1. Chapter 13
EUROPEAN MIDDLE AGES

2. Section 1 – Germanic Kingdoms Unite Under Charlemagne
The gradual decline of the Roman Empire ushered in an era of European History called the Middle Ages – spanning from 500 – 1500
Invasions Trigger Changes in Western Europe
Different Germanic groups over-ran western Europe ushering in changes in government, economy and Trade
Disruption of Trade – invasion from land and sea caused business to collapse and breakdown of trade
Downfall of cities – With the Collapse of the Roman Empire, cities became abandoned
Population Shifts - Nobles retreated to rural areas, city dwellers fled to the countryside and grew their own food, population of western Europe became mostly Rural

3. The Decline of Learning
German invaders were illiterate
Learning among citizens sank sharply
Only Church officials were literate
German tribes had a rich oral history with songs a legends
Loss of a Common Language
German-speaking people mixed with Roman population Latin began to change
Different dialects developed, French and Spanish evolved from Latin

4. Germanic Kingdoms Emerge
Germanic Kingdoms replaced old Roman provinces, borders changing constantly
The Church was the only institution that survived the fall of the Roman empire, providing order and security
The Concepts of Government Changes
Family ties and personal loyalty, rather than citizenship bound the Germanic people
Governed by unwritten rules and traditions
Germanic chiefs had warriors who pledged loyalty to him, they willingly died for a chief the respected, no obligation to a king or officials sent by the king
In the province of Gaul, a Germanic people, The Franks held power, their leader Clovis would bring Christianity to the ppl

5. The Franks Under Clovis
Clovis’s wife urged him to convert to her faith
Under the stress of battle he appealed to the Christian God
The Church in Rome welcomed his conversion and supported his military campaigns
He united the Franks under one kingdom
Clovis’s alliance with the Church marked the beginning of a special partnership of powerful forces

6. Germanic Peoples Adopt Christianity
Politics played a key role in spreading Christianity
By 600, with the help of Frankish rulers, The Church had converted many Germanic people
Missionaries risking their lives to advance their faith
In southern Europe, attacks by Muslims caused many to convert as well

7. Monasteries and Converts
Church built religious communities called monasteries
Monks and nuns ran these monasteries
520 – Benedict wrote a book that set practical guidelines for Monks and Nuns to follow
Devoted their lived to prayer and good works
Gregory I Expands Papal Power
590 Gregory I became Pope, broadened the authority of the papacy
Papacy became secular,
He used church revenues to raise armies, repair roads , and help the poor
Strengthened the vision of Christendom – the spiritual kingdom
The idea of a Churchly Kingdom would be a central theme throughout the middle Ages

8. A European Empire Evolves
As the Roman Empire dissolved, small kingdoms sprang up everywhere
England split up into seven different kingdoms
The Franks controlled the largest, All of France
Clovis’s descendants
700 – the Major Domo, or mayor, of the palace ruled the kingdom
Charles Martel, mayor in 719, extended the Franks reign to the north, south and east
Defeated a Muslim raiding party from Spain at the Battle of Tours
Held great significant for Christians, he became a Christian hero

9. Setting up the Carolingian Dynasty – 751 – 987
After Martel’s death his son Pepin the Short took power and was anointed Pepin “King by the grace of God”
Setting up the Carolingian Dynasty – 751 – 987
Charlemagne Extends Frankish Rule
Pepin the Short died in 768
His two sons took power
After his older brothers death Charlemagne took control of the entire kingdom

10. Charlemagne Take Center Stage
Charlemagne build a great empire
He fought Muslims in Spain and Germanic tribes
Conquered new lands in the south and east
He helped spread Christianity
He reunited western Europe for the first time since the Roman Empire
800 – He traveled to Rome to crush an unruly mob attacking the Pope
Pope Leo III crowned him emperor in return
Claimed the right to confer the title “Roman Emperor”
Even signaled the joined of Germanic power and the Church

11. Charlemagne’s Government
Strengthened his power by limiting the authority of the nobles
Made sure landowners governed justly
Regularly visited various parts of his kingdom
Cultural Revival
Charlemagne great accomplishment was that he encouraged learning
Ordered monasteries to open schools to train future monks and priests
Monasteries expanded their libraries

12. Charlemagne's Heirs Are Weak Rulers
Crowned his son, Louis the Pious, heir to his kingdom
Proved an infective leader
Louis’s sons fought each other and his death and set off a civil war – Ended with the treaty of Verdun that divided Charlemagne Empire into three kingdoms
Carolingian kings lost power and the lack of strong leaders lead to a new system of governing and landholding