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25 Cards in this Set
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Augustus
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62 BCE - 14 CE
The grandnephew and heir to Caesar was Octavian. Along with two others, Mark Antony and Lepidus, he created the 2nd triumvirate. The three controlled different parts of the empire until they began to fight each other for power. Octavian forced Lepidus into retirement, and then he and Mark Anthony fought for control of Rome. Octavian crushed Anthony in the naval battle of Actium, and he took control of all of Rome as Emperor. He set a system of Government known as the principate where the Emperor controlled major issues but left most details to the Senate to resolve. This is important because it allowed Rome to function even when there were terrible Emperors in power. |
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2nd Triumvirate
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The Second Triumvirate ruled from 44 BCE-14 CE and seemed to bring some peace to the turbulent land. Marc Antony, Gaius Octavius, and Marcus Lepidus forcefully legitimized their rule through pressuring the senate. Marc Antony ruled the East & Egypt. Octavius ruled the West. Lepidus ruled North Africa. Lepidus was forcefully exiled by Octavius. Octavius' sister, Octavia, and Antony married to "seal the deal". Antony left her for Cleopatra (& went back to Egypt). Octavius declared war on Egypt instead of going to war with Marc Antony (to avoid a civil war). At the Battle of Actium, Antony was forced to retreat. He was told Cleopatra had killed herself, so he committed suicide. Then Cleopatra committed suicide. Octavius became the sole ruler.
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Principate
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27 BCE – 284 CE
The principate is the governmental system created by Augustus to rule the Roman empire during the Pax Romana. It was successful even during the worst of emperors because of its unique structure. Works like a business - the Emperor is the owner and the senate & the rest of the government are the managers. Emperor = Princeps or first citizen. Augustus kept about half of the provinces under his direct control, sending out representatives to rule the others in his name. He created a foreign service from the equestrian class. The brilliance of the system lay in a combination of goals: collect taxes, maintain peace, and prevent power from accumulating in the hands of individuals & with most authority exerted at the local level. It ended when Diocletian assumed the title of lord instead of emperor or princeps. |
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Pax Romana
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27 BCE to 180 CE
200-year period during and after the reign of Augustus. "Peace of Rome" - period of relative stability and prosperity throughout the empire. Rome remained afloat even during the worst of emperors because of the principate system. This time period spanned many reigns of emperors who had various successes and failures as leaders. The time was relatively free from violence and bloodshed. Latin was spoken all over the kingdom. Trade flourished, seaways were free of piracy, and people paid taxes for improvements in all the provinces. Roman roads. Extensive roads were built all over the empire. |
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Colosseum
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70 CE. Flavian Amphitheater. Rome, Italy. Built of concrete and stone, it was the largest amphitheater of the Roman Empire, and is considered one of the greatest works of Roman architecture and engineering. It is the largest amphitheatre in the world. The Colosseum could hold, it is estimated, between 50,000 and 80,000 spectators, and was used for gladiatorial contests and public spectacles such as mock sea battles, animal hunts, executions, re-enactments of famous battles, and dramas based on Classical mythology. Rome had about 1 million people living in the city. A lot were clients and unemployed. There was growing discontent. You would get food from baskets being passed out – who is feeding you? The Emperor. Flavian = Flavius Vespasian.
