Section I: Early European Section I: Early European KingdomsKingdoms

(Pages 268 - 274)(Pages 268 - 274)

Section I: Early European Section I: Early European KingdomsKingdoms

(Pages 268 - 274)(Pages 268 - 274) This section is about:This section is about: Why geographical features Why geographical features

made western Europe ideal made western Europe ideal for settlement in the early for settlement in the early Middle Ages.Middle Ages.

The leaders who united the The leaders who united the Franks and promoted Franks and promoted learning and culture.learning and culture.

The importance of The importance of Christianity in Christianity in Charlemagne’s leadership.Charlemagne’s leadership.

We need to start by We need to start by reading what’s on reading what’s on page 268 –especially page 268 –especially in quotes.in quotes.

This “pledge” was This “pledge” was usually done at an usually done at an “homage” ceremony.“homage” ceremony.

And, looking at the And, looking at the picture on 269 (and picture on 269 (and the caption).the caption).

These castles are These castles are similar to some houses similar to some houses – symbols of “power – symbols of “power and prestige.”and prestige.”

It’s also a great time to It’s also a great time to look at the time line.look at the time line.

Castle Samur

We also need to look at the Main Ideas We also need to look at the Main Ideas (on page 270)(on page 270)

1. This time period’s 1. This time period’s influences go al the way influences go al the way back to the Romans.back to the Romans.

2. and 3. We’ll keep 2. and 3. We’ll keep hearing about hearing about Charlemagne: a Roman Charlemagne: a Roman Emperor – and what he did.Emperor – and what he did.

This time period falls This time period falls between the Romans and between the Romans and modern historymodern history

In Latin: In Latin: MedievalMedieval means means middlemiddle

This is a time where Europe This is a time where Europe was quite divided – but each was quite divided – but each areas did have strong ties to areas did have strong ties to religionreligion

The Geography of Western EuropeThe Geography of Western Europe

Europe was mostly thick Europe was mostly thick forests in the Middle Ages with forests in the Middle Ages with great soils, lots of minerals, great soils, lots of minerals, and useful rivers.and useful rivers.

People were starting to leave People were starting to leave big cities (like Rome and Paris) big cities (like Rome and Paris) and moving to Western Europe and moving to Western Europe to farm.to farm.

This meant they were also cut This meant they were also cut off from the Middle East, China, off from the Middle East, China, and India.and India.

Since they weren’t being used Since they weren’t being used much, roads and trade routes much, roads and trade routes were badly in need of repair.were badly in need of repair.

There was no big Roman There was no big Roman Empire to defend, so they Empire to defend, so they didn’t care much about these didn’t care much about these outlying areas.outlying areas.

People were pretty much on People were pretty much on their own and left alone.their own and left alone.

The People of the Middle Ages in The People of the Middle Ages in EuropeEurope

These people were no These people were no longer Roman in any way.longer Roman in any way.

They spoke Germanic They spoke Germanic languages – so they were languages – so they were called: ___________called: ___________

Our English is a mix of Our English is a mix of many languagesmany languages

They were small groups of They were small groups of herders and farmers who’d herders and farmers who’d move from place to place.move from place to place.

If you were moving to new If you were moving to new places, they might be other places, they might be other people’s places, so they people’s places, so they were usually led by the were usually led by the strongest warriors.strongest warriors.

The Empire of the FranksThe Empire of the Franks

One of the stronger One of the stronger leaders was named leaders was named Clovis.Clovis.

He led one of these He led one of these groups of people the groups of people the Franks.Franks.

These groups lived These groups lived near the Rhine River. near the Rhine River. At one time (300 AD) At one time (300 AD) they tried to expand they tried to expand into Roman into Roman territories, but they territories, but they were unsuccessful.were unsuccessful.

Uniting the FranksUniting the Franks

About 481, Clovis united About 481, Clovis united some of these Frank some of these Frank groups.groups.

He led a combined force He led a combined force against the Romans and against the Romans and succeeded in capturing succeeded in capturing Gaul (allowing the Franks Gaul (allowing the Franks to have their own to have their own kingdom).kingdom).

Clovis also became a Clovis also became a Christian.Christian.

Rome was “kind of okay” Rome was “kind of okay” with this (he’s a Christian – with this (he’s a Christian – at the same time Rome at the same time Rome was becoming Christian)was becoming Christian)

This started a period of This started a period of 300-400 years of the 300-400 years of the Franks remaining in power Franks remaining in power in Gaulin Gaul

The Rise of The Rise of CharlemagneCharlemagne Carolus Magnus / Charles the Great / CharlemagneCarolus Magnus / Charles the Great / Charlemagne

Lived to 72 years old Lived to 72 years old (twice the average life (twice the average life span at the time)span at the time)

King of the Franks for 46 King of the Franks for 46 years.years.

