General Questions. - In what capacities did the barbarians enter and become a part of the empire? What did the empire give them? Prove it. Make a list of all the powers of the Church. What justification was there for the persecution of heresy by emperors? Who was the head of the Church in the earlier part of the period? What classes of people did Christianity favor, and by whom would it be supported?

II.

476

B and C. THE WEST UNDER BARBARIAN CONTROL;
EMPIRE OF CHARLEMAGNE.

TO 527.

1. Summary of Events from 476–800 A.D.

Age of Clovis and Theodoric the Great, known in the North as Dietrich of Berne (Verona).

In the East, important heresies arise, causing revolt and war, especially in Syria and Egypt.

In Italy, Theodoric the Goth asks Zeno, for whom he commands the Ostrogoths, to permit him to drive Odovaker from Italy and become patrician in his stead (see p. 234). Zeno consents, and the Arian Ostrogoths enter Italy, where they are granted one-third of the land; constant difficulties arise between them and the orthodox Italians.

In Gaul, Clovis, king of the Franks, is converted to orthodox Christianity; he and his warriors are at once baptized, and Clovis is henceforth regarded by the GalloRomans as their protector. He conquers the Arian Visigoths and Burgundians (see map), receives from Constantine the titles of patrician and consul, and becomes the founder of the Merovingian dynasty in France. At his death his dominion is divided among his sons.

In Britain, the constant struggle of the native Kelts against the invading Saxons still goes on.

Age of Justinian, Emperor of the East.

527

ΤΟ

565.

In the East, Justinian makes, through his lawyer, Trebonian, final and authoritative collections of Roman law, known as "The Code, the Pandects, and the Institutes of Justinian." Through his general, Belisarius, he recovers Italy, Africa, and Southern Spain from the rule of the Goths and Vandals, and places them directly under Byzantine officials, the most important of whom is the Exarch of Ravenna, who rules Italy in the name of the East. Meanwhile, the empire is attacked by Persians, Slavs, and Avars,1 while it nearly loses Egypt and Syria by wide-spread heresies, which cause great disaffection towards Constantinople.

In France, constant strife between kingdoms.

In Britain, continual war between Saxon and Kelt.

Age of Pope Gregory the Great and Mohammed.

565

ΤΟ

632.

In the East, constant wars with Persians and Avars, and constant difficulties with Syrian and Egyptian heretics. In Mecca, in Arabia, MOHAMMED is born; claiming divine inspiration, he preaches that there is no God but one, and that Mohammed is his prophet. This doctrine spreads rapidly through the East, but Mohammed is so persecuted at Mecca, that, in 622, he flees to Medina (Hegira); from that time, he preaches to his disciples the duty of fighting for their faith.

In Italy, the Lombards seize the valley of the Po; Italy implores armed assistance from the East, which the East is unable to give. In this crisis Gregory the Great himself directs the movements of troops, urges the Italians to their own defence, and finally makes a truce with the Lombards without appealing to the emperor; soon after,

1 The Avars were of the same race as the modern Turks, namely, Turanian.

also through his agency, the Lombards exchange their Arian for the orthodox form of Christianity.

In Spain, the Vandals do the same.

In France, constant strife between the kingdoms.

In England, the Kelts are still resisting the invading Saxons, who are converted to orthodox Christianity by St. Augustine and his missionaries, sent by Gregory the Great.

632 TO

732.

Age of Mohammedan Conquest.

In the East, the Bulgarians attack the empire from the north, and settle south of the Danube; the Mohammedans (Arabians or Saracens) conquer Persia, and easily wrest from the empire Syria, Egypt, and Africa; everywhere they give men the choice of “Koran, tribute, or sword." By the aid of the African Moors, they seize on Spain and enter France. Here they are worsted by the Franks under Charles Martel (the hammer), and with the battle of TOURS, in 732, their career of conquest in Europe ends. Meanwhile, they are repulsed from Constantinople by Leo the Isaurian. In the lands they win, the caliphs, or successors of Mohammed, are unquestioningly obeyed by all Mohammedans as God-given rulers.

In France, continued strife between kingdoms.

In Britain, the stronger kingdoms gradually overcome the weaker.

732

TO

Age of Charlemagne.

The bishop of Rome and the emperor of the 814. East quarrel over the true use of images. The Italians, rising in defence of their faith and their bishop, slay the Exarch. The Lombards, in the same cause, seize on Ravenna, and then demand the submission of Rome.

The pope now calls on the Franks, who send him effectual aid; first, in the person of Pippin, who wrests