12.1 Continental Europe

12.1.1 Introduction

The vacuum left by the contracting Roman Empire was filled by Germanic, Slavic and Eurasian migrations from the north east across Europe between 200 and 600 AD. These migrations were often not hordes of raiders, but wave after wave of economic migrants motivated by population pressure and lack of natural resources, causing them to look for a better life. Some resulted in relatively rapid stable kingdoms such as the Ostragoths in Italy and Visigoths in Spain. Some migrated to lands where it took longer to create a relatively stable state such as in Gaul and Britain. By 600 AD more or less settled kingdoms had been created. From 1050 to 1300 AD there was a revival of long distance trade and town expansion throughout Europe. The impact of significant events, particularly invasions, is often reflected in pottery as the technology changes for the better or sometimes for the worse.

The Romans had introduced consistent, high quality pottery to Europe, but this technology was lost. It is said that no ceramic ware of any note was produced in Europe from the time the Romans left until after 712 AD when the Islamic Moors crossed into Spain. Instead, the height of early Medieval art in Europe was probably reflected in the stonework of its magnificent cathedrals.  The terms “Medieval” and “Middle Ages” cover the same period, but there is no agreement of the start and finish dates. In Britain some propose it started around 500 AD reflecting the withdrawal of the Romans, others choosing 950 AD, while the end varies from 1485 (the first Tudor) to 1547 AD, attempting to pick certain significant events. Western Europe relied on imported ceramic technology, mainly brought by itinerant potters, some not available until as late as the 17th century. For example, in the late 9th century lead glaze technology spread from the Middle East to Italy, France the Low Countries and on to Britain. Throughout most of Europe apart from Iberia, any glazing on earthenware was lead based during medieval times. The often-crude body was red/buff colour and glazes yellow, brown, purplish or green. Lead-glazed wares took a lesser role when stoneware started to be produced in Germany in the 12th century, and tin-glazed wares became widely available towards the end of the 15th century. Slipware was also produced with the slip being overall or as painted decoration on earthenware. White firing plastic clay was discovered in Europe in the 17th century, while soft-paste and hard-paste porcelain, and bone (phosphatic) china appeared commercially in the 18th century.

12.1.2 Earthenware and Stoneware

Spain

Map of Iberian Peninsula 800 AD - courtesy
Thomas Lessman, worldhistorymaps.info

The Moors who invaded Spain in 712 AD were predominantly Muslim Berbers from North Africa rather than Arabs. They were named after the tribes living in Mauretania, present-day Morocco and Algeria, that the Romans collectively called Mauri. The Moors introduced many agricultural products to Spain, or “Al-Andalus”, the Arabic name for Moorish Iberia, including oranges, lemons, peaches, figs, sugar cane, rice, cotton and silk. The border between Muslim and Christian controlled regions was fortified with castles, hence this area being called Castile. The first major victory for the Christians was when the Moors were suffering internal upheaval, allowing European armies to drive the Moors out of Toledo in 1085, although the push south was slow with battles won and lost on both sides for centuries. The Pope demanded that the Moors be driven out altogether, and the European armies united to achieve a great success at Navas de Tolosa in 1212 AD. Eventually the Moors negotiated to concede all of Spain apart from the kingdom of Grenada in 1248 AD. To put it into perspective, the Moors ruled 70% of the Iberian peninsula for 375 years, 50% for a further 160 years and they were not finally ejected from Spain until the end of the Grenada kingdom 244 years later in 1492, some 800 years after their first appearance.