The Middle Ages to fall of Rome to modern era - aka Dark Ages -Key events: revival of learning under Charlemagne, breakup of Charlemagne’s empire & return to Dark Ages, end of Dark Ages, slow return of learning (scholasticism), & Renaissance

The Middle Ages - millenia fear - importance of the church  Christendom what is so important about the year 1000? Early Middle Middle Middle Late or High Middle

Early Christian church in Europe - little organization at beginning - no distinction between laity & clergy - need arises for organization as church grows - two officials  presbyter (elder) & bishop (overseer) - by 100s, presbyters (later known as priests) answer to bishops - local churches administered by priests - several churches make up diocese – run by bishop - several diocese adm. by archbishop  modeled after Rome

Growth of monasticism - St. Benedict - monk  lives apart from worldly concerns - prayer & labor - early monasteries adm. by abbot - provide important function in medieval world - social worker  care for sick & poor - schools – centers of learning - role model - transcription - kept alive European culture

But before we keep talking about the role of the church, we need to talk about… The Franks (great name) 300s on  Rome was a mess! - invaders, bad gov’t, etc – last Roman emperor replaced by German king  Odoacer - Franks settle in northern Gaul or known as France today - first king – Clovis - unite Franks - converts to Christianity - begins Merovingian line of kings

- Merovingian kings – Do-Nothing Kings - problems: succession, Mayors of the Palace Charles Martel – the Hammer! - Mayor of the Palace  defeats Muslims at Tours - son  Pepin the Short - Seizes kingdom – 751 – Carolingian line of kings - helps pope remove threat of Lombards - rewarded by pope proclaiming Pepin “king by the grace of God”

- Donation of Pepin - takes land from around Rome and gives it to the Pope - accomplishes 3 things: - create long-lasting alliance between the Franks and the pope that greatly benefited both sides - Pope looks west for help rather than east - established precedent where pope confers right to rule onto the king

Charlemagne – Charles the Great expands Frankish empire to most of western and central Europe - 3 great achievements (maybe 4) 1.Military - conquers Lombards in Italy - Avars in central Europe - Saxons in Germany - drives Muslims back into Spain 2. Government (administration) - each region organized into county headed by count - missi dominici - Aix-la-Chapelle or Aachen - no taxes - low expenses - each person responsible for military duty

3. Education - founded palace school - brought in best scholars from around Europe - produce authentic and readable Bible -liked to have books read to him – illiterate - Carolingian Renaissance 4. Crowned Emperors of the Romans - solidifies relationship between Franks and papacy - established empire in the model of the old Roman Empire  Holy Roman Empire - with the church’s blessing

- Charlemagne dies empire divided by 3 grandsons - Treaty of Verdun (843) - Charles the Bald (France), Lothair (middle kingdom), & Louis the German (Germany) - begin fighting amongst themselves - Difficult to hold together divided kingdoms - division allowed invaders to come - north – Vikings south – Muslimseast- Magyars - begin the Dark Ages again – end of Carolingian Renaissance