1. The Middle Ages 476-1500 A.D. Feudalism and Manor System
The Rise of the Catholic Church
The Crusades

2. Break Down
400s to 700 A.D.- “Dark Ages,” Collapse of Roman Civilization.
- Barbarians
- 800s- Holy Roman Empire brings stability.
- 700s-1000 A.D., Vikings ravage Northern Europe, Muslims
attack in the south
A.D.- “High Middle Ages,” Kings, Lords, and Knights provide enough stability for society to rebuild and not solely focus on survival.
s- “Late Middle Ages,” Return of wars and Disease setback to recovery: Hundred Years War, Black Death.
1400s- The Renaissance- Return of Education, Art, and expansion of scientific knowledge about the world.

3. Western Europe In Decline
After fall of Roman Empire in 476 A.D., Western Europe entered a period of political, social, and economic decline.
After the advanced system of law and order developed by the Romans breaks down, bands of armed men roamed the countryside, robbing and killing

4. Medieval Society The “Middle Ages” or the “Dark Ages”
Medieval- Derives from Latin, meaning “Middle Ages.”
Period of time where Germanic, Christian, and Roman Traditions are “Culturally Diffused” together.

5. Spread of Germanic Customs
By 5th Century, the political void was filled by rural tribes of Europe after the collapse of the Centralized Government of Rome
Germanic Tribes: Saxons, Vandals, Franks, Visogoths, and Ostrogoths form kingdoms
As trade declines, Urban life shifted to the rural communities as people fled the cities for protection
Laws: Rome had the 12 Tables as written laws and advanced court systems, Germanic tribes had unwritten customs; Trial by Ordeals, judicial practice of torture to confirm innocence or guilt

6. Culture Shock The Roman Empire Centralized Government
Diverse groups of people from different cultures living under one system of government
Urban culture, cities at the heart of each province
Roman Catholic
Written system of laws
- The Twelve Tables- the
punishment fits the crime
The Germanic Tribes
Germanic political life was divided into tribes
No idea of country or diversity
Rural culture of farmers, herders, and hunters
Worshipped Pagan Gods
Unwritten laws
-Trial by Ordeals- Judicial
practice of determining one’s
guilt by exposing them to
painful tasks

7. Trial By Ordeal
Monty Python- BBC- Crime and Punishment in Medieval England Top 10-

8. Invaders
Between A.D.- Barbarians terrorize European countryside and cities- The Germanic Tribes- Anglos, Franks, Visogoths, Ostrogoths, Saxons- divide up former Roman Empire
A.D.- Viking, Magyar, and Muslim Invasions contribute to the rise of the Feudal System

12. Forging ties with Kings
481 A.D. The pagan Frankish king Clovis united Frankish and German tribes in modern-day France
Converted to Christianity to unify his kingdom
Forged ties with the Pope- church and Kingdom worked together

14. Europe and The Muslim World
Islam appeared in 622 A.D.
Quickly spreads across the Byzantine Empire and weakening Christianity’s hold in Mid-East and North Africa
By 661 A.D. Muslim Armies threaten Europe
Causing Fear and Anxiety
Germanic Kings unite with Catholic Church, providing support for each other’s rule

15. Popes and Kings Unite Charles “The Hammer” Martel- 688-741
Defeats Muslim Invasion in Battle of Tours-732

16. Popes and Kings Unite Pepin the Short 714-768 Defeats Pagans in France
Charlemagne- Unites all of Europe in 800
Crowned by Pope
Leo III in 800 A.D. as
Holy Roman Emperor

17. Charles “The Hammer” Martel 688-741 A.D.
Founder of the Carolingian dynasty
Great Calvary General
Established Fiefs- granting lands to noblemen in exchange for knights and supplies for battle
Seized property of the church to pay for his army
Defeated the Moors- Muslims from Spain at the Battle of Tours in 732, one of the most important battles in history
Stops Muslim Invasion of Europe

18. Battle of Tours 732 A.D.

19. Pepin the Short 714-768 A.D. Son of Charles Martel
He was actually short!
Obtained support of the pope to claim the title of King of the Franks in 751 A.D.
In exchange he swore to protect the church and reclaim church territory seized by a pagan Germanic tribe called the Lombards who threatened to invade the church’s lands in Rome
Defeated the Lombards in 755 A.D.
Solidified bond between the Papacy and future Carolingian rulers

20. Charlemagne “Charles the Great”

21. Charlemagne (768-814 A.D.) “The Lebron James of Medieval Politics”
Son of Pepin the Short and grandson of Charles Martel
King of the Franks
6 ft 4 inches tall, he was restless, loud, and loved to hunt
He was a reformer and
believed the government
should be run properly by
educated individuals
Informal and gregarious, he
insisted on the presence
of his friends, even when
he bathed
Known as a practical joker
He had a good sense of humor and was hospitable to guests

22. Unifying Europe
At age 26 Charlemagne became king of the Franks.
Europe was in Turmoil
Determined to bring order, he launched a 30-year military campaign in 772
By 800, he was the undisputed ruler of Europe
Not seen since the Roman Empire, he revived the idea of uniting Europe under one form of government

24. Charlemagne’s Policies of Reform
Education- Supported education to strengthen his kingdom with literate workers and help spread Christianity
Government- Established the Missi Dominici or investigators to inspect governments and administer reforms and fight corruption within his kingdom
Law- Tried to reform courts by establishing the system of Trial by Panel, the precursor to our modern jury system, Trial by Jury
Trade- Re-instituted a form of standardized money by issuing silver coins for exchanging goods and to pay taxes
Religion- Helped spread Christianity and the idea of a united Christian community called Christendom

25. Charlemagne’s Legacy
In 800 A.D. he was crowned by Pope Leo III as the first Holy Roman Emperor
Worked closely with the Catholic church. Extended Christianity to Northern Europe and blended Germanic customs with Roman and Christian traditions
He kept and efficient government that later rulers would look to as an example

27.
ages-the-franks---clovis-part- i?m=528e394da93ae&s=undefined&f=1&free=false
0 to 13 min- fall of Rome
13 to 24 min- Clovis and Christianity, to ordeals
40 to 52 min- superstition, church, and Benedict
51 to 1:12 min – Martel to Charlemagne