Gone Medieval: Why the Early Middle Ages Matter – Episode Summary

Released: February 4, 2025 | Host: History Hit's Matt Lewis and Dr. Eleanor Jaunega

In this enlightening episode of Gone Medieval, hosts Matt Lewis and Dr. Eleanor Jaunega delve deep into the significance of the Early Middle Ages, exploring its complexities, misconceptions, and enduring impact on European history. Through a blend of scholarly insight and engaging dialogue, the episode sheds light on why this period, often overshadowed by later medieval developments, is crucial for understanding the broader historical narrative.

1. Understanding Periodization in History

Defining Medieval Terms

Dr. Jaunega opens the discussion by tackling the concept of periodization—the method historians use to segment history into distinct eras for easier study and discussion. She emphasizes the challenges inherent in this process:

"Periodization is one of those things that is instantly imperfect, but kind of what is the option?" ([05:27])

Matt adds to this by highlighting the Eurocentric bias in historical periodization:

"We will talk about the medieval period in what is a very Western Europe centric way. It takes zero account of China, Japan, Africa, the Americas." ([06:45])

Analogies and Clarifications

To simplify periodization, Dr. Jaunega compares it to placing a bucket in the ocean—focusing on a subset without capturing the entirety:

"It's sort of like you're putting a bucket into the ocean and you can look into that bucket and you can see what you can see in there and make generalities about the ocean as a whole." ([07:35])

Matt further illustrates the concept using the Star Wars saga, explaining how splitting events into parts makes the narrative digestible:

"You could have edited those films differently. Those beginning and endings could have been in a different place. The focus could have been different." ([07:35])

2. The Origins and Implications of "Middle Ages"

Pejorative Beginnings

Matt references Dan Jones's Power and Thrones to explain how the term "Middle Ages" originated with a negative connotation from Protestant thinkers aiming to contrast their era with what they perceived as the superstitious and dogmatic medieval period:

"Middle Ages instantly becomes this pejorative term for everything in between what was good and what is good." ([10:29])

Political and Commercial Motivations

Dr. Jaunega discusses the political motivations behind labeling medieval architecture as "Gothic," a term coined by Italians to disparage what they saw as Germanic influences:

"All we know about the medieval period or takes the time to look at it, you know, the idea that they didn't have Plato or Aristotle, all they have is Plato and Aristotle." ([12:01])

3. Debunking the "Dark Ages" Myth

Clarifying Terminology

The hosts tackle the widespread misuse of the term "Dark Ages." Dr. Jaunega clarifies its original meaning:

"For historians, the term Dark Ages refers to a lack of sources, not intellectual decline." ([24:20])

Origins of the Term

The term "Dark Ages" was initially coined by the 16th-century church historian Caesar Baronius to describe the 10th and 11th centuries due to the scarcity of written records:

"He coined this term 'saeculum obscurum,' referring to the 10th and 11th centuries because we just didn't keep as many texts from them." ([24:20])

Challenging Popular Perceptions

Matt and Dr. Jaunega argue against the notion that the Early Middle Ages were intellectually stagnant. They highlight significant advancements and cultural developments during this period:

"It's hard to see those big seismic shifts, but that doesn't mean that everything stayed the same. And it doesn't mean that people weren't developing and having ideas and creating things." ([13:56])

4. Innovations and Cultural Flourishing

Agricultural Advancements

Dr. Jaunega emphasizes the revolutionary impact of the three-field system on European agriculture, which led to increased food production and population growth:

"The three field system, which no one thinks is particularly sexy, but it revolutionizes farming ... more people to move into cities and they can make art." ([14:33])

Technological and Intellectual Progress

Matt highlights medieval innovations such as the church clock and discusses the broader spectrum of intellectual developments across the millennium:

"There is the not quite the completion of Christianization because we'll still have lots of pagans ... but you have got that kind of watershed moment where Christianity is reaching the parts it's never previously been able to reach." ([15:31], [14:33])

5. The Complex Beginning of the Early Middle Ages

The Fall of the Western Roman Empire

The episode scrutinizes the traditional start date of the Early Middle Ages—476 AD, marking the deposition of Romulus Augustulus by Odoacer:

"The Early Medieval period begins in 476 with the so-called fall of the Roman Empire. And this is one of those things where... it wouldn't have been the flick of a switch." ([17:38])

Continuity of Roman Influence

Dr. Jaunega and Matt discuss how the collapse of Western Rome was less abrupt and more a gradual transformation, with Eastern Rome (Byzantium) continuing to thrive:

"The Western Roman emperors had for some time largely just been puppets of eastern Rome." ([19:32])

Theodoric the Great's Reign

They explore the reign of Ostrogothic King Theodoric the Great, who maintained Roman traditions while ruling over Gothic populations:

"Theodoric never calls himself the emperor, but as the region of the Visigoths, he eventually controls a bunch of land that stretches from the Atlantic to the Adriatic." ([23:06])

6. The Rise of Islam and Its Impact

Cultural and Scientific Renaissance

Matt underscores the flourishing of Islamic civilization during the Early Middle Ages, highlighting its advancements in science, philosophy, and medicine:

"The rise of Islam leads to huge scientific, philosophical, medical advances and the spread of information in a way that wasn't happening in Christian Europe too." ([37:29])

Transmission of Knowledge

Dr. Jaunega explains how Islamic scholars preserved and expanded upon Greek and Roman texts, later translating them into Latin and reintroducing them to Europe:

"When we eventually get more of the classical texts back in Europe, they're often translated out of Arabic and then into Latin." ([38:31])

Al Andalus as a Beacon of Learning

The discussion highlights Al Andalus (medieval Spain) as a center of cultural and intellectual exchange, where Islamic, Christian, and Jewish scholars collaborated:

"You see all of these bright and interesting cultures that are coexisting ... and flourishing at this time." ([38:31])

7. Formation of European States and the Holy Roman Empire

Consolidation of Power

Matt and Dr. Jaunega delve into the fragmentation and subsequent consolidation of European territories, leading to the emergence of recognizable states:

"By the time we get to the end of the early medieval period, we've probably got a map of Europe at least that looks recognizable today." ([45:09])

The Holy Roman Empire

They discuss the rise of the Holy Roman Empire under the Ottonians, who consciously sought to emulate Charlemagne’s legacy:

"The rise of the Ottonians in the German lands ... creating something that we can recognize as the Holy Roman Empire." ([44:09], [45:41])

Christianization as a Unifying Force

The increasing Christianization of Europe is presented as a driving force in the formation of these states and the consolidation of power under the Church:

"You have the increasing Christianization of the European continent." ([41:51])

8. Debating the End of the Early Middle Ages

Difficult to Pin Down

Determining the end of the Early Medieval period is identified as particularly challenging. Matt considers significant events such as the Norman Conquest of 1066 and the First Crusade of 1095 as potential markers:

"I'm trying to pin our beginning date around 476. When are we going to pin our end date?" ([47:00])

The Crusades as a Turning Point

Dr. Jaunega supports the idea that the First Crusade represents a pivotal moment, marking the consolidation of Christendom under the Pope and shifting the focus of European powers:

"The First Crusade ... is a defining moment in the power of the Pope to put himself in charge of Europe." ([47:14], [52:12])

Unified Christendom vs. Fragmented Europe

The Crusades symbolize the unification of Christian Europe against external threats, contrasting with the earlier fragmented and localized power structures:

"They manage to pull together a nice little empire ... which resembles something like Germany." ([45:41])

9. Listener Engagement and Final Thoughts

Call for Feedback

As the episode nears its conclusion, Matt invites listeners to share their thoughts on the usefulness of the "Early Medieval period" as a historical term, its Eurocentric bias, and alternative periodization methods.

Dr. Jaunega's Final Warning

Dr. Jaunega humorously warns against the misuse of terms like "Dark Ages," asserting her commitment to preserving historical accuracy:

"If you use it [Dark Ages], I will come to your house in shorts and I will arm wrestle you." ([54:22])

Notable Quotes with Attribution and Timestamps

• Dr. Eleanor Jaunega: "Periodization is one of those things that is instantly imperfect, but kind of what is the option?" ([05:27])

• Matt Lewis: "We will talk about the medieval period in what is a very Western Europe centric way. It takes zero account of China, Japan, Africa, the Americas." ([06:45])

• Dr. Eleanor Jaunega: "Anytime you want to make something easier, what it's doing is obscuring the fact that it is a mess down there." ([53:41])

• Dr. Eleanor Jaunega: "If you use [Dark Ages], I will come to your house in shorts and I will arm wrestle you." ([54:22])

Conclusion

This episode of Gone Medieval successfully demystifies the Early Middle Ages, challenging established narratives and encouraging a more nuanced understanding of the period. By dissecting the origins of key historical terms, highlighting significant cultural and technological advancements, and emphasizing the interconnectedness of global civilizations, Matt Lewis and Dr. Eleanor Jaunega provide listeners with a richer perspective on why the Early Middle Ages truly matter in the grand tapestry of history.

For those intrigued by the Early Middle Ages, Gone Medieval offers further exploration through episodes on Charlemagne, Iconoclasm, and the Venerable Bede. Dive deeper into medieval mysteries and marvels by subscribing to History Hit for unlimited access to award-winning documentaries and ad-free podcasts.