Early Middle Ages

Germans 300 -550 AD Had Roman culture but kept

most of their own Made living herding cattle &

farming Believed in hospitality Law came from the people German men = warriors

(fighting, hunting, making weapons) Divided into clans with family ties Chieftain – a military leader whom

Germans gave loyalty to

Goth Conquerors Ostrogoths (East) and Visigoths (West) Huns conquered East Goths and Western Goths

went to Roman Empire Visigoths rebelled against Romans and captured

Rome and drove Vandals out of Spain Vandals went to N. Africa 550 Roman Empire faded to 6 German kingdoms

The Franks 400 – 843 AD Lived along Rhine River (modern day France

& Germany) Clovis (481): united all Franks under one rule

w/ Pope support Spoke form of Latin which turned to French Set capital in Paris

Charles Martel “The Hammer” Reunited all Frankish nobles w/

Church support Battle of Tours (732)

Defeated Arabs & Berbers (Muslims) Led Christianity to survive in west

instead of Islam

Pepin (Martel’s son) 1st Frankish king anointed by holy

oil Fought the Lombards in Italy

Gave land in Central Italy to the Pope

Charlemagne - 768 Goals: Have all of W. Europe in his rule & become

Christian Fought Wars:

Lombards in Italy Saxons (N. Germany) Muslims (Pyrenees Mtns.)

800: Pope anointed him new Christian/Roman Emperor Believed in education

Copied manuscripts Used lower case letters Arts began to blossom

Collapse Charlemagne’s

grandsons take over Too weak to rule so

nobles take control Treaty of Verdun (843)

Lothair: North Sea to Italian peninsula

Louis: East (Present Germany)

Charles: West (Present day French)