The future Christian Emperor closed the Coliseum. People began using chunks of it as construction materials – statues, columns, etc. In the Middle Ages, people were no longer allowed to do this, so what remains is what’s been preserved since then. |
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Diocletian
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245-311 CE
Of low birth, he rose to prominence through a successful military career. As emperor, he increased the number of troops and installed them along the empire's borders. War with Persia during his reign led to Roman territorial gain along that border. Ended Principate. Started the Dominate (rare), from the word dominus 'lord' now used to describe the emperor (replacing princep). Diocletian set up the rule by 4 known as the Tetrarchy. 2 Augusti, 2 Caesars. More mobile armies, end of legionary system. Instead of dying in office, as all earlier emperors had done, Diocletian abdicated and retired to his palace at Split where he gardened.Although he split the empire and gave up his post, Diocletian was not a modest emperor. Kneeling before the emperor to kiss his hem started with Diocletian. |
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Constantine
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272-337 CE
First 'Christian" emperor (but he was Pagan). At the Battle of Milvian Bridge, he had a vision in which he is instructed to put on the shields of his men the symbol of the cross or Chi Rho. He had a dream where it appeared in the sky & he was told to use the sign to conquer. This story does not come up until his death. Really the Christian church trying to use Christianity as the reason he won the battle. The Edict of Milan, 313 – freedom of worship – it makes Christianity a legal religion (not the official or legal religion) – you will no longer be arrested or attacked for being Christian. Up until this point, plenty of emperors had persecuted Christians (like Diocletian). Council of Nicaea – pick ONE version of Christianity. Picks somewhat arbitrarily. Moved the capital to Byzantium (later renamed Constantinople in his honor) because Rome had begun to deteriorate. Because of this, he is thought of as the founder of the Byzantine Empire. |
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(Constantine continued)
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His more immediate political legacy was that, in leaving the empire to his sons, he replaced Diocletian's tetrarchy with the principle of dynastic succession. His reputation flourished during the lifetime of his children and centuries after his reign. The medieval church upheld him as a paragon of virtue while secular rulers invoked him as a prototype, a point of reference, and the symbol of imperial legitimacy and identity. New gold coin, Solidus to combat inflation.
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Council of Nicaea
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A council of Christian bishops convened in Nicaea in Bithynia by the Roman Emperor Constantine I in 325 CE. This first ecumenical council was the first effort to attain consensus in the church through an assembly representing all of Christendom. Its main accomplishments were settlement of the Christological issue of the nature of the Son of God and his relationship to God the Father,the construction of the first part of the Creed of Nicaea, establishing uniform observance of the date of Easter, and promulgation of early canon law. Constantine burns all the books & records of the Christian groups not deemed "correct". Many of the Arians left & went north to the Black Sea where they converted many neighbors.
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Iconoclasm
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The byzantine emperor Leo III (717-741) issued an order that called for all religious icons to be destroyed. There was a strong belief in the Asiatic provinces that having such icons amounted to worshipping idols. The Emperor also wanted to challenge the growing power of the monasteries that were producing most of the icons. The resulting iconoclasm (idol breaking) lasted for a century causing many mosaics in Constantinople to be destroyed. However, the western Popes did not recognize this decree from the Emperor, and this resulted in increased tension between Christians in the east and the west. This eventually led to a split in the Church with the Greek Orthodox Church and the Roman Catholic Church.
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Justinian
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482-565
Adopted by an uncle in the royal court. Theodora, wife, was very influential - they shared the throne. The Nika Revolt happened. Constantinople was burned=planned to rebuild. Hagia Sophia. Codification of Roman Law=Corpus Iuris Civilis-50 books. Wanted to restore to Roman Empire. With Belisarius, he tried to reconquer the western territories that had fallen to Germanic tribes. In part, to get back lost tax revenue. Commerce w/ east. War with Sassanid persians. Constant battle drained the eastern empire of needed resources. Each family gives one soldier: Theme system. |
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Muhammad
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Born in Me, Born to a Mecca merchant family, 570 CE; difficult early life, married a wealthy widow, Khadija, in 595; became a merchant at age thirty and was exposed to various faiths; blended them. received revelations from archangel Gabriel that there was only one true god (Allah is the Arabic word for "God"), and that he would soon bring judgment on the world and he was the "seal of the prophets" new faith=islam.
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Alcuin
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Helps correct translations in the bible. Invents lowercase letters. This famous scholar is one of our best sources of information for the later eighth century. He was a deacon of York when, in 781, he was returning from a visit to Rome and met the king of the Franks at Parma. Charlemagne (768-814) recognized in Alcuin a scholar who could help him to achieve a renaissance of learning and reform of the Church. At the king's invitation, Alcuin joined the royal court in 781 and became one of Charlemagne's chief advisers on religious and educational matters. Many schools of learning were attached to monasteries and cathedrals. Alcuin was made head of the palace school at Aachen, which was attended by members of the royal court and the sons of noble families, and he established a great library there.
