Early Europe First Test

Question 1

Diocletian

Answer 1

r284-305. Roman Emperor that ended crisis of the third century. Implemented Tetrarchy (split RE into 2, 2 co emps, 2 jr co emps who succeed srs), refocused the empire east, tried to fix roman economy, reorganized the military. Retired in 305 staying true to the tetrarchy system. Came from same background of others. Last persecution of christians.

Question 2

Constantine

Answer 2

r306-337. Emperor after Dio, smashed tetrarchy and reunited empire after the Battle of Milvian bridge in 312. Converted to xtianity after vision said he would win battle, started roman state support of it. Continued+built on diocletian’s reforms, kept up division of administration. Founded Constantinople in 324, called council of nicaea in 325. ruled empire from east

Question 3

Council of Nicaea

Answer 3

Theological council called in 325 by the emperor constantine in order to answer some theological questions in Christianity. Said that Jesus both fully man and fully God, and solidified the trinity. Rejected Arianism, an early Christian movement that said that Jesus was more man than god. Set idea of Christian “orthodoxy” that the Roman Empire supported.

Question 4

St Jerome

Answer 4

340-420. Church father who was climbing imperial ladder and left to it be a monk and focus on intellectual life. Very conflicted about pagan learning and can it co-exist with christianity. Once called “ciceronian rather than christian”. Main legacy is The Vulgate, a translation of the christian bible into latin.

Question 5

The Vulgate

Answer 5

Translation of The Bible by St. Jerome. Used by Christian churches in Western Europe for the next 1000 years. His translations became canon effectively. Having it in latin helped to establish latin’s role as liturgical language in western europe.

Question 6

Tertullian

Answer 6

Earlier church father, 150-225CE. Came from well-off pagan background. Hot headed Christian, completely rejected role of pagan learning and knowledge in christianity. Said focus should be on coming return of christ and end of days. “What has Athens to due with Jerusalem?” Important in that he represented an early extreme in the debate of pagan learning’s place in christian life.

Question 7

St Augustine of Hippo

Answer 7

Most important church father. 354-430. Incredibly important early christian writer that developed theology that is still important to the Catholic church. Had a long development in his life, into debauchery early on, went through phases of believing in Ciceronian philosophy, manichaeism, neoplatonism, before settling in the end on christianity. Wrote Confessions in 397 and City of God in 410.

Question 8

St Ambrose

Answer 8

339-397. Church father. Met and impressed Augustine of Hippo.

Question 9

Theodosius I

Answer 9

Roman Emperor r378-395. Last emp to rule over united roman empire. Made a deal with visigoths that allowed them to settle in Roman lands. However the visigoths had no loyalty to Rome, and unsatisfactory dealings with the Empire caused them to rebel. This lead to the sacking of rome in 410. Theodosius issued the Theodosian Code in the 390s, making outlawing paganism and making Christianity the official religion of the Roman Empire- important step in establishing Christianity’s place in Europe.

Question 10

Visigoths

Answer 10

Barbarian group. Not wild hill people, they were a group that had long history of trade and cultural exchange with rome. Forced out of their land by Hun invaders aroun 376, given permission to settle in Rome. After a set of negotiations with the Empire broke down, they started a rebellion against rome that culminated with the sack of Rome by Alaric in 410. Showed vulnerability of late roman empire.

Question 11

Theodoric

Answer 11

r493-526. grew up in constantinople as hostage. took italy ogoth kingdom in “name of east”, deposing Odovacer, who has deposed the last emperor. In contrast to label of “barbarian king”, ruled italian peninsula well. Had separate administrations for romans and ostrogoths. Tried to preserve Roman infrastructure and institutions.

Question 12

Boethius

Answer 12

480-524. Old-school roman official and leading official under theodoric. consul, master of offices. translated some plato+aristot to latin. wrote “liberal arts” schoolbooks. accused of plotting with east in old-school roman politics, executed. Imp: partly defined learning during middle ages.

Question 13

Cassiodorus

Answer 13

ca 490-583. First half of life in theo’s court, similar to boe. consul 514. letter-writer for theo. protege/rival of boe. retired in 538, lived in const til 555 then retires to vivarium. focused on religion+copying. imp: medieval learning, saves documents

Question 14

St Anthony

Answer 14

Early Christian saint. Man who left his material life to life a life of hardship in the deserts of Egypt. Important early definer of Christian monastic life, make asceticism an important part of it. Important especially for Eastern Church.

Question 15

St Benedict of Nursia

Answer 15

Western monk, lived in Italy in the mid 6th century. Wrote a book of rules that monks should live by, which was enormously influential in Western christianity. Compared to St Anthony’s monasticism, less harsh. Said monks should life a simple, obedient life glorifying god. Set form of Western monestaries that would go on to become incredibly important institutions in W Europe.

