Spain, Italy, and Britain in the Early Medieval Period: Political and Social Structures
Summary
This article explores the political and social structures of Spain, Italy, and Britain in the early medieval period. Spain was dominated by the Visigothic kings until the Arab conquests in 711, which resulted in the fragmentation of the region. In Italy, the Lombard invasion caused significant damage, and the Lombards operated as a loose federation of dukes for some time before electing kings again. Lombard kings recognized queens as a means of succession, and Rothari issued the first Lombard law code. Liutprand was the most powerful Lombard king and made legislation to fill out and update Rothari’s Edict. Britain experienced economic meltdown and political fragmentation after the withdrawal of Roman armies and the end of the Roman provincial administration.
Table of Contents
- Spain in the Early Medieval Period
- Italy in the Early Medieval Period
- Britain in the Early Medieval Period
- The Role of Military Identity in Social and Political Hierarchies
- Differences in Ecclesiastical Influence in Spain, Italy, and Britain
Q&A
Spain in the Early Medieval Period: What was the dominant political structure in Spain before the Arab conquests, and how did the region fragment after the Arab conquests?
Spain was dominated by the Visigothic kings before the Arab conquests of 711. The Visigothic kings maintained a hegemony over the region, and the north-east kept a Visigothic king for a decade. In the south-east, a deal was made with the Arabs in return for autonomy. In the far north, communitarian and tribal traditions returned, and an independent Christian king, Pelagius, was chosen in the Asturias. After the Arab conquests, the region fragmented. The north-east continued to have Visigothic kings, while the south-east entered into a deal with the Arabs, and the far north became independent.
Italy in the Early Medieval Period: What happened to Italy after the Lombard invasion, and how did the Lombards elect kings again?
The Lombard invasion in the sixth century caused significant damage to the infrastructure of Italy, and they abandoned kingship for a decade after the assassination of two kings. They operated as a loose federation of dukes during this time. However, they elected kings again in the face of the most substantial Frankish invasion. Lombard kings recognized queens as a means of succession, and Rothari issued the first Lombard law code in 643.
Britain in the Early Medieval Period: What happened in Britain after the withdrawal of Roman armies and the end of the Roman provincial administration?
After the withdrawal of Roman armies and the end of the Roman provincial administration, Britain experienced economic meltdown, and the abandonment of villas, urbanism, and artisan production. By 500, western Britain was divided among a set of small-scale rulers or tyrants, and a patchwork of tiny polities had replaced the Roman state. Samson of Dol operated in an almost entirely ecclesiastical world in Britain, with secular political systems barely impinging.
The Role of Military Identity in Social and Political Hierarchies: How did military identity shape social and political hierarchies in Spain, Italy, and Britain?
Visigothic Spain, Lombard Italy, and the Franks each had their political style, but all moved towards social and political hierarchies dominated by military identity. Military identity was a crucial element in the power structures of the early medieval period, with kings and other elites emphasizing military prowess and relying heavily on military forces to enforce their authority.
Differences in Ecclesiastical Influence in Spain, Italy, and Britain: How did ecclesiastical influence differ in Spain, Italy, and Britain?
In Spain, after the Arab conquests, the church played a minor role in politics. In Italy, bishops and the pope in Rome acted as major figures, and the Lombard kings recognized queens as a means of succession. In Britain, secular political systems barely impinged on the ecclesiastical world, and Samson of Dol operated almost entirely within an ecclesiastical context.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the political and social structures of Spain, Italy, and Britain in the early medieval period were shaped by a range of factors, including existing Roman traditions and the invasions of Visigoths and Lombards. Military identity played a crucial role in shaping social and political hierarchies, with kings and other elites emphasizing military prowess and relying heavily on military forces to enforce their authority. Ecclesiastical influence also differed across the regions, with the church playing a minor role in politics in Spain, while bishops and the pope in Rome acted as major figures in Italy. In Britain, secular political systems barely impinged on the ecclesiastical world.
