Early Medieval History


During the early medieval period, Western Europe following the breakup of the Western Roman Empire was repeatedly invaded by peoples from northeastern Europe and Central Asia. These people became converted to Christianity as they settled. The Eastern Roman empire survived in the form of the Byzantine empire. The new religion of Islam originated in Arabia and spread by conquest over nearly the entire middle east, with the exception of areas controlled by the Byzantines, and began spreading into central Asia as well. The early classical empires of China and India also broke up.	Sapience Home Site Map About Sapience History Classical and medieval History 6th Century 7th Century 8th Century 9th Century 10th Century

During the early medieval period, Western Europe following the breakup of the Western Roman Empire was repeatedly invaded by peoples from northeastern Europe and Central Asia. These people became converted to Christianity as they settled. The Eastern Roman empire survived in the form of the Byzantine empire. The new religion of Islam originated in Arabia and spread by conquest over nearly the entire middle east, with the exception of areas controlled by the Byzantines, and began spreading into central Asia as well. The early classical empires of China and India also broke up.

6th Century

c. 522 - 565 CE.Justinian I rules as Byzantine (Eastern roman) Emperor and creates a code of Roman law.

7th Century

c. 610-630 CE. Mohammed preaches in Arabia, founding Islam, and begins spreading his faith by military conquest. His teachings are included in the "Koran"
634 - 644 CE. Umar I, second caliph, leads Muslims to conquer Syria and Mesopotamia and begins conquest of Egypt and Syria. His rules for administration of conquered territories serve as the basis for administrative and legal structure of the Islamic empire.

8th Century

c. 768 - 814 CE. Charlemagne conquers much of Western Europe and in 800 CE is crowned as Holy Roman Emperor.