Question 16

Justinian

Answer 16

r 527-565. Great Eastern Emperor., mid 6th cent. recodified roman law in Corpus Juris Civilis, spoke latin. Father was captain of imperial guard who became empire, Justinian helped him rule. Reconquered much of west, fought persia, great building projects. One of the “Last of the Romans”.
Vilified by Procopius in “The Secret History/”
His conquests and reforms were enormously influential in defining the Byzantine Empire.
ORGANIZE THIS BETTER

Question 17

Theodora

Answer 17

Wife of justinian, roman empress. Came from a less-than illustrious background. Wielded an enormous amount of power, especially for a woman. Procopius wrote much about how Justinian and her ruled and worked together to achieve their evil aims. Gave famous speech during hippodrome riots which resulted in Justinian not abandoning the city.

Question 18

Corpus Juris Civilus

Answer 18

Massive recodification of Roman law ordered by Justinian. Divided into 4 parts: Code: revision of roman statutes; Novels: new laws issued by justinian; Digest: commentaries on laws; Institutions: reflections on the legal principles in the other books. Because its in latin, spread to west, enormously influential in later western civil law.

Question 19

Belisarius

Answer 19

GET DATES. Justinian’s great general, “right hand man.” Lead his attempts to reconquer lost Western Empire. Conquered North Africa with ease, had a harder time conquering Italy, two decades of terrible conflict. Recalled sometimes to fight Persia. One of the “last of the romans.”

Question 20

Procopius

Answer 20

500-600. War secretary to belisarius, eyewitness his wars and conquest. As a historian, very important to our understanding of this era of the Byzantine Empire. He wrote History of the Wars, Buildings, Secret History. HotW documents Justinian’s and Belisarius’ conquests, Buildings tackles Justinian’s building projects. Usually glorified the, “The Secret History” paints a very different picture.

Question 21

Mecca

Answer 21

City on the Arabian peninsula. Before Islam, holy polytheistic city and major trading route. Prophet Muhammed captured in in 630, became holy city of islam. Became islamic pilgrimage city and great trading hub.

Question 22

Muhammed

Answer 22

Greatest and last prophet of Islam. Born 570 into a wealthy trading family, began having revelations from god about a new monotheistic faith. Started Islam, spread it to family and tribe. Forced out of Mecca, he went to Medina, strengthened followers and retook Mecca. Relayed recitations from god in the form of the Qur’an. Not divine, but prophet.

Question 23

The Qur’an

Answer 23

Holy Book of Islam. Literal word of god as relayed to Muhammed by God. Oral tradition until after Muhammed’s death. Should not be translated from Arabic because arabic translation is the only literal one.

Question 24

Hijra

Answer 24

Exile of Muhammed and his followers to Medina in 622. Authorities in Mecca forced out him and his followers because his brand of monotheism threatened polytheist way of life in Mecca. Latern returned more powerful and reconquered the city.

Question 25

Five Pillars of Islam

Answer 25

There is only one God and Muhammed is his prophet, the Hajj (pilgrimage to Mecca), alms for the poor, pray to mecca 5 times a day, fasting during ramadan.

Question 26

Umayyed Caliphate

Answer 26

Sunni caliphate, a powerful family which took over after the first four after death of Muhammed. Continued conquests, ruled absolutely enormous empire stretching from Spain to Eastern Persia. Established civilized system of trade and common culture much ahead of west at the time. Moved capital to Damascus.

Question 27

Abbasid Caliphate

Answer 27

Caliphate that largely succeeded the Umayyeds. Last caliphate to rule over united Islamic world. Moved capital of empire to Baghdad. Kept territory in Persia after fracturing.

Question 28

Shi’ites and Sunnis

Answer 28

Two factions in Islam that emerged after the death of Ali, the fourth caliph after Muhammed and the last one related to him. Issue is whether to accept rule of caliphs after Ali. Sunnis say yes, Shi’as no. This division exists today, only 10% of muslims are shi’as.

Question 29

Dhimmi

Answer 29

Muslim designation for “people of the book”, Jews and Christians. Made second class citizens, unable to hold office and made to pay more in teas, but allowed religious freedom. Respected because they practice a less correct form of Islam. Unlike the polytheists who are not tolerated at all. Imp because some Jews and Christians were better treated under muslims than under christian byzantines.

