1. Charlemagne and the Early Middle Ages

2. The Early Middle Ages Began with the crowning of Charles the Great on Christmas Day AD 800 Began with the crowning of Charles the Great on Christmas Day AD 800 Rebellion in eyes of Byzantine court Rebellion in eyes of Byzantine court Marked revival of Roman Empire in West Marked revival of Roman Empire in West

3. Charlemagne as king Modified and adapted classic Roman ideas Modified and adapted classic Roman ideas Rule was feudal Rule was feudal Hierarchy of landholding Hierarchy of landholding Bureaucratic system required literacy amongst the civil servants Bureaucratic system required literacy amongst the civil servants Need for education Need for education Charlemagne acted as a successful diplomat Charlemagne acted as a successful diplomat Protection granted to Christian holy places in Muslim-held Palistine Protection granted to Christian holy places in Muslim-held Palistine Stabilized currency of his kingdom Stabilized currency of his kingdom Silver denier standard coin of time Silver denier standard coin of time

4. Education and Charlemagne Opened the “palace school” at Aachen Opened the “palace school” at Aachen Prime factor in initiating the Carolingian Renaissance Prime factor in initiating the Carolingian Renaissance Wished to establish a system of education for the young Wished to establish a system of education for the young Charlemagne himself could not write Charlemagne himself could not write

5. Education cont’d Hired scholars, most importantly, Alcuin of York Hired scholars, most importantly, Alcuin of York Trained under Venerable Bede Trained under Venerable Bede Most prominent intellectual of the day Most prominent intellectual of the day United humane letters and Biblical scholarship United humane letters and Biblical scholarship Later courses of study known as the trivium and the quadrivium came from Alcuin’s plans Later courses of study known as the trivium and the quadrivium came from Alcuin’s plans

6. Education cont’d Writing done on wax tablets Writing done on wax tablets Work studied by Cicero, Euclid, Aristotle, and Pliny Work studied by Cicero, Euclid, Aristotle, and Pliny Believed that all learning would lead to a better grasp of the revealed truth—Bible Believed that all learning would lead to a better grasp of the revealed truth—Bible System of schools developed throughout Frankish Empire System of schools developed throughout Frankish Empire

7. Charlemagne’s Palace at Aachen Desire to model kingdom on ancient Rome Desire to model kingdom on ancient Rome Long one-story building with a royal hall stretching 140 by 60 feet Long one-story building with a royal hall stretching 140 by 60 feet Plain on outside/Grand on the inside Plain on outside/Grand on the inside Even impressed Byzantine delegates Even impressed Byzantine delegates Open courtyard and outbuildings surrounded the palace Open courtyard and outbuildings surrounded the palace All building destroyed except the chapel All building destroyed except the chapel

8. Palace cont’d Royal hall joined the chapel through a long wooden gallery Royal hall joined the chapel through a long wooden gallery Chapel build around AD 795 Chapel build around AD 795 Central plan in the shape of an octagon Central plan in the shape of an octagon Modeled off of the Church of San Vitale in Ravenna Modeled off of the Church of San Vitale in Ravenna Exterior of church plain/Interior rich mosaics and frescoes Exterior of church plain/Interior rich mosaics and frescoes

11. Palace cont’d Mosaics were destroyed Mosaics were destroyed Present mosaics are copies Present mosaics are copies Chapel contained two objects of importance Chapel contained two objects of importance Charlemagne’s throne Charlemagne’s throne Saint Martin of Tours’ cape Saint Martin of Tours’ cape

13. Art and Charlemagne Focus of artwork tied closely to education Focus of artwork tied closely to education Emphasis on book covers and manuscripts Emphasis on book covers and manuscripts Manuscripts made of parchment dyed purple with letters painted in gold and silver Manuscripts made of parchment dyed purple with letters painted in gold and silver Distinct Byzantine flair Distinct Byzantine flair Also used Ivory carving Also used Ivory carving Distinctively Byzantine Distinctively Byzantine