9th Century

10th Century


Other History Events of this period are a continuation of late classical times and are continued in the late medieval period. They are also studied in the modern period, including the 16th, 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries. In the 20th century, study of this period continues from a scholarly point of view, but is not particularly popular. I lack details on discoveries and developments of the early 20th century, early-mid 20th century, mid 20th century, late-mid 20th century, late 20th century, and early 21st century including the early 2000s and the late 2000s. The future of these studies, including the near future, middle future, and far future, is obscure.	Links to other sites: not yet available.
Sociology Peoples of the world, communities, and social structure and change can be used in examination of early medieval history. Peoples of the world These can be examined by considering particular nations. Cuba, Greece, Portugal, Belgium, Tunisia, Czech Republic, Guinea, Rwanda, Serbia, Chad, Hungary, Belarus Somalia, Dominican Republic, Bolivia, Sweden, Haiti, Burundi, Benin, Austria Azerbaijan, Honduras, Switzerland, Bulgaria, Tajikistan, Israel, El Salvador, Hong Kong, Paraguay, Laos, Sierra Leone, Jordan, Libya, Papua, Togo, Nicaragua, Denmark, Slovakia, Kyrgystan, and Finland can be considered. The records of Western civilization are so fragmentary and incomplete that this period was known as the dark ages. Scandinavian peoples can be followed. The Netherlands were part of Charlemagne's empire, but were later divided between French and Germanic people. Among Anglic peoples, various Germanic peoples invaded and occupied what is now the UK. Among the Latin peoples, I do not have definite information on Spain except that most of it was conquered by the Muslims. Among Italic peoples, Italy was invaded by several different peoples, and was disunited. Among French peoples, France was occupied by the Franks, who were Germanic in origin, and was included in the empire of Charlemagne. Among Germanic peoples, in Germany, the empire of Charlemagne and his successors was important. Among Northeast European peoples, In Russia, the Kievan state was founded. In Ukraine, various peoples such as Bulgars, Avars, Khazars, and Magyars came from or through the area. I have no details on Poland. I also have insufficient information on Balkan peoples including those of Romania. Asiatic peoples These include Cambodia. Dacca was founded. Middle Eastern peoples including Syria can be connected. Among Arabian peoples including what is now Saudi Arabia, the new religion of Islam was founded, began to spread rapidly by conquest, and became a new and principal focus of the Middle East. I have no details of Yemen. Among Mesopotamian peoples, Iraq was conquered by the Muslims. In Turkey, the region was mostly ruled by the Byzantine empire. In Egypt the city was taken from Byzantine control by the Persians, and taken from them by the Muslims. An Islamic dynasty called the Fatamids came to power. Cairo was founded as an Islamic city. Among North African peoples, I have no details for Morocco except that it was conquered by the Muslims. Algeria was also conquered by the Muslims. Among Persian peoples, in Iran, the Sassanid empire was conquered by the Omayyad caliphate of Islam, which was in turn conquered by the Abbasid caliphate. I have no details for Afghanistan. Among South Asian peoples, India suffered and absorbed numerous invasions. Islam may have begun to enter Pakistan. I have no details on Bangladesh, Nepal, or Sri Lanka. The site of Delhi was inhabited. Central Asian peoples including Kazakhstan can be considered. Inner Asian peoples including those of Parts of China, parts of Russia, and Uzbekistan can be connected. Among Oriental peoples, in China, the Sui, T'ang, and Song dynasties ruled. I have no details of Taiwan at present. In Japan, Buddhism entered China and the Japanese began to assert cultural independence from China. I have no details of South Korea or North Korea. The site of Tokyo was inhabited. I have no details on the development of Seoul. Osaka was briefly the capital of Japan. Among Southeast Asian peoples, I have little information on Australia for this period. Jakarta developed as a port city. I have little information on the Southeast Asian mainland. I have no information on Malaysia. I have little information on Vietnam,Thailand or Burma for this period. I also have little information on the Southeast Asian archipelagoes. In Indonesia is little known, but Buddhism entered during this period. I have no information on the Philippines. Little is known of African peoples during this period. I know little of Zambia. In East Africa, I have no definite information on Uganda. In Northern East Africa, in Ethiopia, the Christian kingdom of Axum seemed to have declined. I have no definite information on Interior East Africa including Sudan. I have no definite information on Central East Africa including Tanzania and Kenya. In Western Africa, I have no information on Mali in these times. I have little information about Southern Coastal West Africa including Nigeria, Ghana, or Cote d'Ivoire during this period. I have no information on Western Coastal West Africa including Senegal during this period. I have no information on Interior Western African peoples including those of Burkina Faso or Niger for this period. In Southern Africa I have no definite information on South Africa, Mozambique, Madagascar, Malawi, or Zimbabwe. I know little about Central Africa and I have no definite information about Congo, Cameroon, or Angola. American Indian peoples are not yet well known. I have no details on Guatemala at present. Among Middle American peoples, I have no details on Mexico at present. South American Indians are also little known. I have no information on Ecuador. I have no details at present on Andean peoples including those of Colombia, Argentina, Peru, Venezuela, or Chile. I have no details at present on Amazonian peoples including those of Brazil and Argentina. I have little information on Cono/Southern American Indian people such as those of Argentina and Chile. I have little information on North American Indian peoples. Those found in the United States and Canada are not yet well known. Communities will be developed as they are better studied. [ Moscow may have been founded.] Social structure and change can be examined. Social change including social change processes, social change processes, and particular changes can be examined. Social types including hunting and gathering, horticultural, and agrarian types were present. Social structure including anthropological structure, cultural structure, institutional structure, and class structure can be considered. Institutions Religion is especially prominent in this period. Particular traditions can be followed. The influence of pagan religion including European Pagan, Asian Pagan, African Pagan, and American Indian pagan was beginning to decline. Abrahamic religion expanded considerably. Christianity was becoming divided into Catholic and Orthodox branches. The third major branch, Islam, originated during this period. Judaism did not expand much. Asiatic religion including Persian religion, Indian religion, and Oriental religion developed, though details are absent at present. Secularism can be considered. Religious organization, practices and beliefs can be connected. Government including law, government activity, government structure, and particular governments can be outlined a little. Particular governments including local, national, and international government can be considered. Economics including economic activities, industries, and economic systems will be useful. Education including research, teaching, cultural institutions, school organization, and particular shcools began to become important. Families including marriage, parenting, kinship, and particular families are significant. Culture Material culture including clothing, buildings, transportation technology, communication technology, and other artifacts is important. Industrial technology including tools, fuel, chemical technology, machines, utilities, and other technology can be considered. Foodstuffs including agricultural products, processed and preserved foods, and prepared foods can be considered. Conceptual culture including literature, applied science, and philosophy is useful. Language including linguistics, writing, and languages of the world is important. Graphic arts including drawing and painting and possibly printmaking can be examined. Behavioral culture including cultural events can also be examined. Customs including vital customs, living and dwelling customs, dress and adornment customs, social interaction, and institutional customs are important. Occupations including food-related, building-related, transportation, communications, industrial, and service occupations are significant. Recreation and entertainment including music, dance, theater, games, and sports developed. Anthropology including social foundations, demography, and physical anthropology will be considered in more detail as the site develops. Human ecology including environmental effects on people, relations with other life, and human effects on the environment can be examined. Human geography including European geography, African geography, North American geography, South American geography, and Oceanic geography can be connected. Asian geography including Southwest Asia, South Asia, Central Asia, Southeast Asia, East Asia, and North Asia can be examined. Particular groups may also be significant. Personal studies are useful, not so much for studies of the human body or psychology, as for biographies. Prominent individuals of this period include: Mohammed Umar I Sui Wen Ti Charlemagne Justinian Physical and natural science is applicable in somewhat specialized contexts. Physics and chemistry are not as useful as astronomy, earth science, and biology.