Question 30

Childeric

Answer 30

Frankish king. 463-481. Was last frankish king to fight for the romans instead of against them. Exemplified relationship of Franks and Late W roman empire, franks were part of legions but had own identity and political power within roman society. Father of clovis

Question 31

Clovis

Answer 31

r509-511. Frankish king after childeric. Fought the romans at Battle of Soisus in 486, in contrast to previous relationship. Had the title of “King of the Romans in Gaul”, a very barbarian title that reflected the different groups of people living under him. Consolidated his hold on northern gaul through 2 decades of warfare. Converted to latin christianity, very important event that established xtian status of frankish kings.

Question 32

Clothilda

Answer 32

Wife of Clovis. Came from a Roman aristocrat mother, father was arian barbarian from Burgundy. Uncle murdered them and took her captive. On wedding night with clovis, lectured him to convert to christianity, he did after winning important battle.

Question 33

Merovingians

Answer 33

Dyansty of Frankish kings started by Clovis. Respected and powerful, but Frankish tradition means their land was split between heirs on death. Meant that the dynasty was plagued by constant civil wars and infighting, so no stability and it was hard for them to consolidate any power. portrayed as having blood ran out/silly by later carolingians.

Question 34

Pope Gregory the Great

Answer 34

Pope ca540-604. Called the “last church father.” Important part of the “about face” from the popes focusing on the Eastern Roman empire to western Europe. Gregory focused on building relationships with Western European powers, promising them spiritual stuff in return for protection. Sent monks out of borders of christian lands to convert pagans, including sending St Augustine of Canterbury to England.

Question 35

St Patrick

Answer 35

Englishman kidnapped to ireland, escaped back to england, then had vision to go back to Ireland to convert populace. Not much known about him. Died 460-496. Played important role in peacefully spreading Christianity to Ireland, which later helped spread it to England.

Question 36

St Augustine of Canterbury

Answer 36

Arrived on a Gregorian Mission in 597. Unaware of Christianity also spreading from Ireland. Person friend of pope gregory, a monk at one of his monestaries. Converts Kent, other kingdoms follow. Played important role in creating idea of “England”. There were 7 or more kingdoms in England at the time, but there was an “english church”

Question 37

Synod of Whitby

Answer 37

Theological conference held in northumbria to decide between roman and irish christian rituals for their church. Two churches largely the same, small differences ie calculation of easter, monk habits, etc. Roman christianity won out by pulling “st peter apostolic succession” card. Another step in establishing english church.

Question 38

Carolingians

Answer 38

Family that held mayorships (being head of swaths Frankish lands) under Merovingians. Grew power until they were the real power in the frankish kingdom. Illustrious family through deeds of Charles Martel, Pepin III, Charlemagne. Pepin III deposed last merovingian in 751, crowned by pope. Family’s dynasty and glory set state for powerful frankish/carolingian empire

Question 39

St Boniface

Answer 39

Anglo-saxon benedictine monk. Sent to north to convert pagans, famous story of him cutting down pagan holy tree. His missions were endorsed by charles martel, who recognized that converting people to christianity brought them into the Frankish/latin christian cultural sphere.

Question 40

Charles Martel

Answer 40

r714-741. Called Charles “the hammer”. Most famous for defeating muslim raiding force at battle of poitiers in 732, glorified as saving Europe from muslims. This helped him solidify control of Frankish kingdom and increase the prestige of his family.

Question 41

Pepin III (the short)

Answer 41

r741-768. (including mayorship). First Frankish king. crowned in 751. Anointed by pope, made deal with him: pepin gets legitimacy, pope gets protection. This relationship with pope becomes very important to carolingians. Defended rome from lombards.

Question 42

Charlemagne

Answer 42

r768-814 Most important carolingian ruler. Extremely energetic king, waged wars for his entire reign. Ruled by issuing edicts, he was respected enough that people followed them. Fought tons of groups around him, very successful, expanded Carolingian empire to be hugest in Europe since W roman. Crowned emperor by pope in XXX. Started carolingian renaissance at his court.

Question 43

Carolingian Renaissance

Answer 43

An intellectual and artistic rebirth at Charlemagne’s court. Sparked by Charlemagne’s concern that the Bible was being relayed innacuratly because spoken latin had diverged from written latin. Chiefly composed of large efforts at centralization of texts, and salvaging them. Carolingian miniscule influential new writing style. Had big impact on Western Europe intellectualism through new standards of writing and centralized shit.

Question 44

Donation of Constantine

Answer 44

Fraudulent document, supposedly saying that Constantine donated the territory of the Western Roman Empire and Rome itself to the Papacy. Used to legitimize Pope’s claim to temporal power over rome, and to give him the authority to crown charlemagne emperor. Forged in Papal court in late 8th century.

