1. Middle Ages
Ch 13-14

2. Break up of Western Roman Empire
Section 1
Break up of Western Roman Empire
For hundreds of years, Europe is in shambles.
Barbarian groups invade and take over Europe
Franks, Visigoths, Ostrogoths
Bring new customs and political patterns
Age of Transition
400s to 1500 CE called the Middle Ages
End of the Classical Period
Beginning of the Modern World

4. The Franks Leave the most lasting impact in European History
Loosely organized Germanic tribes
Clovis = King of one of the Frankish tribes, 481 CE
Starts line of Merovingian leaders
Able military leader
Conquered and absorbed other Frankish tribes
Controlled all of northern Gaul
Christian, received support from the church
Also began to seize and rule southwestern Gaul
France
When he died, kingdom split between his sons
Kings that came afterwards were weak.

5. The Franks Pepin II – Ruled from 687 to 714 CE
“Mayor of the Palace” becomes real ruler over each kingdom, chief of royal household
Pepin II – Ruled from 687 to 714 CE
Him and successors united all Frankish Kingdoms.
Charles “the Hammer” Martel, CE
Defeated Spanish Moors
Halted Muslim advance in western Europe
But Muslim raids cont’d
Son Pepin III (the Short)
Co-rules after Charles death with brother Carolman

6. The Franks Pepin the Short overthrows last Merovingian ruler
Claims Frankish throne for himself
751 CE - Anointed king of the Franks
Starts Carolingian rule of Frankish leaders
Receives Pope’s confirmation
Strengthens legitimacy of dynasty
Pope’s blessing comes from God.
Continues throughout history
Obligation to the Church?
Pope asks for help with Lombards
Pepin defeats them, wins territory around Rome
Donation of Pepin = Creates Papal States

7. Charlemagne’s Empire
Charlemagne took over throne with Pepin the Shorts death
Ruled from 768 – 814 CE
Worked to build a “new Rome”
Devout Christian
Spreads Christian teachings
Brought civilization, order and learning to Europe
Spent much of his life at war
Tried to conquer all of Muslim Spain (Moors)
Failed, but forced them back across the Pyrenees
Gained small strip of territory – “Spanish March”
Creates a buffer zone between Muslims and Christians

8. Charlemagne’s Empire Pope Leo declared him “Emperor of the Romans”
Christmas Day, 800CE
Title indicates his importance to western Europe
United much of western Europe
first time in 400 years
Coronation shows close ties between Franks and Christian church
Was conscious of his position
Aimed to live up to image of a Roman emperor
Skilled as a warrior
Devotion to Christianity

9. Charlemagne’s Empire Government Empire divided into Regions
Governed by a Count – on Emperors behalf
Used “oaths of fidelity”
To ensure the Counts and other Carolingians officials ruled effectively
Appointed officials who help run his empire
Called “missi dominici “ or “the Lords messengers”
Travel empire to hear complaints and investigate official misconduct
Determine the effectiveness of laws
Direct representatives of Charlemagne
Power to make decisions

10. Charlemagne’s Empire Education He was not formally educated
But placed great value on education
Started school at palace for his children & young nobles
Studied grammar, rhetoric, logic, math, music, astronomy
Based on Roman model
Brought scholars together to produce a readable bible
Ordered bishops to create libraries
Could read, but not write.
Encouraged/Forced people to convert to Christianity

11. Decline of the Frankish Empire
Empire did not survive Charlemagne’s death in 814
Louis the Pious, Charlemagne’s son rules after death
Well educated, religious, but weak and short sided
Died in 840 CE
Empire divided between Louis’s sons
Lothair (Middle),
Charles the Bald (Western), and
Louis the German (Eastern)
Treaty became known as the Treaty of Verdun-843 CE
Fought amongst themselves, empire collasped.

12. Decline of the Frankish Empire
By mid 800’s it began to divide and collapse
Charlemagne's successors fought amongst themselves
By 870 the middle kingdom divided between eastern and western kingdom
Invasions of different people hindered the empire
Muslims from Africa invaded the Mediterranean coast
Slavs from the east raided central Europe
Nomadic Magyars settled in what is now Hungary
Terrorized Europe for about 50 years
Vikings from Scandinavia
No longer a large scale government
By 900’s most of Europe was governed by small, local, independent leaders, or local lords.
This is known as Feudalism

13. Rise of the Franks
With Papal support Charlemagne inherited Frankish throne
The Papal States were created.
Pépin III was crowned; Carolingian rule began.
Charles Martel defeated the Spanish Moors
Pépin II and his successors united the Frankish kingdoms.
Franks seized and ruled southwestern Gaul (now France)
Clovis became ruler of Frankish tribes

14. Fill in the blank
1. The medieval period of European development is also known as the ___ _.
2. Pépin III’s coronation established the __, a new line of Frankish rulers.
3. A gift of land to the pope called the Donation of Pépin created the _ __.
4. Charlemagne’s “new Rome” centered on what is now _ __ and Germany.
5. Charlemagne appointed the _ _ , or “lord’s messengers” to help him govern the empire