His first 10 years: built His first 10 years: built the biggest empire in the the biggest empire in the world (since Rome).world (since Rome).

His last 36 years: His last 36 years: defended what he had defended what he had built.built.

He also improved culture, He also improved culture, education, and law.education, and law.

A Christian A Christian KingKing

He did force the people He did force the people he conquered to he conquered to become Christian.become Christian.

Okay – he tried to.Okay – he tried to. He tried to baptize He tried to baptize

entire cities and entire cities and punished people who punished people who wouldn’t convert.wouldn’t convert.

Then, politics get Then, politics get involved – he becomes involved – he becomes friends with the friends with the Pope……….Pope……….

The Pope’s main rival The Pope’s main rival was the emperor in was the emperor in Constantinople (who Constantinople (who claimed to rule all claimed to rule all Roman territories).Roman territories).

So Pope Leo III made So Pope Leo III made Charlemagne the new Charlemagne the new Roman emperor Roman emperor (Christmas day, 800).(Christmas day, 800).

Look at page 272Look at page 272 This meant:This meant:

1.1. The Romans had an The Romans had an emperor for the first emperor for the first time in over 300 years.time in over 300 years.

2.2. Charlemagne had the Charlemagne had the blessing of the pope.blessing of the pope.

3.3. It established the idea It established the idea that the Pope could that the Pope could make political decisionsmake political decisions

The Age of The Age of CharlemagneCharlemagne

Charlemagne Charlemagne wanted to make his wanted to make his empire the center of empire the center of learning and learning and culture, so he tried culture, so he tried to “class up” his to “class up” his people (brought in people (brought in great artists, great artists, encouraged trade, encouraged trade, better system of better system of laws, etc…)laws, etc…)

Medieval law office

The Throne of Charlemagne

Schools and Schools and LearningLearning

Charlemagne could read (but not Charlemagne could read (but not write).write).

Most people couldn’t do either – Most people couldn’t do either – except clergy could read/write except clergy could read/write Latin.Latin.

Charlemagne brought in scholars Charlemagne brought in scholars (Alcuin) from England, Germany, (Alcuin) from England, Germany, Spain, and Italy – to set up a Spain, and Italy – to set up a school for the nobles children.school for the nobles children.

He told the clergy that He told the clergy that sometimes what they wrote was sometimes what they wrote was filled with errors in grammar and filled with errors in grammar and that they needed to improve.that they needed to improve.

He even set up “cathedral He even set up “cathedral schools” and regular schools schools” and regular schools throughout his kingdom.throughout his kingdom.

They would be open to children They would be open to children and free (but you could give and free (but you could give them money if you wanted).them money if you wanted).

CultureCulture All this led to a revival All this led to a revival

(renewed interest) in the (renewed interest) in the cultures of Greece and cultures of Greece and Rome.Rome.

Monks were assigned the Monks were assigned the job of copying bibles and job of copying bibles and re-producing (and saving) re-producing (and saving) great works from the great works from the Greeks and Romans.Greeks and Romans.

He also understood the He also understood the importance of keeping importance of keeping good records (and writing good records (and writing things down), so he sent things down), so he sent nobles around the kingdom nobles around the kingdom to bring him back the to bring him back the records of everything that records of everything that was going on.was going on.

His leadership, reforms, His leadership, reforms, and improvements make and improvements make this time period called this time period called “The Age of Charlemagne.”“The Age of Charlemagne.”

The Decline of Charlemagne’s The Decline of Charlemagne’s EmpireEmpire

In 814, Charlemagne had died In 814, Charlemagne had died and the empire began to and the empire began to decline (slowly) decline (slowly)

By 843, his 3 ruling grandsons By 843, his 3 ruling grandsons had divided the empire into 3 had divided the empire into 3 parts (weak parts).parts (weak parts).

Muslims, the Magyars, and the Muslims, the Magyars, and the Vikings all successfully invaded Vikings all successfully invaded the region.the region.

But Charlemagne's ideas of But Charlemagne's ideas of learning and government were learning and government were still an influence on peoples for still an influence on peoples for centuries.centuries.

Charlemagne's skull is inside this golden statue

Charlemagne’s Sarcophagus