History of Feudalism, Barbarian Tribes and Byzantium

The Importance of Historical Study

History is the only science that studies the past to understand the present and anticipate future developments.

Types of Historical Sources

• Oral history
• Graphs
• Documents
• Iconographic records
• Archaeological findings
• Ethnic studies

Feudalism and Its Antecedents

Feudalism was a political and military system in Western Europe during the Middle Ages. It was characterized by the concession of fiefs—almost always in the form of land and labor—in return for political and military service, a contract sealed by an oath of homage and fidelity.

Barbarian Groups

Key groups included: Huns, Angles, Saxons, Burgundians, Visigoths, Ostrogoths, Vandals, Swabians, Britons, Scots, Alamanni, Goths, Sarmatians, Celts, Scythians, and Celtiberians.

The Feudal Contract

This system defined political and military ties between the nobility of Europe during the high western Middle Ages.

The Byzantine Empire

Byzantium was a Greek city and the capital of Thrace, located at the entrance of the Bosphorus on the site of modern-day Istanbul. Since its time as an ancient Greek colony, it was refounded by Emperor Constantine the Great in 330 AD and renamed Constantinople. It served as the capital and center of classical culture for the Eastern Roman Empire. Its strategic location allowed it to control navigation between Eastern Europe, the Balkans, the Aegean, and northern Africa, including Egypt and Asia Minor.

Foundation of Byzantium

Most sources attribute the foundation of Byzantium to Byzas (also called Bizante), who, according to Stephanus of Byzantium, was the son of the nymph Ceróesa, daughter of Io and Neptune. It is generally recognized that the city was a colony of the Greek city of Megara. In 628 BC, the colony was expanded by Megarians led by Zeuxippus. The city initially worshipped the goddess Hera and was ruled by a monarchy that later gave way to an aristocratic government, where the original inhabitants, the Bithynians, were turned into slaves.

Note on Islamic Currents

The Shiites represent one of the internal currents of Islam, which has historically been marginalized among the faithful in popular classes.