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 (Carolingian Family)
Pepin of Heristal, Mayor of the Palace, 687 Started an army of mounted knights by giving land to loyal retainers. Introduced use of the stirrup
Pepin’s son Charles Martel, later known as “Charles the Hammer,” cultivated this 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 among the people Missi Dominici reporting back to Charlemagne
The Holy Roman Emperor, 800 Title did not bring new land or power but prestige. The idea of the Holy Roman Empire was to last for a thousand years until ended by the Napoleonic wars.
His religious duty: raise the educational level of the clergy so they read the Bible and properly teach the faith Create an enjoyable experience for churchgoers- Gregorian chants Teach reading and writing - scriptures free of copying errors
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
Viking Longboats
Lindisfarne Monastery, 793
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…feudalism and manorialism
The self-sufficient manor of Medieval Europe