The Middle Ages:The Germanic Kingdoms

• There are three heirs to Rome

• Germanic kingdoms • Eastern Roman

Empire • Islamic Empires

Three Heirs to Rome

The Visigoths

• Settled on the Danube by Rome • Adrianople 378 A.D. • Sack of Rome 410 A.D. • Migrate to Spain 410-440 A.D. • Vandal Invasion 440-450 A.D. • Vandals driven to Africa 455 A.D. • Rome Sacked again 455 A.D. • Odoacer deposes the last emperor

Valens Draws up His Army

Valens attacks/The Gothic Cavalry Arives

The Roman Collapse

Visigothic Spain

• Coexist with the Romans

• Warrior caste dominates the Roman bureaucracy

• Intermarry with Catholic Romans

• Never developed orderly system for selecting kings (civil wars)

• Muslims conquer Spain in 711 A.D.

The Ostrogoths

• Subjects of the Huns until 453 A.D. • Allies of the Eastern Roman Empire after the death of Attila

Ostrogothic Italy• King Theodoric commissioned by the

emperor Zeno to attack Odoacer • Theodoric rules independently of Zeno • Integration of Roman government and

German culture • Separate legal systems for Goths and

Romans • Goths control the army • Religious friction (Arians vs. Catholics) • Conquered by Byzantium in 535 A.D. • Conquered by the Lombards in 554 A.D.

The Merovingian Franks 456 A.D. to 751 A.D.

• Clovis 456-511A.D.

• Converts to Catholicism during a battle

• Supported by Popes to fight Arianism

• Religious justification for expansion

• 3 sons divide the Kingdom

The Franks

Frankish Society

• Clovis’ sons cannot maintain political control

• Noble’s power grows • Agriculture increases, trade declines • Clergy is corrupt and is dominated by

nobles • Drifting towards feudalism

Frankish Culture

• Extended family/male dominated

• Kingship is limited – Kings elected – Military councils – Loyalty to persons or kings, not the state

Frankish Law

• Salic Law• Customary Laws

- Offenses are personal not crimes against the state- Fines for insults, wounds, and murder- Punishment stratified by class- Trial by battle, ordeal, or oath - Rough and ready methods of settling disputes

Frankish Family

• Extended family

• Male dominated

• Arranged marriages

• Bride price

• Virginity verified

• Divorce permitted

• Widows can own property