Chapter 7: Early Middle Ages Chapter 7: Early Middle Ages (751-1100)(751-1100)

1. INTRODUCTION1. INTRODUCTION

The Merovingians were replaced in 751 by the The Merovingians were replaced in 751 by the CarolingiansCarolingians, from the kingdom of , from the kingdom of AustrasiaAustrasia. T. Their most famous king was Charles the Great (heir most famous king was Charles the Great (CCharlemagneharlemagne) who later almost doubled the territ) who later almost doubled the territory ruled by the Franks. His empire, after his deory ruled by the Franks. His empire, after his death, however, weakened & ath, however, weakened & fell apartfell apart. His desce. His descendants continued many of his projects but were ndants continued many of his projects but were unable to maintain his empire any longer. unable to maintain his empire any longer.

Charlemagne, or Charles the Great, was among the greatest of military leaders in the Middle Ages. He conquered much of western and central Europe. As king, Charlemagne revived the political and cultural life that had disappeared with the fall of the Western Roman Empire four centuries before.

2.THE EMPIRE OF CHARLEMAGNE2.THE EMPIRE OF CHARLEMAGNE (768-814)(768-814)

A.A. Creation and Administration of the EmpireCreation and Administration of the Empire

Charlemagne's empire  of the Charlemagne's empire  of the Atlantic OceanAtlantic Ocean & the & the North SeaNorth Sea was gained by military might was gained by military might & maintained through & maintained through centralized centralized administrationadministration, personal loyalties, , personal loyalties, bishops and other important bishops and other important churchmenchurchmen. . Carolingian rulers, each of whom was Carolingian rulers, each of whom was anointed by a bishop on taking the throne, anointed by a bishop on taking the throne, listened to the Pope in Vatican, Rome and saw listened to the Pope in Vatican, Rome and saw themselves as themselves as ruling "by the grace of Godruling "by the grace of God."."

Charlemagne's Empire in 800Under the rule of Pepin the Short and his son Charlemagne, the Carolingians of the 8th and 9th centuries conquered vast territories and combined large portions of western Europe into a single unit. In 800 Pope Leo III crowned Charlemagne emperor of the Empire of the West, a region later known as the Holy Roman Empire. coronation.

2.THE EMPIRE OF CHARLEMAGNE2.THE EMPIRE OF CHARLEMAGNE

B.B. Revival of the Western Empire Revival of the Western Empire

WhenWhen In 800, the pope placed the crown on In 800, the pope placed the crown on his head, the first emperor from 475, his head, the first emperor from 475, Charlemagne desired to be an Charlemagne desired to be an Christian Christian emperoremperor instead of a Roman emperor. instead of a Roman emperor. In 1254, when the emperor's power fell to the In 1254, when the emperor's power fell to the bottom & every king became an emperor in his bottom & every king became an emperor in his own kingdom, the title own kingdom, the title Holy Roman EmpireHoly Roman Empire (- (-1806) was created. It covered central Europe 1806) was created. It covered central Europe & Germany today without Italy. & Germany today without Italy.

Charlemagne and the PopeThe Frankish king Charlemagne was a devout Catholic who maintained a close relationship with the papacy throughout his life. In 772, when Pope Adrian I was threatened by invaders, the king rushed to Rome to provide assistance. Shown here, the pope asks Charlemagne for help at a meeting near Rome.

2.THE EMPIRE OF CHARLEMAGNE2.THE EMPIRE OF CHARLEMAGNE

C.C. Unity and DiversityUnity and Diversity

Charlemagne saw Charlemagne saw ChristianityChristianity as the key factor as the key factor unifying the empire. When he forced the tribes unifying the empire. When he forced the tribes conquered to be conquered to be baptizedbaptized, any who returned to , any who returned to their old religions were their old religions were executedexecuted. The Empire . The Empire consisted of many different regions, each with consisted of many different regions, each with its own language, customs, and laws, different its own language, customs, and laws, different from the practice in Christian worship, so little from the practice in Christian worship, so little unity was achieved as Charlemagne expected.unity was achieved as Charlemagne expected.

Anglo-Saxon ChronicleConsidered the primary source for English history between the 10th and 12th centuries, the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle also contains earlier examples of prose. This page depicts Charlemagne, king of the Franks in the late 8th century, killing the heathen Saxons.

3.THECAROLINGIAN RENAISSANCE3.THECAROLINGIAN RENAISSANCE

The purposeThe purpose: to create an orderly and unified : to create an orderly and unified Christian empire, Christian empire, ReviveRevive wisdom of Roman wisdom of Roman writers; writers; with with Christian literature and learning; Christian literature and learning; create create new works of art and literature; new works of art and literature;

The legacyThe legacy: important : important Christian textsChristian texts provided: the Vulgate Bible, chants for the provided: the Vulgate Bible, chants for the Mass, & the Benedictine Rule followed by Mass, & the Benedictine Rule followed by monasteries. Its scholars' writings as a solid monasteries. Its scholars' writings as a solid foundation for the schools and universities in foundation for the schools and universities in 1100s to develop. 1100s to develop.

The Palatine Chapel of CharlemagneCharlemagne’s palace at Aachen, Germany, built about 792-805, is one of the finest examples of Carolingian architecture. The most dramatic part of the structure is the 16-sided Palatine chapel, shown here.

