1. Charlemagne and the Franks
In this lesson, students will be able to identify effects of the fall of Rome as well as the rise of Charlemagne and the Franks.
Students will be able to identify and/or define the following terms:
Effects of the Fall of Rome
Franks
Charlemagne
Feudalism
V.oliver

2.
V.oliver

3. 13 European Middle Ages, 500–1200 HOME Time Line 500 1200
CHAPTER
European Middle Ages, 500–1200
Time Line
732 Charles Martel stops Muslim invasion.
900s Outside invasions spur growth of feudalism.
1190 Holy Roman Empire weakens.
500
1200
511 Clovis unites Franks under Christian rule.
800 Charlemagne crowned emperor by the pope.
962 Otto the Great crowned emperor.
V.oliver

4. The fall of Rome brought many important
changes to Western Europe.
V.oliver

5. Warfare increased. Trade decreased.
The “Dark Ages” began 500ce- 1500ce.
V.oliver

6. Constant warfare sparked:
Disruption of trade- businesses collapsed and breakdown of trade destroyed European cities, money became scarce
Downfall of cities- cities were abandoned / Cities were abandoned
Population shifts- nobles retreated to rural areas, and Rome left with no strong government, others fleeing to countryside to grow own food
V.oliver

7. Decline of Learning Germanic invaders couldn’t read or write
Learning among Romans sank as well as more families move to rural areas
People like priests and church officials were literate
Traditional reading of Roman and Greek philosophy and science stopped
V.oliver

8. Germanic tribes had oral traditions - but no written language
Mixed with the Roman population, Latin changed
By 800s French, Spanish, and other Romance languages developed
V.oliver

9. Germanic Kingdoms emerge
Borders and government change as Germanic kingdoms replace Roman provinces
V.oliver

10. Clovis was an important king of the Franks. The Franks were one of the
largest
Germanic
tribes.
V.oliver

11. Clovis and the Franks
In A.D. 481, Clovis united the Franks and became their king.
Clovis converted to the Roman Catholic faith.
Essentially, the Franks blended Germanic and Roman cultural practices.
V.oliver

12. Germanic Peoples Adopt Christianity
Frankish rulers and missionaries spread Christianity
To adapt to rural conditions, Churches built monasteries , or religious communities
Christian men called monks gave up private possessions and became servants of God
Women became nuns and lived in convents
V.oliver

13. Charlemagne became king of the Franks in 768 A.D. He conquered
a vast empire
and tried
to recreate
the glory of the
Roman
Empire.
V.oliver

14. Roman Emperor
In 800, Charlemagne traveled to Rome to crush an unruly mob that attacked the Pope
Pope Leo was so grateful that he crowned Charlemagne emperor
The coronation was historic- a pope had claimed the right to award the title “Roman Emperor” to a European king
Event signaled the joining of Germanic power, the Church, and the heritage of the Roman Empire
V.oliver

15. Pope Leo III crowned Charlemagne “Holy
Roman Emperor”.
V.oliver

16. Importance of Learning
One of Charlemagne’s greatest accomplishments was his praise of learning
Surrounded himself with scholars of all languages
Opened a palace school for his children and others
Ordered monasteries to open schools and train future monks and priests
V.oliver

17. During his reign, Charlemagne tried to
recreate the Roman Empire. However,
after his death, the empire declined.
V.oliver

18. Questions for Reflection:
Why did historians call the early Middle Ages the “Dark Ages”?
Who was Clovis and how did his conversion affect the Franks?
Why did Pope Leo III crown Charlemagne “Holy Roman Emperor”?
V.oliver

19. The Rise of Feudalism
While Charlemagne’s descendants were not able to recreate the glory of the Roman Empire, the Franks did greatly affect life in the Middle Ages.
Indeed, the Frankish practice of giving land to nobles in exchange for loyalty and military service spread throughout Western Europe.
V.oliver

20. Feudalism
Feudalism was the political and military system of the Middle Ages.
In a feudal society, land is exchanged for military service and loyalty.
The ownership of land was the basis or power.
V.oliver

21. A fief was all of the Lord’s land. The manor was part of the fief. The
manor was the part
of the fief where
the peasants farmed
and the people lived.
V.oliver

22. Manorialism Manorialism was the economic system of the Middle Ages.
Manorialism is a self-sufficient economy.
Everything that is necessary for life is created on the manor.
Those who fought : nobles, knights, and kings
Those who prayed : the Church’s Clergy (priests, bishops, monks)
Those who worked : Peasants (serfs)
Social class was usually inherited.
V.oliver

