The Early Middle Ages, 284-1000 - The Crucial Seventh Century

Explore the pivotal seventh century and its profound impact on early medieval Europe in this 45-minute lecture from Yale University's course on The Early Middle Ages. Delve into the Abbasid Caliphate's cultural assimilation and subsequent decline, then examine the transformative events of the 600s that reshaped the medieval world. Investigate the rise of Islam and Northern Europe, significant changes in Byzantium, Persia's reorientation, and the decline of the western secular elite. Conclude with an analysis of the Pirenne thesis, which posits that Islam's emergence disrupted Mediterranean unity and facilitated Northern Europe's ascent. Gain valuable insights into this crucial period that laid the foundation for medieval European society.