Other History

Events of this period are a continuation of late classical times and are continued in the late medieval period. They are also studied in the modern period, including the 16th, 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries. In the 20th century, study of this period continues from a scholarly point of view, but is not particularly popular. I lack details on discoveries and developments of the early 20th century, early-mid 20th century, mid 20th century, late-mid 20th century, late 20th century, and early 21st century including the early 2000s and the late 2000s. The future of these studies, including the near future, middle future, and far future, is obscure.

Links to other sites: not yet available.

Sociology

Peoples of the world, communities, and social structure and change can be used in examination of early medieval history.

Peoples of the world

These can be examined by considering particular nations. Cuba, Greece, Portugal, Belgium, Tunisia, Czech Republic, Guinea, Rwanda, Serbia, Chad, Hungary, Belarus Somalia, Dominican Republic, Bolivia, Sweden, Haiti, Burundi, Benin, Austria Azerbaijan, Honduras, Switzerland, Bulgaria, Tajikistan, Israel, El Salvador, Hong Kong, Paraguay, Laos, Sierra Leone, Jordan, Libya, Papua, Togo, Nicaragua, Denmark, Slovakia, Kyrgystan, and Finland can be considered.

The records of Western civilization are so fragmentary and incomplete that this period was known as the dark ages. Scandinavian peoples can be followed. The Netherlands were part of Charlemagne's empire, but were later divided between French and Germanic people. Among Anglic peoples, various Germanic peoples invaded and occupied what is now the UK. Among the Latin peoples, I do not have definite information on Spain except that most of it was conquered by the Muslims. Among Italic peoples, Italy was invaded by several different peoples, and was disunited. Among French peoples, France was occupied by the Franks, who were Germanic in origin, and was included in the empire of Charlemagne. Among Germanic peoples, in Germany, the empire of Charlemagne and his successors was important. Among Northeast European peoples, In Russia, the Kievan state was founded. In Ukraine, various peoples such as Bulgars, Avars, Khazars, and Magyars came from or through the area. I have no details on Poland. I also have insufficient information on Balkan peoples including those of Romania.

Asiatic peoples

These include Cambodia. Dacca was founded.

Middle Eastern peoples including Syria can be connected. Among Arabian peoples including what is now Saudi Arabia, the new religion of Islam was founded, began to spread rapidly by conquest, and became a new and principal focus of the Middle East. I have no details of Yemen. Among Mesopotamian peoples, Iraq was conquered by the Muslims. In Turkey, the region was mostly ruled by the Byzantine empire. In Egypt the city was taken from Byzantine control by the Persians, and taken from them by the Muslims. An Islamic dynasty called the Fatamids came to power. Cairo was founded as an Islamic city. Among North African peoples, I have no details for Morocco except that it was conquered by the Muslims. Algeria was also conquered by the Muslims. Among Persian peoples, in Iran, the Sassanid empire was conquered by the Omayyad caliphate of Islam, which was in turn conquered by the Abbasid caliphate. I have no details for Afghanistan.

Among South Asian peoples, India suffered and absorbed numerous invasions. Islam may have begun to enter Pakistan. I have no details on Bangladesh, Nepal, or Sri Lanka. The site of Delhi was inhabited.

Central Asian peoples including Kazakhstan can be considered. Inner Asian peoples including those of Parts of China, parts of Russia, and Uzbekistan can be connected.

