Chapter 13 EUROPEAN MIDDLE AGES 500-1200

Section 1 – Germanic Kingdoms Unite Under Charlemagne The gradual decline of the Roman Empire ushered in an era of European History called the Middle Ages – spanning from 500 – 1500 Invasions Trigger Changes in Western Europe Different Germanic groups over-ran western Europe ushering in changes in government, economy and Trade Disruption of Trade – invasion from land and sea caused business to collapse and breakdown of trade Downfall of cities – With the Collapse of the Roman Empire, cities became abandoned Population Shifts - Nobles retreated to rural areas, city dwellers fled to the countryside and grew their own food, population of western Europe became mostly Rural

The Decline of Learning German invaders were illiterate Learning among citizens sank sharply Only Church officials were literate German tribes had a rich oral history with songs a legends Loss of a Common Language German-speaking people mixed with Roman population Latin began to change Different dialects developed, French and Spanish evolved from Latin

Germanic Kingdoms Emerge Germanic Kingdoms replaced old Roman provinces, borders changing constantly The Church was the only institution that survived the fall of the Roman empire, providing order and security The Concepts of Government Changes Family ties and personal loyalty, rather than citizenship bound the Germanic people Governed by unwritten rules and traditions Germanic chiefs had warriors who pledged loyalty to him, they willingly died for a chief the respected, no obligation to a king or officials sent by the king In the province of Gaul, a Germanic people, The Franks held power, their leader Clovis would bring Christianity to the ppl

The Franks Under Clovis Clovis’s wife urged him to convert to her faith Under the stress of battle he appealed to the Christian God The Church in Rome welcomed his conversion and supported his military campaigns He united the Franks under one kingdom Clovis’s alliance with the Church marked the beginning of a special partnership of powerful forces

Germanic Peoples Adopt Christianity Politics played a key role in spreading Christianity By 600, with the help of Frankish rulers, The Church had converted many Germanic people Missionaries risking their lives to advance their faith In southern Europe, attacks by Muslims caused many to convert as well

Monasteries and Converts Church built religious communities called monasteries Monks and nuns ran these monasteries 520 – Benedict wrote a book that set practical guidelines for Monks and Nuns to follow Devoted their lived to prayer and good works Gregory I Expands Papal Power 590 Gregory I became Pope, broadened the authority of the papacy Papacy became secular, He used church revenues to raise armies, repair roads , and help the poor Strengthened the vision of Christendom – the spiritual kingdom The idea of a Churchly Kingdom would be a central theme throughout the middle Ages

A European Empire Evolves As the Roman Empire dissolved, small kingdoms sprang up everywhere England split up into seven different kingdoms The Franks controlled the largest, All of France Clovis’s descendants 700 – the Major Domo, or mayor, of the palace ruled the kingdom Charles Martel, mayor in 719, extended the Franks reign to the north, south and east Defeated a Muslim raiding party from Spain at the Battle of Tours Held great significant for Christians, he became a Christian hero

Setting up the Carolingian Dynasty – 751 – 987 After Martel’s death his son Pepin the Short took power and was anointed Pepin “King by the grace of God” Setting up the Carolingian Dynasty – 751 – 987 Charlemagne Extends Frankish Rule Pepin the Short died in 768 His two sons took power After his older brothers death Charlemagne took control of the entire kingdom

Charlemagne Take Center Stage Charlemagne build a great empire He fought Muslims in Spain and Germanic tribes Conquered new lands in the south and east He helped spread Christianity He reunited western Europe for the first time since the Roman Empire 800 – He traveled to Rome to crush an unruly mob attacking the Pope Pope Leo III crowned him emperor in return Claimed the right to confer the title “Roman Emperor” Even signaled the joined of Germanic power and the Church

Charlemagne’s Government Strengthened his power by limiting the authority of the nobles Made sure landowners governed justly Regularly visited various parts of his kingdom Cultural Revival Charlemagne great accomplishment was that he encouraged learning Ordered monasteries to open schools to train future monks and priests Monasteries expanded their libraries

Charlemagne's Heirs Are Weak Rulers Crowned his son, Louis the Pious, heir to his kingdom Proved an infective leader Louis’s sons fought each other and his death and set off a civil war – Ended with the treaty of Verdun that divided Charlemagne Empire into three kingdoms Carolingian kings lost power and the lack of strong leaders lead to a new system of governing and landholding