1. Chapter 10, Lesson 1 The Early Middle Ages
It Matters Because:
Medieval European governments, religions, languages,
and culture still influence the modern world.

2. The Fall of Rome
Rome’s fall in 476 to Germanic invaders brought the end of the Western Roman Empire
This led to a 1,000-year period known as the Middle Ages, or the Medieval Period
Church became very powerful as common people lived in fear of death and hell
Western Europe divided into kingdoms
Geography played a huge role as rivers, mountains, and coasts steered settlement and trade

3. Geography of Europe Europe is a very large peninsula with wide rivers
Access to the sea was available to most people
This encouraged trade between European people and other parts of the world
Wide rivers and mountain ranges allowed many diverse cultures to develop isolated from others
Rivers and mountains also made it impossible for one ruler or people group to seize total control of the continent
The islands of Britain and Ireland were isolated from the rest of the continent by the English Channel and the North Sea

4. Kingdoms in Western Europe
Rome’s fall in 476 led to the many kingdoms forming in Western Europe in a short time
Germanic groups quickly seized former Roman territories
Former Empire citizens turned to the church for guidance and identity
The Angles and Saxons settled in Britain
Pushed the Celts to Scotland, Ireland, and Wales

5. The Franks Settled present-day France and western Germany
Clovis becomes King and accepts Christianity
Soon, nearly all Franks are Catholic
Charles Martel rises to power with support of Pope in 714
Martel stops spread of Islam into Europe
Defeated Spanish Muslim (called “Moors”) at Battle of Tours in 732
Made certain Christianity would be Europe’s dominant religion
Martel’s son, Pepin, becomes king and defeats Lombards in present- day northern Italy
Grants land to the Church
This land becomes the Papal States

6. Charlemagne Pepin’s son Charles becomes King of the Franks, 768
Conquered France, Germany, northern Spain, and Italy
Became known as Charles the Great, or Charlemagne
In 800, Charlemagne defended the Pope against Roman nobles
Pope names Charlemagne the Roman Emperor
Charlemagne trusted Counts to help him control his empire
Counts raised armies for Charlemagne
The earliest form of feudalism in Europe
Charlemagne opened a school for children of government officials
Also learned to read and write late in his own life

7. Invaders When Charlemagne died in 814, his empire fell apart
Invaders from all directions attacked Europe
Muslims from North Africa raided France and Italy
Nomads from Hungary called Magyars invaded eastern France and Italy
Vikings from Scandinavia raided launched raids into much of Europe
Expert sailors and fierce warriors
Attacked coastal Europe in 700s and 800s
Attacked villages and churches
Stole food, animals, and treasure
Burned what they could not steal
Growth of feudalism largely due to Viking raids

8. The Holy Roman Empire Viking attacks weakened Frankish kingdoms
In 936, nobles in Germany elected Otto of Saxony as the King of Germany
Otto was a powerful king
Defeated Magyars and freed Pope from control of Roman nobles
Pope made Otto the first Holy Roman Emperor in 962
Holy Roman Empire included Germany and northern Italy
Later Holy Roman Emperors conflicted with Pope over control
Prevented both Germany and Italy from uniting until 1800s

9. The Church’s Influence
When Roman Empire fell, citizens of the former Empire turned to the church for guidance
Pope Gregory I (Gregory the Great) sent missionaries throughout Europe to teach Catholic Christianity
By 1050, most of Europe was Catholic
Monks lived in monasteries
Provided schools and hospitals
Taught carpentry, weaving, farming
Copied Christian writings and preserved classical Greek and Roman knowledge

10. Church Authority
As monasteries increased influence, leaders became active in politics
Kings believed the church should follow their authority, but Popes believed Kings should submit to the Church
Pope Gregory VII declared only the Pope could appoint church officials
Holy Roman Emperor Henry IV disagreed
Pope declared he was no longer emperor and excommunicated him from the church
Henry begged Pope for forgiveness, and Pope agreed
Germans chose a new emperor
Henry took Rome and named a new Pope
In 1122, Holy Roman Emperor and Pope agreed only Pope could name church officials and only king could name government officials
Concordat - agreement between Pope and a king