After the Fall of Rome

After the fall of Rome

The fall was a real decline in quality of life Church was primarily urban, in no position to

control rural areas Pagan comes from Latin pagus, countryside Heathen means someone who lives in the heath Traditional Roman cults persisted until 600 A.D

and beyond in rural areas

There were two "dark ages". The first, due to the collapse of Roman

infrastructure and trade, bottomed out around 600-700 A.D.

There was a revival around 800 culminating in the reign of Charlemagne

Another decline about 900-1000 due to the raids by Vikings and Magyars.

Technological innovations in post-Roman Europe

Steel--most Roman steel came from Austria

Rise of water wheels Stirrup Motte and Bailey castle

(stockade on a mound).

Heavy plow 3-field crop rotation Horse collar

The lifestyle of many parts of Western Europe around 700 A.D. would not have differed greatly

from the Mound Builder societies in North America that

would arise a little later.

The role of Ireland Romans abandon Britain in A.D. 409 to

defend closer to home. Ireland at this time was a clan society, with

frequent petty warfare, not so much for conquest as adventure.

Irish frequently raided Britain for slaves Also, the culture was remarkably casual

about sex.

Ireland

Saint Patrick Patricius, a Romanized Briton, was kidnapped

and taken to Ireland as a slave about 410 A.D. After seven years as a shepherd, he escaped. After escaping, decided to become a priest. He interpreted dreams of Ireland as a call from

God to evangelize Ireland, and he returned. Patricius is better known to us as St. Patrick.

What Patrick accomplished: First missionary in 300 years (since Paul) to

travel widely, and the first ever to venture outside the Roman realm in Europe.

He successfully identified the core values of Irish culture and tailored Christianity to those values.

Ireland is the only country ever converted to Christianity completely without bloodshed.

What Patrick accomplished:

Patrick so successfully converted Ireland and pacified it that it became a source of slaves for petty warlords in Britain.

Patrick protested to his British fellow clerics and is the first known person in Western history to condemn slavery as evil.

After Patrick

• The Irish, who loved epics and adventures, became fascinated by Greek literature, and developed a tradition of literacy.

Some fulfilled their cultural desire for adventure by venturing out on missionary travels of their own.

Irish missionaries are among the first people in the West who go to difficult places just "because they're there."

Ireland Reaches Out

Followers of Patrick, Aidan and Columcille, spread Christianity back to Scotland and northern Britain.

Irish had no racial or cultural biases against converting the Saxons, who were invading Britain

Ireland Reaches to Europe Columba (ca 500) spread Irish Christianity to the

European mainland. He and his successors established dozens of

monasteries in Germany, Austria, and even Italy, traveled as far as Kiev

Irish missionaries re-disseminated literacy to Western Europe.

They also established Christianity outside the cities, something the Romanized Christianity of the time had not done.

Decline of Ireland• Vikings sacked Irish monasteries beginning

about 700 A.D. • Vikings occupied much of Ireland, built first

cities (Dublin)• Real decline began in 15th-16th centuries

as English stamped out Irish resistance• Disastrous famine and migration, mid-19th

century.• Recovery only in Twentieth Century

What Happened to the Celts?

What Happened to the Celts?• In Pre-Roman times, occupied most of

Western and Central Europe• Now occupy fringes of Europe• Romans did not engage in genocide• Celts had some familiar values:

pragmatism, love of adventure and exploration

• To what extent is Western culture really Celtic?