Question 45

Isodore of Seville

Answer 45

560-636. Catholic Christian Bishop in Visigothic Spain. Great author of his age. Wrote “The Etymologies”, a great encyclopedia of the day. Included tons of topics. Isodore also wrote a great deal about other topics including liturgy, music, theology. The Etymologies became a reference book for the middle ages.

Question 46

(the venerable) Bede

Answer 46

Great English monk and historian. A Benedictine monk since childhood. Most brilliant man of his age. Wrote “The Ecclesiastical History of the English People”, from which a ton of info about English Christianity, St Augustine of Canterbury, and Pope Gregory’s missions is known. Important because he used the term English people before English political unity.

Question 47

Louis the Pious

Answer 47

r814-840. CTG’s son and emperor after him. Very different kind of emperor than CTG- no great conquests. Took imperial trappings and title very seriously unlike his father. Very pious ruler, perhaps to a fault. Maybe deferred to church a bit too much, took relationship with Pope seriously. His sons rebelled in 830 against their father. His plan was to give title “Emperor” to his oldest son Lothar, and split lands between him and other sons. His rule exemplified the issues that would lead to the breakup of the Carolingian empire after CTG’s death.

Question 47

Alcuin of York

Answer 47

735-804. Anglo-Saxon man from York. Recruited by Charlemagne to his court in 781 to lead his educational efforts. Central figure of the Carolingian Renaissance. Led school of Latin grammar and rhetoric and the main “Palace School” at Aachen. Responsible for teaching generations of educated people in the next generations after him.

Question 48

Treaty of Verdun

Answer 48

“Treaty” (though not so formal) between Louis the Pious’s three sons in 842. Split the Carolingian Empire into three parts. Three sons of Louis the Pious: Lothar, Louis the German, Charles the Bald. Lother had previous rebelled against his father for concern over CTB’s place in succession. In the deal, Lothar got the “middle kingdom” (Strip of land from Aachen, included alps, down to Rome/Italy), Louis the German got the East, Charles the Bald got the West. Lothar also got title of “Emperor.” Put an end to Carolingian infighting for one generation. Treaty split realm into parts that today resemble France and Germany.

Question 49

Vikings

Answer 49

Norse group that caused a lot of disruption across Northern Europe. The were raiders and pillagers, landing near a settlement, raiding, raping, pillaging, and then quickly leaving. They were a pagan terror to Christian European realms, pagan raiders that raided monasteries and nunneries indiscriminately. Vikings had strong information networks with good scouting, and their sailing+rowing longboats were far superior to anything anyone else had. They settled tons of lands- Great Britain, hebrides, Kiev, iceland, greenland. For the Carolingian Empire they were a huge threat from the Atlantic. They played a huge role in the disruption of the empire after CTG’s reign. Carolingian rulers had to ransom + allow them to setlle

Question 50

Einhard

Answer 50

Scholar at CTG’s court. Lived through the height of his power and through the reign of his son Louis the Pious. Educated at the monestary at Fulda, but not a priest. Was director of Royal Works, emissary to pope and sat on the main council. Served through most of Louis’s reign, but retired in 830 during the rebellion of Louis’s sons. In the 820s wrote The Life of Charlemagne, the first biography of a layperson since the fall of Rome. The book is an invaluable source for learning about Charlemagne’s reign and life.

Question 51

Wallifrid Strabo

Answer 51

808-849. Poet during the declining age of the Carolingian Empire. Grew up in Reichenau in modern switzerland, send to fulda in 820, 829 called to Aachen to tutor CTbald. Well educated because his teachers went to CTG’s school. Latin poet, had a talent for latin verse and meter, sign of a good education. Only tutored bald for two years before war started. In 840, exiled from his monastery only to be allowed back two years later amidst chaos before Verdun. Died while on way to be an emissary from LTG to CTB. Exemplified the decline of the Carolingian Empire, by starting out in CTG’s court and then living through chaos. Commented on the decline of learning late in his life.

Question 52

Dhuoda

Answer 52

Carolingian noblewoman. Only woman whose written work survives from this era. Her husband was Bernard, right hand man of Louis the Pious. In an age where woman were not important in society and had no political power. Notable because when her husband was off with LTP, she was left in charge of his lands. Had two sons with him, one of them Will. When LTP died and Bernard was trying to figure out place, he took their sons for protection. She wrote Handbook for William in case she never saw him again, which she didn’t. Bernard was executed, infant son disappeared, Will died avenging bernard,
Importance: a window into role of women in Carolingian society, showed chaos of late carolingians.

Question 53

Magyars

Answer 53

Nomadic horse group from modern Hungary. Raiding from Eastern Europe into Carolingian Empire, causing disruption. Christianized around 1000 and settled modern kingdom of Hungary.