing the idea of divine kingship.
• He strengthened Christianity in Western Europe through conquest and missionary efforts.
• Charlemagne centralized power by improving administration and governance.
• He influenced the political development of medieval European kingdoms.
• His coronation as Holy Roman Emperor established the connection between church and state.

Feudalism (9th–15th century CE)

• A decentralized political and social system that developed in medieval Europe.
• Feudalism was based on the exchange of land (fiefs) for military service and loyalty.
• Kings granted land to nobles (vassals), who then provided military service.
• Peasants (serfs) worked the land in return for protection from lords.
• It provided local stability during the collapse of centralized power after Rome’s fall.
• Feudalism reinforced a rigid class hierarchy, limiting social mobility.
• It strengthened the power of nobles while weakening centralized royal authority.
• Feudalism eventually declined due to economic growth, trade, and the rise of professional armies.

Manorialism/Manors (Medieval Period, c. 9th–15th century CE)

• The economic system of feudal Europe, based on self-sufficient agricultural estates (manors).
• Each manor was controlled by a lord and worked by serfs bound to the land.
• Manorialism ensured food production and economic stability in a decentralized political system.
• It was the dominant economic structure in medieval Europe.
• It supported feudalism by providing the economic foundation for medieval society.
• Manorialism allowed local communities to be self-sustaining during times of war and instability.
• Reinforced social stratification, limiting economic innovation and mobility.
• Declined as trade, cities, and a money-based economy grew.

Knights (Medieval Period, c. 9th–15th century CE)

• Heavily armored mounted warriors who served lords in exchange for land or wealth.
• Knights trained from childhood in combat and chivalry, a code of conduct emphasizing loyalty.
• They played a key role in medieval warfare, participating in battles and tournaments.
• Knights fought in local conflicts, feudal disputes, and the Crusades.
• Essential to maintaining the feudal military system and local defense.
• Reinforced the feudal hierarchy by providing military service in exchange for land.
• Declined in importance with the rise of professional armies and gunpowder weapons.
• Left a lasting legacy in the ideals of chivalry and romanticized knighthood.

Middle Ages/"Dark Ages"

• Period from the fall of Rome in 476 CE to the Renaissance around the 14th century.
• Often called the "Dark Ages" due to perceived cultural and economic decline.
• VIP Magnet Terms: Feudalism, Vikings, Carolingian Renaissance.

Battle of Tours/Poitiers (732 CE)

• Battle in which Frankish leader Charles Martel stopped Muslim expansion into Western Europe.
• VIP Magnet Terms: Muslims/Moors, Carolingians, Feudalism.

Carolingian Renaissance

• Revival of learning and culture under Charlemagne, It emphasized Latin literacy and classical knowledge.
• VIP Magnet Terms: Charlemagne, Missi Dominici, and "Holy Roman Empire."

"Holy Roman Empire"

• Loose confederation of Central European territories ruled by emperors crowned by the pope, beginning with Charlemagne in 800 CE.
• VIP Magnet Terms: Pope Leo III, Treaty of Verdun, and Feudalism.

Missi Dominici

• Royal agents sent by Charlemagne to enforce laws and administer justice.
• VIP Magnet Terms: Carolingian Renaissance, "Holy Roman Empire."

Pope Leo III

• Crowned Charlemagne as Emperor of the Romans in 800 CE, strengthening ties between the church and state.
• VIP Magnet Terms: "Holy Roman Empire," Missi Dominici, Great Schism of 1054.

Bloody Verdict of Verden (782 CE)

• Mass execution of 4,500 Saxons by Charlemagne for resisting Christian conversion.
• VIP Magnet Terms: Carolingian Renaissance, "Holy Roman Empire."

Treaty of Verdun (843 CE)

• Divided Charlemagne’s empire among his grandsons, weakening centralized power.
• VIP Magnet Terms: Feudalism, Vikings, Magyars.

Vikings

• Scandinavian warriors, traders, and raiders who attacked Europe from approximately the 8th to 11th century.
• VIP Magnet Terms: Feudalism, Magyars, Muslims/Moors.

Muslims/Moors

• Islamic groups who controlled Spain (Al-Andalus) and invaded Europe.
• VIP Magnet Terms: Battle of Tours, Reconquista.

Magyars

• Nomadic horsemen from Central Asia who raided Europe in the 9th-10th centuries before settling in Hungary.
• VIP Magnet Terms: Feudalism, Vikings.

Lords

• Nobles who owned land and granted fiefs to vassals in exchange for military service.
• VIP Magnet Terms: Feudalism, Vassals.

Vassals

• Lesser nobles who pledged loyalty and military service to lords in exchange for land.
• VIP Magnet Terms: Feudalism, Lords.

Tithe

• A 10% tax paid to the Church.
• VIP Magnet Terms: Feudalism, Pope, Serfs.

Troubadours

• Medieval poets and musicians who sang of chivalry and courtly love.
• VIP Magnet Terms: Feudalism, Chivalry.

Edict of Milan (313 CE)

• Proclamation by Emperor Constantine granting religious tolerance to Christians.
• VIP Magnet Terms: Christianity, Byzantine Empire.

Code of Justinian

• Legal code compiled by Byzantine Emperor Justinian I, forming the foundation of European law.
• VIP Magnet Terms: Hagia Sophia, Byzantine Empire.

Hagia Sophia

• Massive church built by Justinian in Constantinople, later converted into a mosque.
• VIP Magnet Terms: Code of Justinian, Great Schism.

Great Schism of 1054

• Split between the Roman Catholic Church (West) and Eastern Orthodox Church (East).
• VIP Magnet Terms: Pope and Patriarch, Icons, and Excommunication.

Pope and Patriarch

• Leaders of the Roman Catholic (Pope) and Eastern Orthodox (Patriarch) churches, they disagreed over authority and doctrine.
• VIP Magnet Terms: Great Schism, Excommunication.

Icons/Excommunication

• Religious images (icons) led to conflict between the churches; excommunication (banishment from the Church) was used as a punishment.
• VIP Magnet Terms: Great Schism, Pope, and Patriarch.

Explore the Byzantine Empire, including the Code of Justinian, the Great Schism, and Constantinople's strategic importance. Learn about Constantine's impact on Christianity, the rise of Frankish kingdoms, Charles Martel's victory at the Battle of Tours, and Charlemagne's legacy.