Objectives…WOOT!!!
• Gain an understanding of the basic geography of
Western Europe and be able to see ancient territories
beneath the labels of modern states.
• Understand the vastness of the vacuum due to the
departure of Rome.
• Grasp the unique characteristics of developments in the
British Isles.
• Appreciate the enormous consequence of
Charlemagne's decision to resurrect the "Roman
Empire."
• Estimate how Charlemagne's new empire looked
backwards toward Rome as well as surveyed the new
values and attitudes attendant in the triumph of
Christianity in Western Europe.
Groups to Know
• Barbarians: Those outside of the Roman
Empire
• Visigoths: Spain
• Celts: Ireland/Scotland
• Anglo-Saxons: Britain
• Franks: Germany
• Huns: Central Asia
• Norse: Scandinavia
The Early Middle Ages
• Decline of the Roman Empire in the 4th-5th
centuries
• Authority replaced by Barbarians
• Celts controlled most of Europe
• Goths lived around the Baltic Sea
• Saw the better standard of living in the Roman
Empire
• Moved in
• Beginning of feudalism
The Visigoths
• Lived outside the Roman Empire
• Moved in across southern France and
settled in Spain
• Adopted Latin and accepted Roman
Christianity
• Superior metalworkers
• Eagle Brooch
• 6TH Century
• Spain
• Gilt, Bronze, Crystal,
Garnets
The Celts and Anglo-Saxons
• Angles and Saxons from Germany
– Occupied Britain
• Hiberno-Saxon
– Hibernia = Roman name for Ireland
• Burial Ship at Sutton Hoo
– 90 ft. long
– Designed for rowing
– Weapons, armor, and other equipment to
provide for a ruler’s after life
Purse Cover from Sutton Hoo
Burial Ship
• 7th Century
• England
• Artist used cloisonne technique
– Cells formed from gold wire to hold pieces of
garnet or glass
Christianity
• Monasteries flourished in the Celtic world
• Illustrated books among the best surviving
artwork of the time
• Used for missionary activities throughout
the early Middle Ages
• Spread the news of Christianity
• Glorified the Word of God
Book of Kells
• One of the most beautiful Hiberno-Saxon Gospel books
– Spiral Interlace
• Chi-Rho Iota is most celebrated page
– Greek Letter XPI
• Introduces Matthew, beginning the account of Jesus’ birth
• Each letter is outlined
• Painter inserted numerous pictorial and symbolic references to
Christ
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–
–
–
–
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Initials
Fish
Moths
Cross-Inscribed Eucharist wafer
Chalice
Angels
Carolingian Empire
• Charles the Great, or Charlemagne, is
King of the Franks
• Crowned Holy Roman Emperor by Pope
• Revives a strong, efficient government
• Stimulates renewed interest in learning
and art (esp. from ancient Rome) 
Carolingian Renaissance
• New capital at Aachen
Carolingian Architecture
• Inspired by Roman and Early Christian
architecture
• Charlemagne’s palace complex at Aachen
provides an example of this synthesis
• Palace Complex
– Charlemagne’s private chapel
– Imperial mausoleum
– Central-Plan with an octagonal twist
Palace Chapel of Charlemagne
792-805
Aachen
Lindau Gospels
• Manuscript covers were often made of
valuable materials
• Lindau gospels made at one of the
monastic workshops
• Crucifixion = Common theme
• Gold figures formed using the repousse
method
• Angels hover over Jesus’ head
Crucifixion with
Angels and
Mourners
Lindau Gospels
870-80
Gold, Pearls,
Sapphires, Garnets,
and Emeralds
Gero Crucifix
• Archbishop Gero of Cologne
commissioned the sculpture
• 6 ft. tall
Gero Crucifix
970
Germany
Oak
Christ Washing the Feet of His
Disciples
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•
•
•
•
Peter protested
Elongated limbs
Figure unbinding his sandals
Figure holding a basin of water
Apostles look on with wide eyes…REALLY
wide eyes
Christ Washing
the Feet of his
Disciples
1000
Vellum