1. The Western Roman Empire fell approximately 500 AD. 2. This was largely due to the multitudes of attacks from Germanic Barbarians, Vikings and even the Muslims. 3. The Christian Church was the only institution left standing. 4. People fled from the towns to the countryside as barbarians approached and started farming. 5. Monks created Monasteries throughout the countryside

1.) What role did the Church play in helping the Frankish leader Clovis conquer the Germanic tribes? The Church in Rome welcomed Clovis’s conversion to Christianity and supported his military campaigns against other Germanic peoples while converting them to Christianity from polytheism (worshipping many Gods). 2.) What role did Pope Gregory the Great play in spreading the idea of a vast unified kingdom? 1. Broadened the authority of the papacy beyond its spiritual role & became involved in worldly power and politics 2. The pope’s palace became center of government 3. Used Church revenue ($) to pay for armies, repair roads, help the poor 4. Negotiated peace treaties with invaders helping unify the Germanic Kingdom

King Clovis & his wife Clotilde - Pope Gregory I adopts the fleur-de-lis as his symbol

3.) What was important about Charles Martel’s victory at the Battle of Tours? (After Clovis died, Martel, mayor of the palace, was in effect, ruler of the Frankish kingdom under the title major domo) + Martel defeated Muslim raiders at the Battle of Tours in Spain in This is IMPORTANT because if the Muslims had won, W. Europe might have become part of the Muslim Empire. 4.) How did Pepin the Short (son of Martel) strengthen the Frankish kingdom? 1. Pepin shrewdly cooperated with the pope 2. On behalf of the Church, he agreed to fight the Lombard invaders who were threatening Rome 3. In exchange, the pope anointed Pepin “king by the grace of God,” beginning the Carolingian Dynasty that ruled the Franks for about the next 250 years.

Charles “The Hammer” MartelPepin the Short

5.) What was the importance of Charlemagne’s coronation as emperor? When Pope Leo III crowned Charlemagne emperor, it was historic because: 1. A pope had claimed the right to appoint the title “Roman Emperor” on a European king 2. This event signaled the joining of Germanic power, the Church, and the heritage of the Roman Empire 6.) How did Charlemagne govern his unified kingdom (All of Western Europe)? 1. Strengthened HIS royal power by limiting the authority of the nobles 2. He sent out royal agents to make sure that powerful landowners called Counts, governed their counties justly 3. Charlemagne regularly visited every part of his kingdom 4. Kept a close watch on the management of his huge estates which were the source of Carolingian wealth and power

Charlemagne The Feudal System