1. Franks, Merovingians, Carolingians, Charlemagne
Years of Upheaval Between 400 and 600
-Germanic kingdoms replaced Roman provinces
-Continual wars changed borders between kingdoms
-The Church provided order and security
Concept of Government Changed
-Germans held together by family ties and loyalty, not government
-Small communities were governed by unwritten rules and traditions
-Germanic warriors pledged loyalty to their chief; live in lord’s hall

2. Franks, Merovingians, Carolingians, Charlemagne
Clovis Ruled the Franks
-Germanic people called Franks held power in Roman province of Gaul
-Clovis, leader of the Franks, converted to Christianity in 496
-Led army against other Germanic peoples, forced Christian conversion

3. Franks, Merovingians, Carolingians, Charlemagne
Clovis Ruled the Franks
-United Franks into one kingdom with Church’s help by 511

4. Franks, Merovingians, Carolingians, Charlemagne
Papal Power Expanded Under Gregory I, 590
-Church became secular—a political power
-Used Church money to raise armies, care for poor, negotiate treaties
-Established a Christendom—churchly kingdom fanning out from Rome

5. Franks, Merovingians, Carolingians, Charlemagne
Charles Martel Emerged
-Most powerful official in kingdom was mayor of the palace
-In 719, Charles Martel became more powerful than king
-Defeated Muslims from Spain at Tours in 732; became a Christian hero
-Son, Pepin, began Carolingian Dynasty—family that ruled 751–987

6. Franks, Merovingians, Carolingians, Charlemagne
Charlemagne Extended Frankish Rule
-Charlemagne’s armies reunited western Europe, spread Christianity
-800, Rome to protect Pope Leo III from mobs
-Pope crowned Charlemagne emperor; gave him title, “Roman Emperor”
-Germanic power, Church, heritage of Roman Empire now joined together

7. Franks, Merovingians, Carolingians, Charlemagne
Frankish kings allowed semi-independent government on the local level
Charlemagne guaranteed that nobility remained loyal:
1. Created a noblity base dependent upon the King—basis for army and leaders. Limited local autonomy.
2. Created a Carolingian “Civil Service.”

8. Franks, Merovingians, Carolingians, Charlemagne
Charlemagne guaranteed that nobility remained loyal:
3. Issued capitularies to disseminate orders and established the Missi Dominici (inspection teams to ensure all orders and edicts were be obeyed)
4. Established common currency matched to value of Muslim coinage to encourage trade and economic uniformity.

9. Franks, Merovingians, Carolingians, Charlemagne
Charlemagne guaranteed that nobility remained loyal:
5. Professionalized the Army; made it a standing army; conquered lands and then made the Army garrison and defend new lands.

10. Franks, Merovingians, Carolingians, Charlemagne
Promoted learning = Carolingian Renaissance, rebirth of learning and culture
-Renewed interest in Latin culture and classical works of the Greeks and Romans
-Charlemagne spent much time studying and invited noted scholars to his capital

11. Franks, Merovingians, Carolingians, Charlemagne
Promoted learning = Carolingian Renaissance, rebirth of learning and culture
-Ordered churches and monasteries to start schools
-Christian and classical manuscripts copied,
-Carolingian miniscule

12. Franks, Merovingians, Carolingians, Charlemagne

13. Franks, Merovingians, Carolingians, Charlemagne
Charlemagne’s Heirs
-Charlemagne died in 814; his son, Louis the Pious, ruled poorly
-Three grandsons fought for control of empire
-843 Treaty of Verdun divided empire into three kingdoms, Lothair-Italy, Charles the Bald-France, Louis-Germany

14. Franks, Merovingians, Carolingians, Charlemagne

15. Franks, Merovingians, Carolingians, Charlemagne