1. The Early Middle Ages in Europe

2. AD 476 - Western Roman Empire Falls to invading Germanic Tribes.....
...The end of “Antiquity” (700 BC - AD 500)
...beginning of the “Middle Ages” (AD )  

3. “Years of Upheaval” (400-600 AD)
Disorder:  
Strong Government Vanished
Nobles fled to countryside; no administration  
Economic Problems
trade disrupted, money hard to find  
Abandoned Cities
Nobles and Peasants fled to countryside  
Learning Declined
Germans (Barbarians) had no written language  

4. “Years of Upheaval” (400-600 AD)
Changes:
Small Kingdoms replaced Roman Provinces
Ex: Frankish Kingdom – next slide
The Church provided stability
Unwritten laws and traditions observed
Loyal to Tribal leaders; not to king

5. The Frankish Kingdom
 Location: Gaul (France)

6. Merovingian Dynasty (447-751)
King Clovis ( )
Established a relationship with the Church
Clovis and 3000 of his soldiers were baptized by Saint Remi after their victory at the Battle of Tolbiac
United the Frankish tribes
Conquered all of Gaul  
-Pope Gregory the Great makes Church secular

7. Merovingian Dynasty (447-751)
Later Kings were “Puppets”  
Mayors of the Palace were most powerful  
ex: Charles Martel (“The Hammer”)  
Stopped Muslim spread (Battle of Tours)  

8. Carolingian Dynasty (751-987)
Began with Pépin the Short (Martel’s Son)
agrees to fight the Lombards in Italy
Pope crowns him King in return
Gives the Papal States to Pope Stephen
("Donation of Pépin“)
His 2 sons share the Kingdom after his Death in 768

9. Charlemagne (771 to 814)
Charles “the Great” 

10. Charlemagne’s Accomplishments:
Conquered W. Europe  
First Holy Roman Emperor*  
Encouraged Learning  
Spread & Protected Christianity  

11. Charlemagne
800 AD - Pope Leo III crowns him Holy Roman Emperor. (on Christmas)
Creates “counts” in Kingdom
Capital at Aachen
814 AD - Named his son, Louis the Pious, Emperor
840 AD - Louis dies - his 3 sons fight for control
Charles “the Bald”
Lothair
Louis “the German”

12. Treaty of Verdun - 843 Ends the Civil War
Charles “the Bald” - Western Kingdom
Lothair - Central Kingdom
Louis “the German” - Eastern Kingdom

13. Treaty of Verdun - 843 Results: Europe never united again
Charlemagne’s schools disappear