1. The European Middle Ages

2. The Early Middle Ages: Germanic Kingdoms Unite under Charlemagne

3. What Happened to Rome??
By the end of the 5th century, Germanic invaders had destroyed the Roman Empire…

4. What Happened to Rome?? The Impact of Invasion: Disruption of Trade
Downfall of Cities
Population Shifts
Decline of Learning
Loss of Common Language

5. What Happened to Rome??
BUT, there was one institution that survived the fall of Rome…

6. The CHURCH!!

7. Germanic Kingdoms Emerge

8. Germanic Kingdoms Emerge
Between AD 400 & 600 small Germanic Kingdoms replaced large Roman provinces
What impact did these small kingdoms have on government?

9. Germanic Kingdoms Emerge
In GAUL, a Germanic people called the FRANKS held power
Influential Frankish Ruler:
Clovis

10. Germanic Kingdoms Emerge
CLOVIS:
Converted to Christianity
Gained support of the Church in Rome
United Franks into one kingdom

11. Europe & the Muslim World

12. Europe & the Muslim World
622: The development of Islam…
The Muslims built a huge empire & began to overrun Christian lands

13. Europe & the Muslim World
Battle of Tours (732):
Frankish ruler, Charles Martel defeated a Muslim raiding party from Spain

14. Europe & the Muslim World
Important victory for European Christians
Made Charles Martel a Christian hero

15. The Family Tree Charles Martel Martel’s SON: Pepin the Short
Pepin’s SON:
CHARLEMAGNE (Charles the Great)

16. Charlemagne

17. Charlemagne’s Empire Empire included: 2/3 of Italy
All of present day France
Small part of Spain
All of German Saxony

18. Charlemagne, the Hero?
Spread Christianity through his conquest of other lands
AD 800 – Pope Leo III called Charlemagne to Rome in order to crush an unruly mob
SUCCESS!!!

19. Charlemagne, the Hero?
In gratitude, the Pope crowned Charlemagne & called him the “Roman Emperor”

21. Charlemagne, the Hero? Significance?
A Christian Pope crowned a German king as the successor to the Roman Emperors
Legitimized Charlemagne’s rule over the former Roman Empire

22. Charlemagne, the Hero?
Revived the ideal of a UNITED CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY
Also paved the way for future power struggles between Roman Catholic Popes and German Emperors

23. Charlemagne’s Accomplishments
Government:
Appointed nobles to rule over local regions
STRONG, EFFICIENT & ORDERLY!

24. Charlemagne’s Accomplishments
Learning:
Wanted to make a “second Rome” in Aachen
Revived Latin learning (Greek & Roman)

25. Charlemagne’s Accomplishments
Curriculum included grammar, rhetoric, logic, arithmetic, geometry, music & astronomy
Became the EDUCATIONAL MODEL for Medieval Europe

26. Charlemagne’s Heirs
A year before his death, Charlemagne crowned his only surviving son, Louis the Pious, as emperor

27. Charlemagne’s Heirs Louis was an INEFFECTIVE leader, but had 3 sons:
Lothair, Charles the Bald & Louis the German
Fought for control of the empire…

28. Charlemagne’s Heirs Civil War ended in 843 with the TREATY OF VERDUN
Divided Charlemagne’s Empire into 3 Kingdoms

30. Charlemagne’s Legacy
Despite the breakdown of the empire, Charlemagne left a lasting legacy…
Extended Christian civilization into N. Europe

31. Charlemagne’s Legacy
Further blended Greek, Roman & Christian traditions
Educational model
Strong, efficient gov’t – example for later medieval rulers