23. Life during the Middle Ages was based on a series of exchanges.
Lesser Lords obeyed
more powerful Lords in
exchange for
land.
V.oliver

24. LORDS & NOBLES MONARCHS Became weaker after Charlemagne’s death
Remained highest authority
LORDS & NOBLES
Lived on manors in castles
Included powerful clergy
Hunted, defended manor, oversaw serfs, & settled legal disputes

25. PEASANTS/SERFS KNIGHTS
Trained warriors who studied warfare from the age of 7
Followed code of chivalry
Exchanged military service for fief (an estate granted by a lord)
PEASANTS/SERFS
Freeman paid lord for use of land & could move around
Serfs worked the land for the lord
Serfs were poor & prisoners of the manor

26. Questions for Reflection:
Why did peasants need protection after the fall of Rome?
Why were serfs willing to offer their labor to lords?
What was the relationship between lords and vassals?
Define feudalism and manorialism.
How does manorialism differ from our economic system?
V.oliver

27. European vs. Japanese Feudalism – Copy the venn diagram into your notebook.

28. European vs. Japanese Feudalism
During the same period of time, both the Japanese and the Europeans were utilizing Feudal systems.
Both needed Feudalism to offer some sense of political organization and social structure when there was no one central government.

29. Feudalism: European vs. Japanese castles (protected manors)

30. Knights of Europe

31. Samurai of Japan
The samurai were the members of the military class, the Japanese warriors.
Foremost allegiance is to feudal lord.
Always carried a sword and wore protective armor.
Live by code of honor called bushido.

32. “Education of a Knight”
See Diagram,
“Education of a Knight”
Text p. 328
1. Education
At age 7 – began training as a “page”
in a lord’s castle
At age 14 – began training as a “squire”
acting as a servant to a knight.
At age 21 – becomes a knight !
V.oliver
PP Design of T. Loessin; Akins H.S.

33. Saddles, stirrups, armor,
2. Weapons / Equipment
Saddles, stirrups, armor,
high-flying missiles.
1. Education
At age 7 – began training
as a “page”
in a lord’s castle
At age 14 – began training
as a “squire”
acting as a
servant to a knight.
At age 21 – becomes a
knight !
V.oliver
PP Design of T. Loessin; Akins H.S.

34. and in tournaments (mock battles) kept knights trained and in shape.
2. Weapons / Equipment
Saddles,
stirrups,
armor,
high-flying missiles.
1. Education
At age 7 – began training
as a “page”
in a lord’s castle
At age 14 – began training
as a “squire”
acting as a
servant to a knight.
At age 21 – becomes a
knight !
3. War games
Fighting in local wars
and in tournaments (mock battles) kept knights trained and in shape.
V.oliver

35. be loyal, brave, courteous; defend the “3 masters” your Lord God,
2. Weapons / Equipment
Saddles,
stirrups,
armor,
high-flying missiles.
1. Education
At age 7 – began training
as a “page”
in a lord’s castle
At age 14 – began training
as a “squire”
acting as a
servant to a knight.
At age 21 – becomes a
knight !
4. Code of Chivalry
be loyal, brave, courteous;
defend the “3 masters”
your Lord God,
your feudal lord,
and your lady;
- protect the weak / poor.
3. War games
Fighting in local wars
and in
tournaments (mock battles)
kept knights trained
and in shape.
Chivalry – a code of behavior / values for Medieval knights and lords.
V.oliver

36. The lived in and protected home of feudal lords –
2. Weapons / Equipment
Saddles,
stirrups,
armor,
high-flying missiles.
4. Code of Chivalry
be loyal, brave, courteous;
defend the “3 masters”
your Lord God,
your feudal lord,
and your lady;
- protect the weak / poor.
1. Education
At age 7 – began training
as a “page”
in a lord’s castle
At age 14 – began training
as a “squire”
acting as a
servant to a knight.
At age 21 – becomes a
knight !
3. War games
Fighting in local wars
and in
tournaments (mock battles)
kept knights trained
and in shape.
                             
5. Castles
The lived in and protected home of feudal lords –
designed as fortresses with massive walls and guard towers.
Chivalry – a code of behavior / values for Medieval knights and lords.
V.oliver

37.
V.oliver