Christian Europe in the Middle Ages From the Franks to Feudalism
The Merovingian Dynasty, King Clovis I, united the various Frankish tribes and conquered most of Gaul In 496, he married Clothild who converted him to Christianity
King Clovis r After Clovis – 250 years of “do-nothing” kings! Mayors of the palace ran the kingdom
Pepin of Heristal, Mayor of the Palace, 687
Pepin’s son Charles Martel, later known as “Charles the Hammer,” cultivated a new aristocracy while also giving substantial support to Christian missionaries and Monasteries
The Battle of Tours, 732.
The Carolingian Dynasty Pepin III (the Short) r
Carolus Magnus Charles the Great Karel de Grote Charlemagne King of the Franks ( ) & Holy Roman Emperor ( )
Charlemagne: Conqueror Defender of the Church Patron of the Arts & Learning State-builder: missi dominici
Missi Dominici among the people Missi Dominici reporting back to Charlemagne
The Holy Roman Emperor, 800
His religious duty: raise the educational level of the clergy so they read the Bible and properly teach the faith Teach reading and writing - scriptures free of copying errors Create an enjoyable experience for churchgoers- Gregorian chants
Alcuin of York ( ) oversaw the Palace School at Aachen, attracting the greatest minds of the age.
Carolingian miniscule…
The Carolingian Renaissance- A flowering of art, architecture, literature, music and education in an attempt to recapture the past glory of the Roman Empire
The Treaty of Verdun, 843
Feudalism and Manorialism Invasions, the collapse of central authority, the decline in commerce and town life gave rise to new political, social and economic institutions…