medieval europe
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Medieval Europe. Germanic Tribes and Charlemagne. Why the Dark Ages?. After the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476, things are not so sunny in Europe No strong central government to manage: Roads Bridges Law Education Currency Economy. Germanic Societies. Germanic Influences. - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
Medieval Europe
Germanic Tribes and Charlemagne
Why the Dark Ages?
After the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476, things are not so sunny in Europe
No strong central government to manage:o Roadso Bridgeso Lawo Educationo Currencyo Economy
Germanic Societies
Germanic Influences
Loss of literacy and common language as territory is divided up, societies become more rural
Shifting borders as kingdoms fight over territoryo Loyalty to family or personal allies, rather
than the stateo No “greater good” as in Roman Republic
Germanic Influences
Loss of Greek and Roman scholarship (The development of various languages mirrored the continued
breakup of a once unified empire)Divisions and
differences in culture reflect the crumbling of Rome
The Merovingians
The Merovingians were the first dynasty of Frankish kingso Located in Gaul
Clovis (466-511) becomes king at 15o Brutal, warlikeo Converts to Christianity-uses Roman
Church to his advantageo support him in war
“I take it very hard that these Arians hold part of Gaul. Let us go with God’s help and conquer them and bring the land under our control”
Baptism of Clovis by Saint Remy in 496 (artist unknown, 1500)
Clothilde (Clovis’ wife) praying to St. Martin of Tours
Merovingians
Clovis’ four sons divide the territory he united
Rulers that follow Clovis are ineffective “Do Nothing” kingso Power is held by the major domo-mayor
of the palaceo Pepin of Herstal (Pepin the II) - gained
territory throughout modern France
Merovingians
Pepin’s illegitimate son, Charles Martel takes power in 719o Defeats Muslims at Battle of Tours,
stops expansion into Europeo Charles’ victories earn church support
Charles’ son, Pepin the Short succeeds himo Shaves the head of the actual king, forces
him into a monastery, where he dies within a year. How convenient…
Carolingians
Pepin is crowned king with the pope’s blessing, first Carolingian king(from the Latin for Charles, Carolus)
“Donation of Pepin”-land given by Pepin to the pope, becomes papal state Coronation of Pepin by Boniface
Carolingians
Pepin divided his kingdom between his sons, Carloman and Charles
Charles becomes known as “Charles the Great,” “Charlemagne” in Frencho Over 60 successful military
campaigns secure his legacy
Charlemagne
“He was large and strong, and of lofty stature, though not disproportionately tall (seven-feet tall). His head was round and well-formed, his eyes very large and vivacious, his nose a little long, his hair white, and his face jovial. His appearance was always stately and very dignified, whether he was standing or sitting…His gait was firm, his whole carriage manly, and his voice clear.”
Einhard, Life of Charlemagne, (New York: Harper and Brothers, 1880.
“Then, one could see the Charlemagne of iron, with his head covered by a iron helmet, his arms bearing iron protectors; in his left hand he carried an iron lance, and in the right his always victorious steel sword. His muscles were covered with iron plates, and his shield made of pure iron. "When he appeared, the inhabitants of Pavia cried out with fear: O, the Iron Man! O, the Iron Man!”
Historia Universal, Spanish Edition, vol. IV, pg. 790.
Charlemagne
Physically: tall, athletic, strong horseman
Socially: gregarious, honest, calm
Religiously: devout, reformed the Church
Charlemagne
Intellectually: illiterate, could speak Frankish, Latin, and Greek
Hobbies: War! Father of the
“Carolingian Renaissance”
Charlemagne
Crowned “Roman” emperor in 800 on Christmas day by Pope Leo III First time a pope had crowned a king Establishes the Church’s power over EVERYTHING
Charlemagne
Charlemagne had 3 main goals for his new “Roman Empire”
1. Uniformity: standardization of writing, language (Latin!), currency, measurements
2. Education: schools, imported scholars, free public education, based around Church
3. Diplomacy: contact with the pope, emperor in Constantinople, caliph in Baghdad
Accomplished through complex bureaucracy, “missi dominici”-messengers of the lord”
Left: Charlemagne’s palace chapelRight: Charlemagne’s palace complex
at Aachen
Charlemagne
Charlemagne appoints his son, Louis, emperor in 813Louis is ineffective as a ruler, territory is
divided between his 3 sons : Lothair, Charles the Bald, and Louis the German
Treaty of Verdun
Charlemagne’s grandsons divide the empire officially in 843
Lack of central authority, empire grows weako Vulnerable to attack by Vikings Magyars,
SlavsNeed for protection from invaders in
an agrarian society leads to FEUDALISM!
Gregarious: (adj.) fond of the company of others; sociable.