Western Europe after Rome’s Fall The Rise of the Franks and Charlemagne

Barbarian Invasions: Rome’s Fall On Rome’s Frontier there were many growing tribes Goths, Visigoths, Ostrogoths, Vandals, Lombards, Burgundians, Franks, Anglos, Saxons, and Huns Rome considered these people “Barbarians”: Not Roman A more accurate title would be Germanic Tribes As the Huns pushed in from the East, the other Germanic tribes were forced to press westward into the Roman Empire After a period of invasions culminating in Rome’s fall, the Germanic tribes established their own kingdoms in many parts of the former Roman Empire

Europe: Dark Ages The constant warfare of this period disrupted trade across Europe Bridges & roads fell apart Cities & towns were abandoned Bandits roamed freely Life became increasingly rural, unsafe, and war based Shortages of food grew Technology was lost and innovation diminished Churches and monasteries became the only places where people could read and write

Rise of the Franks The Franks established the largest of the new Germanic Kingdoms in what is now France Charles Martel helped unite the Franks In 732, at the Battle of Tours, Martel stopped the advance of Islam from Spain to France, thus ensuring that Europe would have a Christian heritage, rather than Islamic Charles Martel became known as “The Hammer”

Frankish Empire In 751, after Martel’s death, his son, Pepin, seized power With the Pope’s support, Pepin marched across the Alps and took control of Northern Italy Frankish Kings created a powerful army by: Granting lands to nobles in exchange for service in the king’s army with their knights Pepin’s son Charlemagne became king in 768

Charlemagne: The Carolingian Empire Seeds of Feudalism develop under Charlemagne Gave land to his nobles in exchange for loyalty and service Nobles gave land to their knights in exchange for loyalty and service Peasants gave up rights to local lords in exchange for security. They offered services such as providing firewood, livestock, and crops Charlemagne’s Empire grew to include modern day France, Germany, Holland, Belgium, and northern Italy He made Aachen his new capital, where he constructed a beautiful palace in imitation of Rome’s He used riches from his conquests to attract scholars to teach the children of nobility

Charlemagne: Christianity At the request of the Pope, Charlemagne was crowned “Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire” in 800. This announced to the world that Western Europe was now independent from the Byzantine emperor The coronation of Charlemagne also signified the new political and religious unity of Western Europe under Christendom Charlemagne’s empire would be divided amongst his sons

Europe gets Darker: Dark Ages The division of Charlemagne’s empire occurred simultaneously with the influx of new European threats From the east Slavs & Magyars invade Germany, France, and Italy From the South Muslims attacked Southern Italy The greatest threat came from the Vikings in Northern Europe Between 800 and 1000 the Vikings launched many brutal assaults on Western Europe They spread fear and destruction, but also established new trade routes Their highly adaptable longboats were a key to their success

World View of the Middle Ages Respect for education diminished greatly in the Middle Ages The church was the source of all knowledge and scientific advancement was not emphasized. This led to an interesting world view Peasants were often ignorant, leaving them open to manipulation. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tXsxvdF481I

Chain of Being: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ABFzE9Stc0