The collapse of the Roman Empire in the West in 476 CE (AD) through the creation of the early “Medieval Feudal” kingdoms around the year 1000 has been classified as the Early Middle Ages or the era of the Barbarian Kingdoms. Select the Germanic tribe which you think had the greatest impact on the formation of Europe during the this period (476-1000 CE) and write a essay supporting your choice as most important in the creation of what came to be known as “Medieval Europe.” You may select the Vandals, Visigoths, Ostrogoths, Anglo-Saxons, Franks, or Vikings.
Submission Requirements: This assignment must comply with essay format guidelines: Introductory paragraph, multi-paragraph body, and a closing paragraph.
The essay should be in your own words (this includes using AI technology). Please do not quote resource materials. Please include research sources utilized to compile your essay. Cite your sources with an attached bibliography. If you choose to quote a source, please utilize proper citation.
Also, be careful of your sources. Use academic-based sites for online sources, not popular ones, such as Wikipedia.
Sample solution
Dante Alighieri played a critical role in the literature world through his poem Divine Comedy that was written in the 14th century. The poem contains Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso. The Inferno is a description of the nine circles of torment that are found on the earth. It depicts the realms of the people that have gone against the spiritual values and who, instead, have chosen bestial appetite, violence, or fraud and malice. The nine circles of hell are limbo, lust, gluttony, greed and wrath. Others are heresy, violence, fraud, and treachery. The purpose of this paper is to examine the Dante’s Inferno in the perspective of its portrayal of God’s image and the justification of hell.
In this epic poem, God is portrayed as a super being guilty of multiple weaknesses including being egotistic, unjust, and hypocritical. Dante, in this poem, depicts God as being more human than divine by challenging God’s omnipotence. Additionally, the manner in which Dante describes Hell is in full contradiction to the morals of God as written in the Bible. When god arranges Hell to flatter Himself, He commits egotism, a sin that is common among human beings (Cheney, 2016). The weakness is depicted in Limbo and on the Gate of Hell where, for instance, God sends those who do not worship Him to Hell. This implies that failure to worship Him is a sin.
God is also depicted as lacking justice in His actions thus removing the godly image. The injustice is portrayed by the manner in which the sodomites and opportunists are treated. The opportunists are subjected to banner chasing in their lives after death followed by being stung by insects and maggots. They are known to having done neither good nor bad during their lifetimes and, therefore, justice could have demanded that they be granted a neutral punishment having lived a neutral life. The sodomites are also punished unfairly by God when Brunetto Lattini is condemned to hell despite being a good leader (Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). While he commited sodomy, God chooses to ignore all the other good deeds that Brunetto did.
Finally, God is also portrayed as being hypocritical in His actions, a sin that further diminishes His godliness and makes Him more human. A case in point is when God condemns the sin of egotism and goes ahead to commit it repeatedly. Proverbs 29:23 states that “arrogance will bring your downfall, but if you are humble, you will be respected.” When Slattery condemns Dante’s human state as being weak, doubtful, and limited, he is proving God’s hypocrisy because He is also human (Verdicchio, 2015). The actions of God in Hell as portrayed by Dante are inconsistent with the Biblical literature. Both Dante and God are prone to making mistakes, something common among human beings thus making God more human.
To wrap it up, Dante portrays God is more human since He commits the same sins that humans commit: egotism, hypocrisy, and injustice. Hell is justified as being a destination for victims of the mistakes committed by God. The Hell is presented as being a totally different place as compared to what is written about it in the Bible. As a result, reading through the text gives an image of God who is prone to the very mistakes common to humans thus ripping Him off His lofty status of divine and, instead, making Him a mere human. Whether or not Dante did it intentionally is subject to debate but one thing is clear in the poem: the misconstrued notion of God is revealed to future generations.
References
Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). Dante’s inferno: Seven deadly sins in scientific publishing and how to avoid them. Addiction Science: A Guide for the Perplexed, 267.
Cheney, L. D. G. (2016). Illustrations for Dante’s Inferno: A Comparative Study of Sandro Botticelli, Giovanni Stradano, and Federico Zuccaro. Cultural and Religious Studies, 4(8), 487.
Verdicchio, M. (2015). Irony and Desire in Dante’s” Inferno” 27. Italica, 285-297.
Sample Answer
Sample Answer
Essay Title: The Franks: Key Players in the Formation of Medieval Europe
The period between the fall of the Roman Empire in 476 CE and the rise of the early “Medieval Feudal” kingdoms around 1000 CE marked a crucial time in European history. Among the Germanic tribes that emerged during this era, the Franks stood out as a significant force that greatly influenced the formation of what later became known as Medieval Europe. This essay will delve into the reasons why the Franks, under the leadership of figures like Clovis and Charlemagne, had the most substantial impact on shaping the political, social, and cultural landscape of Europe during the early Middle Ages.
Introduction
The transition from the classical world of the Roman Empire to the medieval period was characterized by the fragmentation of political power and the emergence of various kingdoms and territories. The Germanic tribes played a pivotal role in this transformation, with each tribe leaving its mark on European history. Among these tribes, the Franks, a confederation of Germanic tribes that inhabited present-day France and Germany, rose to prominence due to their military conquests, innovative governance structures, and lasting cultural contributions.
The Franks: Pioneers of Medieval Europe
Military Conquests
One of the primary reasons why the Franks were instrumental in shaping Medieval Europe was their military prowess. Under the leadership of Clovis, who became the first King of the Franks in the late 5th century, the Frankish kingdom expanded through a series of successful military campaigns. Clovis’ victory over the Visigoths at the Battle of Vouillé in 507 CE solidified Frankish dominance in Gaul (modern-day France) and laid the foundation for future Frankish expansion.
Political Innovations
The Franks introduced innovative political structures that laid the groundwork for medieval governance. Clovis’s conversion to Christianity and his alliance with the Roman Catholic Church not only bolstered his rule but also established a powerful relationship between the Frankish monarchy and the Church. This partnership would later be instrumental in legitimizing Frankish authority and consolidating religious influence in the region.
Charlemagne and the Carolingian Empire
The pinnacle of Frankish influence came during the reign of Charlemagne, also known as Charles the Great. Charlemagne’s coronation as Emperor of the Romans in 800 CE marked a significant milestone in European history, reviving the idea of a unified Christian empire in Western Europe. The Carolingian Empire, established under Charlemagne’s rule, encompassed vast territories and fostered a revival of learning and culture known as the Carolingian Renaissance.
Cultural Legacy
Beyond their military conquests and political achievements, the Franks left a lasting cultural legacy that shaped medieval Europe. The spread of Christianity under Frankish rule, coupled with their support for education and scholarship, contributed to the intellectual and cultural vibrancy of the Carolingian Empire. The preservation of classical texts, the promotion of learning in monastic schools, and the development of Carolingian minuscule script all underscored the Frankish commitment to cultural advancement.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the Franks emerged as key players in the formation of Medieval Europe due to their military successes, political innovations, and cultural contributions. From Clovis’s consolidation of power to Charlemagne’s establishment of a vast empire, the Franks exerted a profound influence on European history during the early Middle Ages. Their legacy as pioneers of medieval governance, champions of Christian faith, and patrons of learning solidified their position as one of the most influential Germanic tribes of the era.
Bibliography:
– Collins, Roger. Early Medieval Europe 300-1000. Palgrave Macmillan, 2010.
– McKitterick, Rosamond. Charlemagne: The Formation of a European Identity. Cambridge University Press, 2008.
