Post-Imperial Western Europe
- Created by: Lauriie
- Created on: 30-04-19 14:50
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- Post Imperial Western Europe
- Theory
- 'decentralisation': the foci of power and politics shift away from the capital cities to the frontiers. The centre is fragmented.
- physical movement, dislocation
- new elites with spectacular burial complexes.
- ideas of kingship which drew on the trappings of imperial power as a strategy for legitimation
- 'Roman' and 'Barbarian' become less distinguishable concepts: role of the Roman army in employing barbarians, foederati; a process which had been occuring for a long time.
- Stilicho dyptich c395: shows high up army figure with his wife and son,
- Stilicho was a barbarian who achieved high status in the Roman Army, like many others. Influences from both Roman and barbarian culture: eg trousers, crossbow brooch. His wife is dressed like a roman lady.
- However, this was a long process that didnt immediately cause the collapse of the empire. also on the frontiers, did people really care to distinguish between roman and barbarian?
- Hackenbeck- study of diet in Pannonia- how clearly were these norms defined to begin with?
- However, this was a long process that didnt immediately cause the collapse of the empire. also on the frontiers, did people really care to distinguish between roman and barbarian?
- Stilicho was a barbarian who achieved high status in the Roman Army, like many others. Influences from both Roman and barbarian culture: eg trousers, crossbow brooch. His wife is dressed like a roman lady.
- Stilicho dyptich c395: shows high up army figure with his wife and son,
- Just because we are archaeologists, we shouldn't forget the clear cut changes- eg Roman military withdrawal (410 AD in Britain), increasing military rebellions and war on the frontiers (eg war in Gaul causing Romans to pull back from Britain. )
- 'decentralisation': the foci of power and politics shift away from the capital cities to the frontiers. The centre is fragmented.
- new elites
- Childeric's grave at Tournai: Identified by ring. Huge burial mound with multiple horse burials and elaborate weapons and regalia.
- Apahida grave: elaborate horse trappings which mirror Emperor Justinian on the Barberini ivory. Part of a network of global elite, who draw on Roman symbolism
- Theodoric: Theodoric medallion. Portrayal of the goddess Nike, imitating HRE in style, controversial moustache
- Sutton Hoo ship burial: a bit later perhaps, but possibly reflected the last of a burial tradition starting after 410 AD. Large ship burial with sword, shield, helmet as well as silver plate
- emergence of warlords among the frontier, they draw power from modelling themselves on Rome
- Physical migration
- Lombards: highly mobile group according to texts. They start out outside the empire, are led by Aduin across the Danube into Pannonia.
- genetic/ isotopic studies of Szolad and Collegno cemeteries
- (Alt. al) a highly mobile group settled for one generation in Szolad. 31% of them had died at a location other than where they were born and/or had moved during their childhood.
- A highly mobile migration period lifestyle.
- dominated by a small group of men? who have more access to meat
- Amorim et. al: each cemetery organised primarily around 1 pedigree. Biological kinship very important in these groups. But each cemetery has a genetic structure involving 2 groups, a north and a south one- not ethnically homogeneous
- The group at Collegno appeared to be related to the one at Szolad
- at szolad, all arranged around a 3 generation kindred with 10 members. 9 of them northern, included the oldest individual in the cemetery and the individual with the deepest grave (also buried with a horse). All had a diet high in animal protein.
- A related group did migrate from pannonia to hungary. It wasn't ethnically homogeneous or closed to outsiders, but it was organised around kinships.
- at szolad, all arranged around a 3 generation kindred with 10 members. 9 of them northern, included the oldest individual in the cemetery and the individual with the deepest grave (also buried with a horse). All had a diet high in animal protein.
- The group at Collegno appeared to be related to the one at Szolad
- (Alt. al) a highly mobile group settled for one generation in Szolad. 31% of them had died at a location other than where they were born and/or had moved during their childhood.
- genetic/ isotopic studies of Szolad and Collegno cemeteries
- Lombards: highly mobile group according to texts. They start out outside the empire, are led by Aduin across the Danube into Pannonia.
- changes in everyday life
- local 'decentralisation' from urban centres; process replicated in different ways
- roman britain; reduction in activity in towns, case study of london, godmanchester in cambirdgeshire
- this theory has changed from complete abandonment to a change in occupation- but seem to be less people compared to countryside.
- roman britain; reduction in activity in towns, case study of london, godmanchester in cambirdgeshire
- regional differentiation
- all the groups were very different; see other mind-map
- but they were increasingly locked together as part of a new European elite, which traded on similar rich elite goods as symbols of power.
- A point James Gerrard makes when talking about the changes in pottery industry in 410: there were, during the Roman period too, interlocking local economies, interests and institutions.
- The change in imperial structure therefore effected different regions and industries differently.
- all the groups were very different; see other mind-map
- local 'decentralisation' from urban centres; process replicated in different ways
- Beyond the frontiers
- Post-Roman Iron Age in Scandinavia
- The roman period had had an impact on Scandinavia: Scandinavian adaptons of local style eg silverware. An possible geopolitical impacts too.
