Middle Ages

1. Middle Ages Charlemagne and the Germanic Kingdoms

2. Key Terms • Middle Ages • Franks • Monastery • Carolingian Dynasty • Charlemagne

3. Middle Ages • Era of European history following the decline of the Roman Empire • Lasted between years of 500-1500 • Roots in: 1. classical heritage of Rome 2. beliefs of the Roman Catholic Church 3. customs of various Germanic tribes

4. Changes to Western Europe • By the end of the 400’s Germanic tribes overran the western half of Roman empire • Remember the empire was spilt in 2

5. Constant Warfare led to: • Disruption of trade- businesses collapsed and breakdown of trade destroyed European cities, money became scarce • Downfall of cities- cities were abandoned • Population shifts- nobles retreated to rural areas, and Rome left with no strong government, others fleeing to countryside to grow own food

6. Decline of Roman Culture • Germanic tribes could not read • People moved to rural areas • Less stress on learning • Germanic tribes had no written language, but had oral tradition of songs and legends

7. Loss of Common Language • Latin changed as Romans and Germans mixed • New languages evolved from Latin • The different languages was a symbol of the breakup of the Roman Empire

8. Germanic Kingdoms • Societies held together by family ties and personal loyalty • Governed by unwritten laws and traditions • Germanic chiefs led warriors who were loyal to him • In peacetime, warriors lived in their lord’s hall • Given weapons, food, and treasure • In battle, fought until the death at their lord’s side • No obligation to obey king they didn’t know • Did not obey officials collecting taxes or administering justice • Impossible to establish orderly government over them.

9. The Franks • Germanic people located in Gaul • Leader was Clovis • His wife urged him to convert to Christianity • In 496, he asked for assistance of the Christian God in battle • They won and soon Clovis and 3,000 warriors asked to be baptized

10. Germans Adopt Christianity • Frankish rulers convert many Germanic people • Missionaries work to convert Germanic and Celtic group bordering Roman Empire in the 300s and 400s • Fear of Muslim attacks on the coast led to many in southern Europe to become Christians in the 600s • To adapt to rural conditions, Churches built monasteries , or religious communities • Christian men called monks gave up private possessions and became servants of God • Women became nuns and lived in convents

11. Kingdoms • After Roman Empire dissolved, tiny kingdoms sprang up all over Europe • England had 7 tiny kingdoms • Under Clovis, the Franks controlled the largest and strongest kingdom-Gaul • By the time Clovis died in 511, he had extended rule over what is now France

12. Major Domo • By 700, official named major domo (mayor of the palace) had become most powerful person in kingdom • Officially, he had charge of royal and household estates • Unofficially, he commanded armies and made policies

13. Charles Martel • In 719, Charles Martel (Charles the Hammer) was named mayor of the palace, and had more power than the king • Extended Franks power to the north, south and east • Defeated Muslim raiding from Spain at the Battle of Tours • Victory made him a Christian hero • A loss would have meant Europe could have become part of the Muslim Empire

14. Pepin the Short • Son of Charles Martel who wanted to be king • Cooperated with pope • Fought a tribe who invaded Italy and threatened Rome, on behalf of Church • Pope anointed Pepin as “king by the grace of God”

15. Carolingian Dynasty • Pepin the Short died and left a greatly strengthened kingdom to his two sons, Carloman and Charles (Charlemagne) • After Carloman’s death, Charles (Charlemagne) took control of the kingdom

16. Charlemagne • Intro to Charlemagne • Built an empire larger as any since the Roman empire • Every summer he would take his army to fight enemies surrounding his kingdom • Fought Muslims in Spain and other Germanic tribes • Spread Christianity while conquering new lands

17. Charlemagne • In 800, Charlemagne traveled to Rome to crush an unruly mob that attacked the Pope • Pope Leo was so grateful that he crowned Charlemagne emperor • The coronation was historic- a pope had claimed the right to award the title “Roman Emperor” to a European king • Event signaled the joining of Germanic power, the Church, and the heritage of the Roman Empire

18. Charlemagne’s Government • Strengthened royal power by limiting noble power • Sent out royal agents to make sure those ruling their counties did so justly • Charlemagne would visit every part of his kingdom regularly • He judged cases, settled disputes and rewarded faithful followers

19. Importance of Learning • One of Charlemagne’s greatest accomplishments was his praise of learning • Surrounded himself with scholars of all languages • Opened a palace school for his children and others • Ordered monasteries to open schools and train future monks and priests

20. Kingdom Divided • Charlemagne crowned his only son Louis the Pious emperor a year before his death • Louis would have been a better monk, and is ineffective as a ruler • Louis had 3 sons: Lothair, Charles the Bald, and Lewis the German • All 3 of Charlemagne’s grandsons fight each other for control of the empire

21. Kingdom Divided • A civil war takes place and ends when the brothers signed the Treaty of Verdun, dividing the empire into 3 kingdoms • After the treaty Carolingian kings lost power • Central authority breaks down • The lack of strong rulers leads to a new system of governing and land holding- feudalism

22. Kingdom Divided

23. Reflection • What role did Christianity play in the development of Western Europe during the early Middle Ages?