E. Napp Charlemagne and the Franks

E. Napp Charlemagne and the Franks In this lesson, students will be able to identify effects of the fall of Rome as well as the rise of Charlemagne and the Franks. Students will be able to identify and/or define the following terms: Effects of the Fall of Rome Franks Charlemagne Feudalism

E. Napp The fall of Rome brought many important changes to Western Europe.

E. Napp Effects of the Fall of Rome Germanic tribes took over Roman lands. Hundreds of little kingdoms took the place of the Western Roman Empire in Europe. Initially, there was no system for collecting taxes. Kingdoms were always at war with one another. People lost interest in learning.

E. Napp Warfare increased. Trade decreased. The “Dark Ages” began.

E. Napp Early Middle Ages Historians call the period following the fall of Rome the “Dark Ages.” Formerly, this period is known as the beginning of the Middle Ages. It was a time of increased warfare, decreased trade, and a decline in learning.

E. Napp Charles Martel

E. Napp Charles Martel Martel (the name means "hammer") succeeded in reuniting the Frankish realm, eventually acquiring Aquitaine and Burgundy. In 732CE, he achieved one of the most significant victories in early Europe at the Battle of Tours, which stopped Muslim advancement from Spain into Frankish territory. Father of Pepin III (the Short)

Western Europe E. Napp

Battle of Tours E. Napp Battle of Tours (732): Franks achieve victory over Muslim armies from Hispania, forcing Muslim to retreat and allowing the Franks to reassert control over Francia. Marks the deepest advancement of the Muslim armies into Europe. Believed to have saved Europe from Islam domination, perhaps saving Christianity from endangerment.

E. Napp Pepin the Short

E. Napp Pepin the Short In 752 CE, Pope Stephen anointed Pepin the Short as king: important. To his subjects, it meant that Pepin had the backing of God, or that he was God’s chosen ruler. In 754 CE, Pepin The Short successfully removed the Lombards from Rome, and gave their lands to the Pope. This strengthened the ties between the Catholic Church and the Franks, while the ties between the Church and the Byzantines were weakened. Father of Charlemagne

E. Napp Charlemagne became king of the Franks in 768 CE. He conquered a vast empire and tried to recreate the glory of the Roman Empire.Charlemagne

E. NappCharlemagne Grandfather was Charles Martel and father was Pepin the Short: both good rulers Charlemagne was an impressive king –Charles the Great –6’4” tall –Blonde hair –Friendly, strong Expanded the Frankish Empire –Defeated most of the barbarian tribes in Western Europe Expanded into Germany, all of France, most of Italy, and parts of Northern Spain

E. Napp Charlemagne’s Empire

E. Napp Education After the Fall of Rome, the ability to read and write began to disappear: only the clergy To effectively rule kingdom and convert people to Christianity, Charlemagne wanted officials to be able to read –Charlemagne: could read but not write –Frankish nobles thought it was a waste of time: they were warriors

E. Napp Government Charlemagne ruled a vast empire –Used counts (local officials) to solve local problems Had job of finding men and raising armies –Charlemagne paid surprise visits to make sure counts were managing fairly and effectively

E. Napp Government Charlemagne noticed that Frankish court system was not fair Trial by Ordeal Trial by Jury

E. Napp Trial by Ordeal If you were a peasant and you were accused of a crime, to prove your innocence, you had to hold a red hot metal poker until your hand was deeply burned. If your burnt hand healed in three days, which it was unlikely to do, you were found innocent. If it did not, you were guilty.

E. Napp Trial by Jury Charlemagne started a new system –Under Charlemagne's system, each accused person would be heard by a panel of honorable men, men who had taken an oath to listen and to judge fairly based on the evidence presented. There was still corruption, but this system had a much better chance of being fair than did the old one. –Our modern jury system, trial by jury, slowly developed from this early start.

E. Napp Pope Leo III and Charlemagne Pope Leo III –Wanted the Church in charge of lives of people, not the king: power to the Church –Wanted taxes to go to the Church and not secular leaders –799 CE, Leo faced an uprising against him Asked Charlemagne for help: troops escorted him back to Rome

E. Napp Pope Leo III and Charlemagne Pope Leo declared Charlemagne the first HOLY ROMAN EMPEROR –Title gave no additional power…eventually caused problems –HOLY –HOLY tied to Church and placed the Church in power –Led to war between the Frankish and Byzantine Empire…8 years to make peace

E. Napp Pope Leo III crowned Charlemagne “Holy Roman Emperor”.

E. Napp During his reign, Charlemagne tried to recreate the Roman Empire. However, after his death, the empire declined.

E. Napp The Rise of Feudalism While Charlemagne’s descendants were not able to recreate the glory of the Roman Empire –Grandsons divided kingdom into three regions-led to fall of kingdom- Treaty of Verdun The Franks did greatly affect life in the Middle Ages. Feudalism became the norm in western Europe.