WarmUp #2 Early Middle Ages Read “THE INSIDE STORY” on pg. 361 about Alfred the Great & answer the corresponding question. Read the “Benedictine Rule” on pg. 363 & answer the corresponding questions.
Early Middle Ages
New Germanic Kingdoms By 500 AD, the Western Roman Empire was replaced by Germanic kingdoms Angles & Saxons to Britain united under Alfred the Great pushed Danes back north 1st King of England (land of Angles) established school system Franks in Gaul Visigoths in Spain merging of German & Roman culture let go of law codes/systems had trial by ordeal believed in divine intervention on behalf of innocent
Women's Rights and Trials Trial by Ordeal Women's Rights and Trials
Frankish Empire Clovis, king of the Franks, converted to Christianity (~ 500 AD) gained support of Roman Catholic Church Pepin (son of Charles Martel) took crown in 751 AD Charlemagne, son of Pepin became king & expanded territory (“In War and Peace” pgs. 374-375) defeated Lombards & protected Pope Leo III crowned emperor by the Pope: 800 AD renewed interest in Latin/Greek works monks copied works by hand empire fell apart after his death, 814 AD 3 grandsons split Empire 3 ways: Western, Middle, Eastern spread Christianity to conquered people…or else death sent missionaries to live with them written law
Invasions of 9th & 10th Centuries Scandinavia was not good for farming Vikings/Norsemen raided other communities used long, narrow & shallow dragon ships to sail up rivers into European continent eventually Europeans tired of raids, gave land to the Vikings/Norsemen & they settled down (i.e.-Normandy in France)
Vikings
Holy Roman Empire neither holy, nor Roman, nor an empire after Vikings calmed down, some power centralization 962 AD: Otto I crowned Holy Roman Emperor not Frankish lands, but German lands most emperors were preoccupied with the popes & European politics German city-states stayed very independent neither Germany nor Italy unified until the late 1800s
England 1066 AD: William of Normandy invaded & conquered England defeated Anglo-Saxons at Hastings slow merging of Anglo-Saxon & Norman culture, language, etc. Henry II became king (~1142 AD) expanded royal courts common law: same throughout kingdom tried to control clergy (Thomas a Becket) married to Eleanor of Aquitaine
Battle of Hastings
read & answer the corresponding questions. “The Song of Roland”, pg.377 read & answer the corresponding questions.
Eleanor of Aquitaine very unusual woman for the Middle Ages controlled own land in southwest France married to king of France, Louis II traveled to Constantinople & Jerusalem on Crusade annulled marriage (pseudo-divorce) married Henry of Anjou (Henry II of England)….imprisoned kept her own court in France son: Richard the Lionheart
Magna Carta ~the nobles resented power of King John & revolted ~forced John to sign the Magna Carta in 1215 which limited the king’s power Read the “Magna Carta” on R59 & answer questions #1-3.