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(Alcuin continued)
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He revised the church liturgy and the Bible and, along with another great scholar, Theodulf of Orleans, he was responsible for an intellectual movement within the Carolingian empire in which many schools of learning were attached to monasteries and cathedrals, and Latin was restored to a position as a literary language. In 796, Alcuin became abbot of St Martin's monastery at Tours, where he established a school and library.
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Charles Martel
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Mayor of the palace of Austrasia (eastern part of Frankish kingdom) from 715 to 741. Reunited & ruled the entire Frankish realm & defeated the Muslim invasion at Poitiers in 732. Martel = hammer." Martel is considered to be the founding figure of the European Middle Ages. Skilled as an administrator & warrior, he is credited with a seminal role in the development of feudalism & knighthood. Martel was a patron of Saint Boniface & made the first attempt at reconciliation between the Papacy & the Franks. The Pope wished him to become the defender of the Holy See & offered him the Roman consulship. Martel refused the offer, but it was a sign of the things to come. Although Martel never assumed the title of king, he divided the territory between his sons Carloman & Pepin. Pepin became the first of the Carolingians, the family of Martel, to become king. Martel's grandson, Charlemagne, extended the Frankish realms to include much of the West & became the first Emperor since the fall of Rome.
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Charlemagne
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Charles the great. Greatly expands the empire & restores empirical unity like the Roman Empire. Conquers german Pagans and builds stronger relationship w/pope-> converts many. Coronation on Christmas day 800 by Pope Leo III. God has given the popes power to crown kings and take away. Realizes how behind his people are and notices the stone ruins of roman architecture. Sends envoy around empire to gather info=not impressed. Starts a public school system. Brings in intellectuals. Builds HRE capital in Aachen and castle of stone. Mints his own coins.
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Feudalism/Manorialism
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Feudalism was the political, economic, and military system of the middle ages. It involved the bequeathing of land & protection from kings down to nobles, down to knights, and down to the peasants. In return, the peasants offered food and military service, the knights were expected to provide military service to the nobles, and the nobles were expected to provide military service to the king. They were all expected to pay taxes. Manorialism refers to the economic system on a fief, either part of the fief or the whole as a manor - a self-sufficient, isolated village of approximately 1000 acres and 200 people. The manor had a manor house, church, village of peasant shacks, several fields (they were rotated so allow the soil to rejuvenate), a bakehouse, a mill, and a blacksmith shop. Everything they needed they made on the manor. In simple terms, feudalism is where lords gave land to vassals in exchange for protection and manorialism is where lords gave land to serfs in exchange for food.
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Vikings
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8th-11th centuries
Began raiding because they could not farm in snowy Scandinavia, Norway, Denmark and Sweden. Women: Primarily housewives->had basic rights (more rights than most European women) and violence against women was very shameful. Long boats made deep sea and river travel possible. Rollo and French King Charles: Normandy 911: realized how tough they were- made a deal to protect N. France from other Vikings and gave them land, changed to Robert= 1st duke of Normandy. Viking raids stopped as Christianity spread=became more explorers and merchants. |
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Alfred the Great
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849-899 CE
Administrative organization and the patronage of the arts flourished in England under his reign. Only ruler to be called "the great". Learned to read at 12 and often invited scholars to his court. By the time he was king, the political divisions were shaken by a wave of outside invaders. He reorganized the military to confront these invaders and built the first English navy. Signed a treaty w/ the danes and converted leader to Christianity. Helped forge a unified kingdom and to focus on the laws and learning. Wanted latin texts to be available to everyone=translated or helped to translate some of the great books to old English. Marked high point of Anglo-Saxon England. |
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Chivalry
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During the entirety of the middle ages, the system known as feudalism provided armies for lords and kings. However, this contract did nothing to reduce the violence that was so prevalent in medieval society. By the 12th century, the feudal system had a code of values mixed into it that tamed some of this violence. Known as Chivalry, this code became common in church writings, romantic literature, and treaties, stating that a knight should be strong and disciplined yet use his power to defend the church, the poor and women in need. As well knights were expected to participate in mock battles (jousts), which were a source of public entertainment and a way to gain horses and weapons for young knights. The most important reason for this was that it provided a way for the nobility to hold the power and status they did before merchants began to gain power through increasing their economic status.
