1. The Early Middle Ages

2. Before we begin… B.C/A.D B.C.E/C.E
There is a prize for the first person who can WRITE out the long form of these abbreviations.
B.C/A.D
B.C.E/C.E

3. Before we begin… B.C/A.D = Before Christ/After Death
There is a prize for the first person who can WRITE out the long form of these abbreviations.
B.C/A.D = Before Christ/After Death
B.C.E/C.E = Before Common Era/Common Era

4. Why do you think this was a good place to have an Empire?
The Roman Empire
Why do you think this was a good place to have an Empire?

5. Who learnt about the Roman Empire in Elementary school
Who learnt about the Roman Empire in Elementary school? What can you remember?
Things we know about the Romans…

6. Who learnt about the Romans in Elementary school? What can you remember?
Things we know about the Romans…
They copied ancient Greek art and architecture
Built the Roman Colosseum, beautiful buildings, and roads
Many people learnt to read and write
Developed a system of law.
Some are the same today! Eg. The right to a fair trial.
They used taxes and slaves as a way to control the people
Spent lots of money on Entertainment such as gladiator fights.
Women/Non-Romans/Slaves had NO rights (think back to last day!)

7. Life in the Roman Empire – Stations!

8. Today we’ll look at two empires: Merovingian and Carolingian

9. Look on page 21 of your text
Look on page 21 of your text. Find three interesting facts about the Franks

10. The Franks (*means free)
Ancient Rome broke up
Germanic people moved into the area – one of these groups was the Franks
Took over Gaul (now called France)
They were farmers that loved to fight!
Loved Jewelry
Wore their hair long

11. The Merovingian's
The Merovingian royal family ruled the Franks for over 300 years
The most successful ruler (Clovis I) founded France and made Paris the capital
When Clovis died his kingdom was given to his children. They were not great leaders.
Can you guess what happened?

12. The Merovingian's
The Merovingian royal family ruled the Franks for over 300 years
The most successful ruler (Clovis I) founded France and made Paris the capital
When Clovis died his kingdom was given to his children. They were not great leaders.
Can you guess what happened?
Many became greedy and murdered their family members to become more powerful

13. Page 22 – look at the crime vs punishment
The Laws of the Franks
The Franks had their own legal code (different to Roman law)
These were written down and collected (called the Salic code)
Salic Code
Said that everything and person had a value
Eg. If a person was injured the individual who hurt them would pay a fine
If a murder took place, the victims family could request death of the murderer instead of a fine
Page 22 – look at the crime vs punishment

14. Everyday life among the Franks
The Franks had social classes – some very rich and some very poor
The poor were called ‘serfs’
Not slaves
But were dependent on the wealthy for jobs
However, the lords and rulers sometimes stole the crops that the serfs

15. Charlemagne (Charles the Great)
Came to power in Western Europe in 768 –
Was smart and powerful
Created the Carolingian Empire
Son of ‘Pepin the short’
Pepin became king after overtaking the Merovingian kingdom
Governed his empire in Aachen (now Germany)

16. Charlemagne (Charles the Great)
Charlemagne wanted to rebuild the civilization
Tried to ensure people were treated properly
Made laws that were more equal for everyone (benefitted the serfs)

17. Charlemagne’s Renaissance
Improved education
Had many stone churches and palaces built in France and Germany
Loved science and literature
Died at 72 (Ruled for 47 years)
Remember the Romans also thought education was important?

18. Define and Answer: Merovingian Royal Family Carolingian Empire
Social class
Plague
Renaissance
Questions on page 27
1, 3 and 5