1. Western Europe after Rome’s Fall
The Rise of the Franks and Charlemagne

2. Barbarian Invasions: Rome’s Fall
On Rome’s Frontier there were many growing tribes
Goths, Visigoths, Ostrogoths, Vandals, Lombards, Burgundians, Franks, Anglos, Saxons, and Huns
Rome considered these people “Barbarians”: Not Roman
A more accurate title would be Germanic Tribes
As the Huns pushed in from the East, the other Germanic tribes were forced to press westward into the Roman Empire
After a period of invasions culminating in Rome’s fall, the Germanic tribes established their own kingdoms in many parts of the former Roman Empire

3. Europe: Dark Ages
The constant warfare of this period disrupted trade across Europe
Bridges & roads fell apart
Cities & towns were abandoned
Bandits roamed freely
Life became increasingly rural, unsafe, and war based
Shortages of food grew
Technology was lost and innovation diminished
Churches and monasteries became the only places where people could read and write

4. Rise of the Franks
The Franks established the largest of the new Germanic Kingdoms in what is now France
Charles Martel helped unite the Franks
In 732, at the Battle of Tours, Martel stopped the advance of Islam from Spain to France, thus ensuring that Europe would have a Christian heritage, rather than Islamic
Charles Martel became known as “The Hammer”

5. Frankish Empire
In 751, after Martel’s death, his son, Pepin, seized power
With the Pope’s support, Pepin marched across the Alps and took control of Northern Italy
Frankish Kings created a powerful army by:
Granting lands to nobles in exchange for service in the king’s army with their knights
Pepin’s son Charlemagne became king in 768

6. Charlemagne: The Carolingian Empire
Seeds of Feudalism develop under Charlemagne
Gave land to his nobles in exchange for loyalty and service
Nobles gave land to their knights in exchange for loyalty and service
Peasants gave up rights to local lords in exchange for security. They offered services such as providing firewood, livestock, and crops
Charlemagne’s Empire grew to include modern day France, Germany, Holland, Belgium, and northern Italy
He made Aachen his new capital, where he constructed a beautiful palace in imitation of Rome’s
He used riches from his conquests to attract scholars to teach the children of nobility

8. Charlemagne: Christianity
At the request of the Pope, Charlemagne was crowned “Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire” in 800.
This announced to the world that Western Europe was now independent from the Byzantine emperor
The coronation of Charlemagne also signified the new political and religious unity of Western Europe under Christendom
Charlemagne’s empire would be divided amongst his sons

10. Europe gets Darker: Dark Ages
The division of Charlemagne’s empire occurred simultaneously with the influx of new European threats
From the east Slavs & Magyars invade Germany, France, and Italy
From the South Muslims attacked Southern Italy
The greatest threat came from the Vikings in Northern Europe
Between 800 and 1000 the Vikings launched many brutal assaults on Western Europe
They spread fear and destruction, but also established new trade routes
Their highly adaptable longboats were a key to their success

11. World View of the Middle Ages
Respect for education diminished greatly in the Middle Ages
The church was the source of all knowledge and scientific advancement was not emphasized.
This led to an interesting world view
Peasants were often ignorant, leaving them open to manipulation.

12. Chain of Being: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ABFzE9Stc0