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  1. Introduction to the Heirs to the Roman Empire
    1. Comparisons to Rome
    2. General governmental, economic, and religious characteristics

  2. The Byzantine World
    1. Roman and Greek heritage
    2. The birth of Byzantium: war and government
      1. Foreign threats
      2. Institutional reforms
      3. Religious change
    3. The birth of Byzantium: culture and religion
      1. Greek language becomes the underlying basis for culture
      2. The Orthodox Church
          3. a) Geographical reach
          b) Monastic life
          c) Early differences between the eastern and western portions of the church
          d) The Iconoclastic Controversy

  3. The Early Medieval West
    1. Early post-Roman kingdoms
    2. The Visigoths
    3. The Anglo-Saxons and the Christianization of Britain
    4. The Franks, Clovis, and the Merovingian dynasty

  4. The World of Charlemagne
    1. The rise of the Carolingian dynasty
    2. The reign of Charlemagne
      1. Characteristics and achievements
      2. Coronation as "Emperor" of Rome
      3. Carolingian achievements in policy, governmental structure, and law
    3. The Carolingian Renaissance
      1. Charlemagne as a catalyst for cultural rebirth
      2. Charlemagne's self-perceived roles and responsibilities as
          3. a) Steward of the church
          b) Promoter of the arts
          c) Promoter of education and letters
            (1) Establishment of cathedral and monastery schools
            (2) Transmission of books
            (3) Carolingian minuscule script
            (4) The seven liberal arts
    4. The post-Carolingian world
      1. The Treaty of Verdun in 843 and division of the empire
      2. The beginning of modern France: the Capetians
      3. The beginning of modern Germany: the Dukes of Saxony and the Ottonians
      4. England: Alfred

  5. The Literary Arts in the Early Middle Ages
    1. Overview: Byzantine literary and religious culture is mostly Greek, while western culture is Latin
    2. Byzantine Writers
      1. John Moschus and The Spiritual Meadow
      2. Photius's Library
      3. Emperor Maurice's Strategikon
      4. Emperor Constantine VII's On the Administration of the Empire and On Ceremonies
      5. Maximus the Confessor and Neoplatonism
      6. John of Damascus: Three Orations against Those Who Attack Holy Images, and the Aristotelian Fountain of Knowledge
      7. Historians
          8. a) Michael Psellos and Chronography
          b) Anna Comnena and Alexiad
    3. Writers of the Latin west
      1. Boethius and The Consolation of Philosophy
      2. Cassiodorus: the Variae and Institutes of Divine and Human Readings
      3. Benedict of Nursia and the Rule
      4. Isidore, Bishop of Seville, and the Etymologies
      5. Alcuin and the Carolingian Renaissance
      6. Theodulf of Orléans and The Book of King Charles Against the Synod
      7. Historians
          8. a) Gregory, Bishop of Tours, and Ten Books of Histories
          b) Bede and the Ecclesiastical History of the English People
          c) Einhard and The Life of the Emperor Charles
          d) Liudprand of Cremona and the Deeds of Otto I
      8. Scottus Eriugena and the Periphyseon
      9. Dhuoda and Hrotsvitha
    4. The vernacular Achievement
      1. Aneiriun and the Gododdin from Wales
      2. The Tain from Ireland
      3. Beowulf in Old English
      4. The Heliand in Old Saxon

  6. The Visual Arts in the Early Middle Ages
    1. Royal and imperial courts and the church as major patrons
    2. Religious themes dominate
    3. General media and character
    4. Byzantine art
      1. Justinian era: Ravenna mosaics
      2. Iconography
          3. a) St. Catherine icons
          b) Hodegetria: Mary and Jesus apse mosaic at Hagia Sophia
          c) Eleousa: Virgin of Vladimir
          d) Paris and Khludov Psalters
    5. Byzantine Architecture
      1. Hagia Sophia and the pendentive dome: a departure from the traditional Roman basilica floorplan
      2. Church of San Vitale in Ravenna
      3. Figure: Hostos Loukas
    6. Western art
      1. Irish metalwork: Ardagh Chalice
      2. Irish manuscript illumination: Book of Kells
      3. English manuscript paintings: Ezra Portrait from the Codex Amiatinus
      4. Carolingian book painting
          5. a) Godescalc Evangelistary
          b) The Lorsch Gospels
          c) Tours Bible
      5. Ottonian book painting: Reichenau Gospel Book
    7. Western architecture
      1. Basilicas of the eighth century onward
          2. a) Monastery of San Vincenzo al Volturno in southern Italy
          b) Winchester in England
      2. Court structures
          3. a) Leo III's triclinia
          b) Charlemagne's Aachen palace
      3. The lasting influence of the basilica form
          4. a) Apses
          b) Westwork

  7. Technology
    1. Playful developments
    2. Military technology: Byzantine
      1. Navy: the dromon
      2. Navy: Lateen sail
      3. Navy: Greek fire
    3. Military technology: Western European
      1. War saddle
      2. Curb bit
      3. The stirrup
      4. Larger, more powerful breeds make better war horses
      5. Carolingian mounted infantry
    4. Agriculture
      1. The bipartite estate: lords and vassals
      2. Land reclamation
      3. The three-field farming system
      4. Iron plows

       

  8.  Music
    1. Charlemagne and the "old barbarian songs"
    2. Liturgical music
      1. Vocal-based
      2. Gregorian chants: monophony
      3. Ninth century polyphony
      4. Development of music notation arises from Charlemagne's desire for uniformity in worship

  9. The Legacy of Byzantium and the West in the Early Middle Ages






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