1. Charlemagne Unites Germanic Kingdoms

2. The end of the Roman Empire (476 AD); the end of classical antiquity
The Middle Ages or medieval period (500 – 1500 AD)
The Renaissance and the beginning of modern history

3. Roots of the Middle Ages
The classical heritage of Rome
The beliefs of the Roman Catholic Church
The customs of various Germanic tribes

4. Invasions of Western Europe
Repeated invasions and constant warfare in the western half of the Roman Empire led to major changes:
Breakdown of trade
Downfall of cities; population becomes mostly rural
Decline of learning
Loss of a common language; Latin no longer part of everyday speech; new languages evolved

5. Germanic Kingdoms Emerge
400 – 600 AD, small Germanic kingdoms replaced provinces of the Roman Empire
Government changed from the public government and written laws of Rome to the family ties and personal loyalties of Germanic society
No orderly government for large territories

6. Clovis Rules the Franks
Franks held power in what is present-day France
Led by Clovis
Converted to Christianity
United all Franks into one kingdom

8. Germans Adopt Christianity
By 600, many Germanic people converted to Christianity
Church built monasteries, religious communities where monks and nuns lived
Monks opened schools, maintained libraries, and copied books, partially preserving the learning of Rome.
Pope Gregory expanded power of the papacy (Pope’s office)
Church became a secular (worldly) power involved in politics

9. Illuminated manuscripts, made by monks, were copies of religious writings decorated with ornate letters and brilliant pictures.

10. An Empire Evolves
Europe was made up many small kingdoms, of which the Franks were the largest and strongest
Charles Martel led Franks in early 700s, expanded their territory and defeating Muslim raiders at the Battle of Tours in 732
Became a Christian hero
His son began the Carolingian Dynasty which ruled until 987.

11. Charlemagne Becomes Emperor
Martel’s grandson, Charlemagne, built the Frankish empire into the largest empire since Rome
Spread Christianity
Reunited western Europe
Pope made him “emperor”

14. Charlemagne Leads a Revival
Charlemagne strengthened his power by limiting the power of nobles
Encouraged education by ordering monasteries to open schools to train future monks and priests
After his death, Charlemagne’s sons divided the Empire into three kingdoms
Led to breakdown of strong, central government
Resulted in a new system called feudalism