Carolingian Dynastyand

The Vikings

Unit 12

Origins?

• Franks (German barbarians)• Clovis: 481-511 Merovingian

-Defeated the Gauls and other German tribes– Became a Christian!

Charles Martel

Fought for and won control after death of father Clovis

Charles Martel

Fought for and won control after death of father Clovis

• “Charles the Hammer”• United Franks to defend against the Muslims

Successors of Charles Martel

• Pepin First heir to Carolingian• Sons ruled after him: Carloman & Charlemagne

Charlemagne

Empire: conquests

Charlemagne

Combined France with Germany Italy and the Netherlands

Supported the church (forced those defeated to convert or die!)

800: Pope Leo III made him Holy Roman Emperor

Title Holy Roman Emperor

• Protection from pope• Didn’t thrill other Christian Kingdoms• Acknowledged his domination of Europe

Administration

• Autocracy– Missi domini: Team of 2: one secular one church

– Capitularies: these rulings tell a lot about agriculture, life and industry (hint: leaning toward feudalism)

Love of Education

• Illiterate himself, he followed Carolingian tradition of having intellectual court:

• Scholars at Aachen: – Paul the deacon: Italy– Theodolphus: German– Alcuin: Saxon monk, started schools

Carolingian Renaissance

Division of Empire

Threats to the empire

Northmen

• “From the fury of the Northmen, good Lord, deliver us!”

– Prayer in litany of 9th century Monks

Vikings

• Pirates from the Scandanavian Penninsula and surrounding areas

– Good seamen– First sheltered from Romans by the sea– Then the sea provided route to plunder Europe

Longboats

• Features

Longboats

• Features– Open– Flat bottomed– Makes for quick raid ability

Viking incursions (red)

In general-Norwegians: went westward-

Viking incursions (red)

In general-Norwegians: went westward-Danes: British Isles

Viking incursions (red)

In general-Norwegians: went westward-Danes: British Isles-Swedes: Russia

In Europe

In England

In Russia

Pros and ConsPros Cons

Pros and ConsPros Cons

Plundered riches of medieval Europe

Pros and ConsPros Cons

Plundered riches of medieval EuropeDestroyed monastic learning centers

Pros and ConsPros Cons

Helped to define European nationality by paving the way for 1) Unified England2) The nations of France and GermanyWere able to assimilate into culture and

add “vigorous blood” to those societies

Interested in Trade, revitilization of commerce!

Plundered riches of medieval EuropeDestroyed monastic learning centers

Vikings

• Get a good rap!