Monk in a ScriptoriumMany of the books used for education in medieval Europe were reproduced by monks. They diligently copied entire texts in a monastery room called a scriptorium, which was designed for this purpose.

Portrait of Saint MatthewThis is a page from the illuminated manuscript known as the Ebbo Gospels (about 816-835). It depicts Saint Matthew writing his gospel account, and is a good example of the use of portraits of authors in illuminated manuscripts that was popular in the early Middle Ages.

4.THECAROLINGIAN ECONOMY4.THECAROLINGIAN ECONOMY

A. A. Land Use and Agricultural PracticesLand Use and Agricultural Practices

The economy was largely based on land. Large The economy was largely based on land. Large estates were organized into estates were organized into manorsmanors, which had , which had two parts: one belonging to the two parts: one belonging to the lordlord and one to and one to the the peasantspeasants. The peasants were dependents of . The peasants were dependents of the lord, farming both parts, and owed the lord the lord, farming both parts, and owed the lord labor on his land, and dues and other services. labor on his land, and dues and other services.

B. B. TradeTrade

marketsmarkets held/silver held/silver coinscoins minted for commerce minted for commerce

Serfdom in the Middle AgesDuring the Middle Ages in Europe, peasants became legally bound to live and work in one place in servitude to wealthy landowners. In return for working the land of the owner, known as the lord, these peasants, called serfs, received a crude house, a small adjoining plot of ground, a share of the surrounding fields, some farm animals, and protection from outlaws and other lords. The serf gave part of his own crop to the lord as payment of rent and was subject to many other payment obligations and taxes. Serfdom differed from slavery because serfs had the right to own property, could not be sold, and could theoretically purchase their freedom from their lords.

Gathering HoneyThe women shown here is harvesting honey from beehives in the 15th century. During the Middle Ages, families that had the resources to do so often kept bees. Bees and beehives were an important source of honey, which was used as a sweetener and to ferment to make mead, an alcoholic beverage. The beeswax was used to make candles.

5.THE 5.THE BREAKUP OF THE EMPIREBREAKUP OF THE EMPIRE

A. A. InvasionInvasion

In 800s, the empire met invasions by Muslims, In 800s, the empire met invasions by Muslims, Magyars &Vikings. The Magyars &Vikings. The MuslimsMuslims were finally  were finally thrown out of their strongholds in France and thrown out of their strongholds in France and southern Italy. The southern Italy. The Magyars Magyars were defeated in were defeated in 955 and settled down in today’s Hungary. The 955 and settled down in today’s Hungary. The VikingsVikings settled Normandy. settled Normandy. ScandinaviaScandinavia itself itself was drawn into Europe as its people mingled was drawn into Europe as its people mingled with Europeans and converted to Christianity.with Europeans and converted to Christianity.

Routes of the VikingsThe Vikings were both a warrior and farming society from the region now known as Scandinavia. They were also seafaring explorers who sailed beyond their homelands not only to raid, but also to build settlements in other parts of the world. The Danish Vikings went south toward Germany, France, England, Spain, and into regions on the northwestern Mediterranean coast. Swedish Vikings went to eastern Europe, while the Norwegians sailed to Greenland and North America.

Viking Raiding PartyViking ships, because of their shallow draft, were able to successfully navigate rivers and streams that many other vessels could not. This allowed the Vikings to raid settlements far upriver from the sea, settlements that frequently were not prepared for an attack from the water.

5.THE 5.THE BREAKUP OF THE EMPIREBREAKUP OF THE EMPIRE

B. B. Consequences InvasionConsequences Invasion

B1. B1. EnglandEngland

Alfred and his successors pushed out most of Alfred and his successors pushed out most of the Vikings and the Vikings and unifyunify England. England.

B2. B2. FranceFrance

The king unable to mobilize his forces to fight The king unable to mobilize his forces to fight the Viking raids; local dukes organized their the Viking raids; local dukes organized their own regional defenses. France own regional defenses. France fragmentedfragmented into into small, nearly independent small, nearly independent principalities.principalities.

5.THE 5.THE BREAKUP OF THE EMPIREBREAKUP OF THE EMPIRE

C. C. Social ChangeSocial Change

Most peasants as half-free Most peasants as half-free serfsserfs, owed dues & , owed dues & services to the local strong man; warriors as an services to the local strong man; warriors as an elite of elite of knightsknights; a hereditary social system of ; a hereditary social system of lords, vassals, and fiefs, lords, vassals, and fiefs, feudalism,feudalism, took shape took shape in certain principalities and later in kingdoms.in certain principalities and later in kingdoms.

D.D. Changes in the Church Changes in the Church

Churches became part of governmental system; Churches became part of governmental system; bishops served as governors & spiritual leaders.bishops served as governors & spiritual leaders.

← Weapons of Medieval WarfareDuring the Middle Ages, warriors in Europe developed into an elite class of knights. Living under the threat of invasions from foreigners, the people of Europe also developed a different kind of weaponry. Mounted warriors, known as cavalry, could move quickly and strike hard with axes, pikes, lances, and two-edged swords longer than those used by men on foot. →