How might the study of medieval How might the study of medieval Europe affect our thinking about the Europe affect our thinking about the world today? In other words, why do world today? In other words, why do we study medieval Europe? Why we study medieval Europe? Why does it even matter?does it even matter?

A New Western A New Western EmpireEmpire

Refer to Pages 185-192Refer to Pages 185-192

Guiding Questions:Guiding Questions:

What post-Roman Empire political What post-Roman Empire political conditions led to the rise of the conditions led to the rise of the Carolingian Empire? What factors Carolingian Empire? What factors led to its disintegration, setting the led to its disintegration, setting the stage for the feudal system?stage for the feudal system?

Clovis IClovis I

““King of the FranksKing of the Franks”” Conversion to Conversion to

ChristianityChristianity Supported by the Supported by the

Roman Church - Roman Church - alliancealliance

Merovingian HouseMerovingian House

““Do-Nothing KingsDo-Nothing Kings”” Descendents of Clovis IDescendents of Clovis I

Mayors of the palaceMayors of the palace Pepin IIPepin II

Defeated the othersDefeated the others Reunited Frankish territoryReunited Frankish territory

Separate ruling Separate ruling ““lineagelineage”” Grandson, Pepin the Short took over Grandson, Pepin the Short took over

rule as rule as ““kingking”” Carolingian HouseCarolingian House

Donation of PepinDonation of Pepin

Lombard threatLombard threat Papal statesPapal states Pope becomes Pope becomes

ruler in European ruler in European politicspolitics

Empire of CharlemagneEmpire of Charlemagne

Carloman and CharlesCarloman and Charles Charles = Greatest Carolingian kingCharles = Greatest Carolingian king

““CharlemagneCharlemagne””

StrongStrong TallTall StatelyStately DignifiedDignified Abhorred Abhorred

drunkenndrunkennessess

Beheaded Beheaded his his prisoners prisoners in cold in cold bloodblood

Divorced Divorced and and remarried remarried many many timestimes

CharlemagneCharlemagne

CharlemagneCharlemagne’’s s ConquestsConquests

United much of EuropeUnited much of Europe Rescued Rome (again)Rescued Rome (again) Defeated AvarsDefeated Avars Drove back the Drove back the

Spanish MuslimsSpanish Muslims Created administrative Created administrative

districtsdistricts Foundation of modern Foundation of modern

Germany, France, and Germany, France, and ItalyItaly

Pope crowns Charlemagne Pope crowns Charlemagne and proclaims him as and proclaims him as

Roman Emperor!Roman Emperor! Revived the idea of another Roman Revived the idea of another Roman

EmpireEmpire Raises a serious question:Raises a serious question:

Whose authority is supreme—the state’s or Whose authority is supreme—the state’s or the churchthe church’’s?s?

This struggle will continue throughout the This struggle will continue throughout the Middle AgesMiddle Ages

Carolingian RenaissanceCarolingian Renaissance

Charlemagne loved to learn; royal Charlemagne loved to learn; royal court at Aix-la-Chapelle became court at Aix-la-Chapelle became leading center of learningleading center of learning

Became concerned with better-Became concerned with better-educated clergyeducated clergy

Emphasis on education renewed Emphasis on education renewed interest in the Bible and in classical interest in the Bible and in classical literatureliterature

Monasteries as libraries, universitiesMonasteries as libraries, universities

Disintegration of Disintegration of CharlemagneCharlemagne’’s Empires Empire

Domestic Problems:Domestic Problems: Civil war after Louis the PiousCivil war after Louis the Pious Treaty of VerdunTreaty of Verdun

Charles the Bald = West FranklandCharles the Bald = West Frankland Louis the German = East FranklandLouis the German = East Frankland Lothair = Central KingdomLothair = Central Kingdom

Disintegration of Disintegration of CharlemagneCharlemagne’’s Empires Empire

International Problems:International Problems: Saracens (Muslims)Saracens (Muslims) MagyarsMagyars VikingsVikings