- The end of the Roman period brought a return of pre-roman myth elements such as Odin to prominence
- there was a similar process of mirroring elements of imperial regalia to legitimise local power (eg migration period gold bracteates, but with Scandinavian designs)
- The origin myths of many key 'migration period' players were outside the empire in places like Scandinavia
- eg the mythical Scandsa, home of the Goths
- Reflects the pact that politics was no longer centered on the empire and the within/without the empire dichotomy. The players were operating on a truly global basis
- eg the mythical Scandsa, home of the Goths
- The end of the Roman period brought a return of pre-roman myth elements such as Odin to prominence
- An increase in interest in the North: for example Procopius' account of the Sami in c560
- The roman period had had an impact on Scandinavia: Scandinavian adaptons of local style eg silverware. An possible geopolitical impacts too.
- Post-Roman Iron Age in Scandinavia
- Little Ice Age
- 'Black Cloud' theory
- Justinianic plague
- first broke out in 541-544 and continued over the next centuries
- Caused by bacterium Yersinia pestis
- Textual sources:
- John of Ephesus 'villages whose inhabitants have perished altogether'
- Procopius described how 10,000 people died in a single day in Constantinople
- range of sources from different geographical locations and walks of life
- Procopius described how 10,000 people died in a single day in Constantinople
- John of Ephesus 'villages whose inhabitants have perished altogether'
- it had a small impact
- Jean Durliat; one of the most decisive critiques of the idea there was mass demographic decline.
- epigraphic evidence from the late antique period: the plague was limited to urban areas and caused no massive impact on mortality.
- Clive Foss: survey of Syrian sites. lack of any fundamental changes relating to demographic decline, and little change in rural setlement.
- A lack of obvious mass burials like we have for the black death, and a lack of inscriptions which acknowledge the plague
- Only 2 inscriptions: one in Syria, one in Spain
- A lack of obvious mass burials like we have for the black death, and a lack of inscriptions which acknowledge the plague
- what if some traditional funerary practices had to be abandoned?
- Clive Foss: survey of Syrian sites. lack of any fundamental changes relating to demographic decline, and little change in rural setlement.
- epigraphic evidence from the late antique period: the plague was limited to urban areas and caused no massive impact on mortality.
- Jean Durliat; one of the most decisive critiques of the idea there was mass demographic decline.
- it had a large impact
- Mass burials: can be hard to identify arcaheologically: cemeteries can be crowded and burials overcut anyway: err on side of caution
- not the only way to deal with the dead: one way of coping is to stick as much as possible to normal
- double and triple burials:
- Ascheim cemetery in Germany: c470-600. Looks like a normal cemetery on first glance
- 28.8% of graves in the cemetery are multiple graves, but most of these are standard double burials
- also these graves are furnished in a normal manner with a range of richness and variety of objects
- However: there was a burial of 5 people discovered which encouraged archaeologists to look into the cemetery more thoroughly.
- 'stacatto surge' in burial shown by the epigraphy, and then a population collapse around 550
- biomolecular analysis of the remains showed evidence of Y. pestis DNA
- 'stacatto surge' in burial shown by the epigraphy, and then a population collapse around 550
- However: there was a burial of 5 people discovered which encouraged archaeologists to look into the cemetery more thoroughly.
- also these graves are furnished in a normal manner with a range of richness and variety of objects
- 28.8% of graves in the cemetery are multiple graves, but most of these are standard double burials
- if we could look into these innocuous burials more we might find more evidence.
- Ascheim cemetery in Germany: c470-600. Looks like a normal cemetery on first glance
- even during the black death, mass graves such as east and west smithfield were only one burial type; plenty of single, double or triple burials.
- double and triple burials:
- not the only way to deal with the dead: one way of coping is to stick as much as possible to normal
- longer term impact:
- might not cause an economic crisis: the survivors of a plague might find themselves better off.
- evidence of a population getting smaller eg fewer new dwellings/ town neighbourhoods?
- Kennedy (2015)
- Antioch: reconstructed after 540 persian invasions, suburban areas seem to fare slightly better than urban centres
- Apamea: no newly built houses after 540, many houses deserted by end of 6th century (this may be due to 573 persian conquest)
- Scythopolis- persistence of investment in public civic architecture (baths, walls), which abruptly cuts off after 541. Population stagnation
- rural areas: Dehes: house building stops c550, although elaboration continues.
- arcaheological evidence could be consistent with a pandemic but it isnt decisive, perhaps we should just privilege the texts?
- rural areas: Dehes: house building stops c550, although elaboration continues.
- Scythopolis- persistence of investment in public civic architecture (baths, walls), which abruptly cuts off after 541. Population stagnation
- Apamea: no newly built houses after 540, many houses deserted by end of 6th century (this may be due to 573 persian conquest)
- problems: we can date the justinianic plague outbreak very accurately, but its much harder to date using ceramics with any = accuracy
- so much was happening during the 500s, how can we attribute changes specifically to the plague and not to the earthquakes, famines etc?
- Antioch: reconstructed after 540 persian invasions, suburban areas seem to fare slightly better than urban centres
- Kennedy (2015)
- Mass burials: can be hard to identify arcaheologically: cemeteries can be crowded and burials overcut anyway: err on side of caution
- first broke out in 541-544 and continued over the next centuries
- Theory
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