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Magna Carta
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1215 CE
The reign of John was marked by a series of costly wars. Barons rebelled and took over London forcing the king to retreat. Under duress he signed the Magna Carta or great charter which asserted that kings were not above the law. Beyond establishing this general principle, it was a feudal document that promised the king would not impinge on nobleman's traditional rights. Also included two principles: The king would impose no new taxes without the consent of the governed and would not violate the due process of law. It is the precedent of constitutional law and modern parliament. |
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Investiture Controversy
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1075-1085
Pope Gregory VII believes popes should be supreme & elevated again, with the power to appoint bishops & depose emperors as he sees fit. Henry IV, HRE disagrees. Wanted the right to appoint a bishop. Gregory excommunicates him. Henry apologizes and is forgiven. The pope thinks he’s learned his lesson. Pope is proud of himself – believes he’s demonstrated his power. However, Henry begins to immediately surround himself with men very loyal to him. Then he begins going after people who defied him. o When the pope finds out, he threatens excommunication again. Henry doesn’t care. When the pope excommunicates him, Henry declares that his lawyers discovered (through super legit research) that the pope is in fact the anti-Christ. The pope flees Rome & dies a few weeks later. Set the precedent that the church can use excommunication as a weapon against the monarchy, but also that the monarch can claim that the pope is illegitimate. |
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Battle of Hastings
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When Edward the Confessor died he left no direct heir, and the throne of England passed to Harold. However, William of Normandy claimed that Edward had promised the crown to him, and indeed that Harold himself had sworn a sacred oath to relinquish his claim in William's favor. word comes to Harold that William of Normandy has landed in Southern England. Harold makes a major mistake – he hurries to Hastings and about half his army never makes it. Had Harold gone back to London to regroup & give his men a few days to rest, things probably would have gone very differently. Hastings: Oct 14th 1066: After several hours of battle, the Normans win. King Harold & his brothers are killed in the battle. This is how William becomes William the Conqueror & now rules England. Most of this is recorded in the Bayeux Tapestry.
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Pope Innocent III
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The most significant pope of the Middle Ages. Elected pope on January 8, 1198, Innocent III reformed the Roman Curia, reestablished and expanded the pope's authority over the Papal States, worked tirelessly to launch Crusades to recover the Holy Land, combated heresy in Italy and southern France, shaped a powerful and original doctrine of papal power within the church and in secular affairs, and in 1215 presided over the fourth Lateran Council, which reformed many clerical and lay practices within the church. Innocent was consumed by a passion to reconquer Jerusalem and the Holy Land, which had been lost following the Battle of Ḥaṭṭīn in 1187. On August 15, 1198, he sent letters to the kings and bishops of Christendom, imploring them to take up the cross and launch a new Crusade (4th). He promised Crusaders a new papal indulgence, took them under papal protection, and imposed a tax on the clergy to help pay for the expedition.
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Reconquista
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La Reconquista was the Christian Spanish recovery of Spain from Islam (the Moors) after 700 years of occupation. Push them down all the way to Granada. Not a unified kingdom fighting against the Muslims – often fighting each other as much as the Muslims. It was achieved by a series of military victories under los Reyes Catolicos, Ferdinand and Isabella, and completed by 1492, the year, coincidentally and helpfully, of Columbus' "discovery" of The New World.
By the year 1000, the pope had become very interested in this war & began to portray it as a holy war. Pope was portraying Islam as an idolatrous religion. This is where the notion of the crusading spirit – the duty of the Christian knights – comes from. |