Among Oriental peoples, in China, the Sui, T'ang, and Song dynasties ruled. I have no details of Taiwan at present. In Japan, Buddhism entered China and the Japanese began to assert cultural independence from China. I have no details of South Korea or North Korea. The site of Tokyo was inhabited. I have no details on the development of Seoul. Osaka was briefly the capital of Japan.

Among Southeast Asian peoples, I have little information on Australia for this period. Jakarta developed as a port city. I have little information on the Southeast Asian mainland. I have no information on Malaysia. I have little information on Vietnam,Thailand or Burma for this period. I also have little information on the Southeast Asian archipelagoes. In Indonesia is little known, but Buddhism entered during this period. I have no information on the Philippines.

Little is known of African peoples during this period. I know little of Zambia. In East Africa, I have no definite information on Uganda. In Northern East Africa, in Ethiopia, the Christian kingdom of Axum seemed to have declined. I have no definite information on Interior East Africa including Sudan. I have no definite information on Central East Africa including Tanzania and Kenya. In Western Africa, I have no information on Mali in these times. I have little information about Southern Coastal West Africa including Nigeria, Ghana, or Cote d'Ivoire during this period. I have no information on Western Coastal West Africa including Senegal during this period. I have no information on Interior Western African peoples including those of Burkina Faso or Niger for this period. In Southern Africa I have no definite information on South Africa, Mozambique, Madagascar, Malawi, or Zimbabwe. I know little about Central Africa and I have no definite information about Congo, Cameroon, or Angola.

American Indian peoples are not yet well known. I have no details on Guatemala at present. Among Middle American peoples, I have no details on Mexico at present. South American Indians are also little known. I have no information on Ecuador. I have no details at present on Andean peoples including those of Colombia, Argentina, Peru, Venezuela, or Chile. I have no details at present on Amazonian peoples including those of Brazil and Argentina. I have little information on Cono/Southern American Indian people such as those of Argentina and Chile. I have little information on North American Indian peoples. Those found in the United States and Canada are not yet well known.

Communities will be developed as they are better studied. [ Moscow may have been founded.]

Social structure and change can be examined. Social change including social change processes, social change processes, and particular changes can be examined. Social types including hunting and gathering, horticultural, and agrarian types were present. Social structure including anthropological structure, cultural structure, institutional structure, and class structure can be considered.

Institutions

Religion is especially prominent in this period. Particular traditions can be followed. The influence of pagan religion including European Pagan, Asian Pagan, African Pagan, and American Indian pagan was beginning to decline. Abrahamic religion expanded considerably. Christianity was becoming divided into Catholic and Orthodox branches. The third major branch, Islam, originated during this period. Judaism did not expand much. Asiatic religion including Persian religion, Indian religion, and Oriental religion developed, though details are absent at present. Secularism can be considered. Religious organization, practices and beliefs can be connected. Government including law, government activity, government structure, and particular governments can be outlined a little. Particular governments including local, national, and international government can be considered. Economics including economic activities, industries, and economic systems will be useful. Education including research, teaching, cultural institutions, school organization, and particular shcools began to become important. Families including marriage, parenting, kinship, and particular families are significant.

Culture

Material culture including clothing, buildings, transportation technology, communication technology, and other artifacts is important. Industrial technology including tools, fuel, chemical technology, machines, utilities, and other technology can be considered. Foodstuffs including agricultural products, processed and preserved foods, and prepared foods can be considered.

Conceptual culture including literature, applied science, and philosophy is useful. Language including linguistics, writing, and languages of the world is important. Graphic arts including drawing and painting and possibly printmaking can be examined.

Behavioral culture including cultural events can also be examined. Customs including vital customs, living and dwelling customs, dress and adornment customs, social interaction, and institutional customs are important. Occupations including food-related, building-related, transportation, communications, industrial, and service occupations are significant. Recreation and entertainment including music, dance, theater, games, and sports developed.

Anthropology including social foundations, demography, and physical anthropology will be considered in more detail as the site develops. Human ecology including environmental effects on people, relations with other life, and human effects on the environment can be examined. Human geography including European geography, African geography, North American geography, South American geography, and Oceanic geography can be connected. Asian geography including Southwest Asia, South Asia, Central Asia, Southeast Asia, East Asia, and North Asia can be examined. Particular groups may also be significant.

Personal studies are useful, not so much for studies of the human body or psychology, as for biographies. Prominent individuals of this period include:

Physical and natural science is applicable in somewhat specialized contexts. Physics and chemistry are not as useful as astronomy, earth science, and biology.

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