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MIDDLE AGES

The Roman Empire was divided into two parts. 

-The Western Roman Empire: the capital city was Rome.

-The Eastern Roman Empire: the capital city was Constantinople

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The Barbarians lived outside the borders of the Roman Empire. Some moved into the Roman territory peacefully but others wanted to conquer Roman lands. 

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The Barbarians invaded the city of Rome in 476 A.D. and that event marked the end of the Ancient History. 

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Many of the barbarian invaders were Germanic and came from Central Europe.  They used to live in the countryside so the population in cities, decreased. Barbarians had their own culture but they learned how to speak Latin and they converted to Christianity. 

CIVILIZATIONS

The Middle Ages began in the 5th century and ended in the 15th centrury. 

We can highlight three important civilizations:

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-The Carolingian Empire:

Once the Roman Western Empire came to an end due to the Barbarians, the Western Empire was divided into small kingdoms. One of them, the Frankish kingdom, was leaded by Charlemagne. He expanded his kingdom and established the Carolingian Empire. The capital city was located in Aquisgranum (in modern-day Germany). In this Empire, they spoke Latin, the state religion was Christianity (the head of the church was the Pope in Rome) but they kept some of the traditional Germanic customs. 

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-The Byzantine Empire:

The Roman Eastern Empire survived longer than the Roman Western Empire. The Byzantine Empire did not fall until 1453 A.D when Ottomans conquered it. The capital city was Constantinople (in modern-day Istambul). In this Empire, they spoke Greek, they were Christians but the Pope in Rome was not the head of the church. The Byzantine Empire is famous for its art. 

-Islamic Caliphates:

Islam is a religion that began on the Arabian peninsula in the 7th century A.D. They follow the teaching of the prophet Mohammed. Muslims believe in one God, Allah, and their sacred book is the Koran. During the Middle Ages, Muslims formed a great civilization. Most of the people spoke Arabic. The Muslim empires were called caliphates and they were ruled by caliphs. 

What happened in the Iberian Peninsula?

THE VISIGOTHIC KINGDOM OF TOLEDO

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The Visigoths were an important Barbarian Tribe. In 507 A.D. arrived to Hispaina and established a new Kingdom.  One of the most important Visigothic kings was Leovigild. He made Toledo the capital city . They became Christians and based their laws on Roman Law. 

 

The Visigothic kingdom lasted until 711 A.D. when Roderic, the last Visigothic king, was defeated by the Muslims. 

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MUSLIMS IN SPAIN

During Middle Ages, the Iberian Peninsula was divided into Muslim and Christians areas.

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Muslim Spain:

In 711 A.D. Muslims armies conquered the Visigothic Kingdom of Toledo. The kingdom became to be called Al-Andalus and it was established the Andalusian Umayyad Dynasty. The first emir of Cordoba was Abd-ar-Rahman I. Years later, his grandson, Abd-ar-Rahman III proclaimed himself Caliph of Cordoba. The caliph was the political and religious leader of the new territory. This period can be regarded as the golden age of Al- Andalus. 

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Al-Andalus Cities and society

Al-Andalus was one of the most advances societies in Europe.

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Muslim legacy

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CHRISTIAN KINGDOMS IN SPAIN.

Christian Spain:

Christians lived and established independent kingdoms in the north of the Iberian Peninsula as Muslims did not conquer the mountainous areas.

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Christian society

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RECONQUISTA

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ARCHITECTURAL STYLES

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ACTIVIDADES DE REPASO

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