How about Charles the tall, blonde, and handsome Karl der Große Carlomagno Karel Veliký Charles the Great? How about Charles the tall, blonde, and handsome Carlemany Tchårlumagne Karl-Veur

Middle Ages 500-1500 C.E. What important event (that we’ve learned about) occurs around 500 C.E.? What starts happening in the world around 1500 C.E. Does any know where the “Dark Ages” might fit into this?

Middle Ages The time period between the Fall of Rome and the start of the Renaissance (roughly 1000 years) How does the “Dark Ages” fit into this? What are the Dark Ages? Time between Greece and Rome (Classical Antiquity) and the high Middle Ages (2nd half) – not a lot of written history, no advances in buildings being made, no big cultural acheivements--- stagnating

Middle Ages Problems in Western Europe Multiple governments- Europe is “carved up” 2. Businesses collapsed What kind of government did the Romans have? Republic? Did the people know what the laws were that governed them? 12 tablets --- after fall of Rome, this changes- now there’s not just one big Roman Empire with the same type of government- there’s going to be lots of smaller and different governments New people in charge- not Romans- Germanic tribes- they had unwritten laws and traditions, would fight for the death for their king- but wouldn’t obey a king they didn’t know- they wouldn’t give taxes to some emperor they’ve never met- it was all about personal relationships. Made it hard to establish order 2. Trade isn’t going so well- there’s not a lot of order now that Rome has fallen. Who’s going to care if ships carrying goods are attacked?

Problems in Western Europe 3. Cities abandoned- moved to rural areas 4. No education 3. Trade tends to center in what kinds of areas- country or city? Since trade has collapsed- cities aren’t as popular- people start moving to the county- instead of buying food- they now needed to produce it 4. New people in charge aren’t big on education- they don’t even have a written language- so education isn’t pushed. Soon, only very few people are literate- priests

Problems in Western Europe 5. No more common language Buenos dias! Bonjour! Buongiorno! 5. Latin starts mixing with the language of the germanic tribes- it starts changing- soon it can’t be understood across regions. What languages start developing here? Spanish, Italian, French

Charlemagne Who was he? King of the Franks Crowned Emperor of Rome Known as the Father of Modern Europe

Charlemagne What did he do? Reunited much of the old Roman Emp. in Europe Tried to control his many lands and created a united Christian Europe Encouraged learning & education Very hands on ruler- he had lots of agents who would be checking up on the landowners, making sure they were doing a good job Regularly went around to all areas of his kingdom, very hands on- would judge cases, etc Surrounded himself with educated people, created a palace school- had monestaries open up schools Learned to read at a very late age- could never manage to write well, but it was a major accomplishment

Charlemagne What happened to him? Died in 814- his empire falls apart shortly afterwards

Charlemagne What impact did he have? Extended Christianity into Northern Europe Furthered the blending of German, Roman and Christian traditions Set up a strong, centralized government …which didn’t last long after he died