1. Unit 5 The Middle Ages
Lesson - Charlemagne

2. Day 1 Aim: How should Charlemagne be remembered?
Do Now: What do you think would happen to American society if the entire United States government collapsed? Would things go on as usual? If not, what would change? Write your answer  Turn & Talk
NY State Standards 2
Common Core Standards RS 5, 7, 9, WS 1, 4, 8

3. I What were the Middle Ages?
A) In 476 CE the Roman Empire fell in Western Europe. Without a centralized government, people fled from the cities to the country. Literacy and trade fell. B) Historians refer to the years between 476 CE and the Renaissance (the rebirth of Western Europe) as the middle Ages. C) However, at the same time that Western Europe was in the middle ages, the eastern half of the Roman Empire continued as the Byzantine Empire, and the Islamic world was experiencing a Golden Age.
476 CE Rome in Western Europe fell
Western Europe was in the middle Ages
15-16th centuries
Western Europe “woke up” to the Renaissance

4. The Development of Latin
In the Middle Ages, Latin developed into early forms of the Romance languages that we are familiar with today; French, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, and Romanian. Languages that are spoken every day are known as vernacular.
Latin
French
Spanish
Romanian
Italian
Portuguese

6. II Charlemagne and the Holy Roman Empire
A) After the “fall” of western Rome, small Germanic kingdoms took over Western Europe. Loyalty to local chiefs. B) Charlemagne was a leader of the Franks, a Germanic tribe. He tried to rebuild the Roman Empire. 782 Charlemagne ordered the slaughter of 4,500 Saxons (pagan Germans). He forced the Saxons to convert to Christianity or be put to death.

7. Charlemagne’s Holy Roman Empire Continued…
C) He created the strongest government since Rome; conquered what is today France and Germany. D) Carolingian Renaissance: Charlemagne built schools. Subjects were taught in Latin, and scholars copied (preserving) ancient Greek and Roman texts.

8. 1725 statue of Charlemagne, St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome.

9. Group Activity Day 1 Go to your assigned group.
In your group you will close read and annotate your assigned Primary source document.
You will answer all questions for your document on the handout.
On your LARGE chart paper, list at least 4 important facts about Charlemagne (based on the document) AND how your group feels he should be remembered.

10. Closing Day 1
Group Share: Each group will share out the answers to their assigned question in a jigsaw pattern.
Exit Slip Question: Do you think Charlemagne was a fair ruler? Why or why not?
Homework: Do you think Charlemagne was a fair ruler? Why or why not?

11. Charlemagne’s Holy Roman Empire Continued…
E) He tried to conquer the Moors (Spanish Muslims) but failed. He DID force them across the Pyrenees [mountains that separate Spain & France]. *Created a buffer zone between Christian and Muslim Europe. F) Christmas Day 800 CE Pope Leo III crowned Charlemagne and declared him “Emperor of the Romans”. His Empire became known as the Holy Roman Empire. Pope Leo III did this to form an alliance with Charlemagne against the Byzantine Empire, and as a thank you for Charlemagne’s military & financial support.

13. Primary Source on Charlemagne by Einhard, His Friend
He [Charlemagne] most zealously [enthusiastically] cultivated [nurtured] the liberal arts… and conferred great honors upon them... The King spent much time and labor with him studying rhetoric [the art of public speaking]… and especially astronomy… and used to investigate the motions of the heavenly bodies most curiously, with an intelligent scrutiny [examination]. He also tried to write, and used to keep tablets and blanks in bed under his pillow, that at leisure hours he might accustom his hand to form the letters; however, as he did not begin his efforts in due season, but late in life, they met with ill success.

14. III After Charlemagne’s Death
A) After Charlemagne died in 814, his empire began to decline. In 843, his grandsons signed the Treaty of Verdun that divided up his empire. B) Soon after the Empire lost power due to Muslims and Viking invasions. C) The Holy Roman Empire was revived by Otto I in 962 CE. It lasted until 1806!

15. IV Charlemagne’s Legacy
He did not succeed in reconquering all of the former Roman Empire.
He did create a Carolingian Renaissance; a bright spot within the middle ages.
His crowning by the Pope cemented ties but also spurred conflict of power between the Holy Roman Emperor and the Church.
Charlemagne’s
Church
at Aachen

16. Group Activity Day 2 Return to your assigned group.
Each group will share out with the class.
As the other groups present, take notes! You will need these to help you complete the required synthesis.

17. Closing Day 2
Group Share: Each group will share out the answers to their assigned question in a jigsaw pattern.
Exit Slip Question: What was the Carolingian Renaissance?
Homework: Complete the synthesis from the handout. “Using evidence from at least 2 of the documents and your knowledge of global history, how do you think Charlemagne should be remembered?”

18. Key Vocabulary/Word Wall
Buffer Zone Carolingians Carolingian Renaissance Charlemagne Franks Holy Roman Empire Moors Pepin III Pope Leo III Romance Languages Treaty of Verdun Vernacular