Middle Ages 400s-1500 AD – Period of transition from the end of the classical age and the beginning of the modern world

Anglo-Saxons Had taken control of Britain by 450 – Alfred the Great kept the Vikings out After his death, Vikings eventually took over in 1016 – Edward the Confessor becomes king

King John One of Edward’s successors required more taxes to pay for military efforts – Outraged, nobles forced King John to sign the Magna Carta

Clash of Church and State Charlemagne’s descendants: Henry III and Henry IV – Viewed the church as a branch of imperial power Power popes: Gregory VII and Innocent III – Viewed kings and emperors as servants of the church

Clash of Church and State Innocent III able to greatly strengthen the church’s worldly power – How? – Used power of excommunication

Impact of the Crusades New weaponry – Crossbow, catapult, and war strategies Political Changes – Lords sold land to join Crusades More power to kings – Church maintained high power Cultural Diffusion – Spreading of ideas and trade

Manufacturing Domestic system – Goods made in the home Fairs – Bartering Growth of cities

City Life Very unhealthy No police or street lights Dangerous Dumped wastes

Black Death Most believe it was passed by rats ~25 million deaths Shook faith – Why? Working class demanded higher wages – Began uprisings

What did Europe look like? Germanic tribes set up their own weak governments. Each kingdom had many tribes within it The most influential were the Franks

The Franks Each tribe had its own king Clovis: – 481 became king of one of the tribes – Began taking over other tribes – A few years later converted to Christianity Following Frankish custom Clovis’ Empire was divided among his sons 1.Weakens the whole 2.In-fighting 3.Unaware of danger (out & in)

Franks Clovis- king of the Franks – United several Frankish tribes around Gaul Merovingians- Clovis and his successors

Rise of the Franks The Franks controlled the largest of the Post-Roman Kingdoms starting in about 500 The King of the Franks was weak, and one of the nobles, known as ‘Mayor of the Palace’, Charles the Hammer, became very powerful. Charles the Hammer led a group of knights that defeated the Muslims at the Battle of Tours in 732.

Charlemagne

Rise of Charlemagne To repay Charles the Hammer for defeating the Muslims, the Pope crowned his son Pepin the Short King of the Franks officially in 751. When Pepin died, his son Charlemagne, meaning Charles the Great, took over. (At this point Charlemagne is just King of the Franks) Pope=leader of the Catholic Church

Pepin – 687 Began reunification of the Empire Charles Martel (Pepin’s son) – 714 succeeded his father – 732 defeated the Battle of Tours

Franks Pepin III (The Short) – New line of kings, Carolingians – Endorsed by the church after defeating Germanic tribes advancing on Italy Charlemagne- Pepin’s son – Becomes the greatest of all Frankish kings – AD

Charlemagne Martel’s grandson “Most powerful Christian ruler” Coronated by the Pope, “Emperor of the Romans” Intellectual Renewal – Learned to read as an adult – Felt clergy and leaders should know as well – Mini-Renaissance

At 6 feet tall, he was a towering figure, and became very powerful.

“Charlemagne was the most potent [powerful] prince with the greatest skill and success in different countries. Great and powerful as was the land of the Franks, when Charlemagne inherited it from his father, he nevertheless almost doubled it!” -Christian Monk Question: According to the Monk, What is Charlemagne’s greatest accomplishment?

Bigger Empire Charlemagne created the biggest Empire in Europe since Rome. He introduced many new people to Christianity. Most powerful King in Europe He defeated a group of Lombards threatening the Vatican in Italy. To thank him, in 800 Pope Leo III crowned him emperor of the “Holy Roman Empire”

Charlemagne Crowned as Roman emperor Appointed counts to manage regions – Also appointed “the lord’s messengers” Encouraged the spread of Christianity – Sometimes by force

Conquests Before CharlemagneAfter Charlemagne

Running an Empire Charlemagne limited the power of nobles Visited every part of his empire Built new Christian schools

Charlemagne Died in 814 Throne passed to Louis the Pious Then on to his sons: – Lothair – Charles the Bald – Louis the German Split empire among themselves in the Treaty of Verdun

Charlemagne Dies Charlemagne named his only son Louis to be the next emperor. Louis died and the empire was split between his three sons. The sons fought for control, and in the end split the empire, making them very weak. After this, Europe turns full force to feudalism, VERY WEAK kings, strong Pope!

The Decline of the Frankish Empire Following tradition— what happened to Charlemagne’s empire? 1.Weakens the whole 2.In-fighting 3.Unaware of danger (out & in) Invaders swarmed in

Decline of the Franks Factors leading to decline: – Constant fighting among the sons – Always threatened by outside invasion Vikings Magyars Muslim invaders