Medieval Europe 500-1300

• Topic: The Dark Ages in Europe

• Aim: How had life in Europe changed during the Dark Ages?

• Do Now: Analyze Quote:“ Where is the Senate? Where are the people? The bones are all dissolved, the flesh is consumed, all the pomp and dignities of this world is gone. The whole mass is boiledaway.” Pope Gregory the Great 186 600 A.C.E

The Dark Ages

• Why did Europe fall into darkness?

• As Roman civilization declined, Europe became an isolated land of disunity, conflict, and poverty

• During the early Middle Ages 500-1000, Europe was an isolated, backward region largely cut off from the advanced civilizations that flourished in the Middle East, South Asia, China, and elsewhere

Early Medieval Era

• Europe restored political order after invasion and depletion of population

» Decentralized rule

• Economic Recovery

» Agricultural Production

• Religious leadership

» Cultural Unity

-Identify three barbarian tribes that dominated Western Europe

Germanic Kingdoms

• These tribes were constantly colliding with each other, they carved up Western Europe while The Byzantine Empire held on to the East

• The Germanic peoples were different than the Romans they conquered, they had no cities, no laws, they lived in small communities and elected their kings whose chief role was to lead them in war

• The Franks eventually emerged as the most powerful Germanic Kingdom led by Clovis.

Franks

• Constructed a society that drew on the agricultural resources of continental Europe

• European shift from Italy to central Europe• Decentralized political institutions• Alliance with Christianity that helped the Roman

Church maintain its cultural and religious primacy in Western Europe

Clovis -Brilliant but ruthless leader of the Franks who conquered much of Western Europe (former Roman provinces)

-He gained acceptance of Roman CatholicChurch when he converted to Christianity, thusgaining a major ally.

Carolingian Dynasty Formed

• Charles the HammerIn 732, Charles the Hammer (Charles Martel) defeated Muslims at Battle of Tours. The defeat moved Europe toward Christianity and away from Islam. With out this victory, Europe may have become a Muslim nation, and our. The Battle of Tours united the Franks, and the Franks became the leading power in western Europe. This increased the power of the church and the Pope.

Charlemagne (Charles the Great) was born on April 2, 742 in Northern Europe. "By the sword and the cross," he became master of Western Europe. Through his enlightened leadership the roots of learning and order were restored to Medieval Europe. In 768, when Charlemagne was 26, he and his brother Carloman inherited the kingdom of the Franks. In 771 Carloman died, and Charlemagne became sole ruler of the kingdom. At that time the Franks were falling back into barbarian ways, neglecting their education and religion. The Saxons of northern Europe were still pagans. In the south, the Roman Catholic church was asserting its power to recover land confiscated by the Lombard kingdom of Italy. Europe was in turmoil. Charlemagne was determined to strengthen his realm and to bring order to Europe.

In 772 he launched a 30-year military campaign to accomplish this objective. By 800 Charlemagne was the undisputed ruler of Western Europe. His vast realm encompassed what are now France, Switzerland, Belgium, and The Netherlands. It included half of present-day Italy and Germany, and parts of Austria and Spain. By establishing a central government over Western Europe, Charlemagne restored much of the unity of the old Roman Empire and paved the way for the development of modern Europe. On Christmas Day in 800, while Charlemagne knelt in prayer in Saint Peter's in Rome, Pope Leo III placed a golden crown on the bowed head of the king. Charlemagne is said to have been surprised by the coronation, declaring that he would not have come into the church had he known the pope's plan.

When Charlemagne died in 814 his empire stretched from what is today northern Spain throughout the Low Countries, into Bavaria and throughout northern Italy. This was inherited by Louis the Pious.

Why is Charlemagne important?

• Pope Leo called upon the Frankish king to put down a rebellion by the Romans

• The pope in turn proclaimed him emperor on Christmas 800

RESULTS

-Charlemagne was the first Germanic King to be proclaimed successor to the Roman Emperors

-This gave the idea of a united Christian community

-This divided the Eastern and Western Roman Empires even more

Charlemagne’s Government- Appointed nobles and regional rulers to maintain order, check

supplies, check the roads, listen to grievances, and see that justice was served.

Charlemagne’s chief goal was to spread Christianity

Education and Learning- Set up a Palace school at Aachen Taught Latin which became educational model for medieval

Europe. Also taught math, grammar, geometry, music, and astronomy

Copied manuscripts and bible’s which would serve as textbooks for 700 hundred years

Alcium was his chief scholar

Upon Charlemagne’s death the Empire fell apart because of a power struggle

NEW INVASIONS

MUSLIM INVASIONS

Defeated in B. of Tours in 732, but continued to put pressureon Europe.

In 896 they plundered Germany, Italy, and partsof France

VIKINGS

Destroyed what was left of Charlemagne’s Empire

Expert sailors and ferocious warriors came from Scandinavia.

The Church: Political and Spiritual Power            1. Only solid, stable organization in Western Europe

                        a. Copied structure of Roman Empire                                    1. Pope – Rome – top authority

                                    2. Regional bishops                                    3. Supervised local priests

            2. Role of pope                        a. regulate doctrine

                        b. beat back heresies                        c. sponsored missionary activity

New Economic and Urban Vigor1. New sources of strength           a. new agricultural techniques 1. three-field 2. moldboard plow 3.  horse collar – almost as cool as the world

famous \Chinese ox collar           b. dominance of lord/knights – horse collar and

stirrups            c. Viking raids slowed down                                    1. Christianized                                    2. Regional government stronger2. All led to population growth                        a. Led to new markets                        b. Look to eastern lands not previously converted to agriculture                        c. Loosen bonds of serfdom                        d. trade with others led to new crops