The Early Middle Ages

Chapter 15 Section 1

Part 1

Geography of Europe

After the fall of the Roman Empire in A.D. 476, Western Europe was divided into many kingdoms.

Europe is a continent, but it is also a large peninsula made up of smaller peninsulas. Most of Europe is within 300 miles of a coastline. This encouraged trade and helped Europe’s economy grow.

Rivers in Europe made it easy for people to travel within Europe to trade.

The seas and rivers offered Europe protection from enemies. Waterways like the English Channel and wide rivers like the Rhine also kept people separated, so different cultures could develop.

Europe contains many mountain ranges that made it difficult for one group to rule all of Europe.

Germanic Kingdoms After Rome fell, Western Europe was

divided into many kingdoms. There kingdoms developed different societies based on their locations. Each smaller kingdom was ruled by barbarian kings granting only nominal recognition to the Emperor.

The Franks were a Germanic people living in the area that is now France. Clovis was the king of the Franks who became a Catholic. Later, much of his kingdom became Catholic.

Who were the Franks?

Charlemagne-

Pepin the Short-

King Clovis-King of the Franks who became Catholic, winning the support of the Romans

Mayor of the Palace-

Charles Martel

Name

After Clovis died, fighting broke out over the land, and nobles called “mayors of the palace”, settled disputes, gave out land, and fought each other. The most powerful of the mayors was Charles

Martel. He wanted to unite all the Frankish nobles under his rule. The Catholic Church supported Martel.

First, Europe had to be kept Christian.

Who were the Franks?

Charlemagne-

Pepin the Short

King Clovis-King of the Franks who became Catholic, winning the support of the Romans

Mayor of the Palace-Nobles under the king who took over royal duties such as giving out land, settling disputes, and fighting wars

Charles Martel The Hammer”-Wanted to united all the frankish nobles under his rule. Led the Franks against the Muslims in 732 in the “Battle of Tours” which stopped the advance of Muslims in Europe

Name

In A.D. 711 Muslims conquered Spain and threatened to spread Islam throughout Europe. In A.D. 732, Martel and the Franks defeated the Muslims at the Battle of Tours and this stopped the Muslim advance into Europe.

Because of this Christianity remained Europe’s major religion.

Pepin the Short, Charles Martel’s son, became mayor after Martel’s death. Pepin and his army defeated the Germanic group, the Lombards, who threatened the pope. Pepin donated the land he acquired to the pope. These lands became known as the Papal States.

After Pepin died, his son Charles became king.

Pepin the Short

Who were the Franks?

Charlemagne-

Pepin the Short-Son of Martel, became mayor of the palace, defeated the Lombards in Italy, gave the land to the pope and this became the Papal States

King Clovis-King of the Franks who became Catholic, winning the support of the Romans

Mayor of the Palace-Nobles under the king who took over royal duties such as giving out land, settling disputes, and fighting wars

Charles Martel “The Hammer”-Wanted to united all the frankish nobles under his rule. Led the Franks against the Muslims in 732 in the “Battle of Tours” which stopped the advance of Muslims in Europe

Name

Charlemagne Pepin’s son Charles continued

to defend the pope against the Lombards, and he conquered Germany and Spain. In time, Charles’s empire covered most of Europe. He earned the name Charlemagne. The pope crowned Charlemagne the new Holy Roman Emperor on Christmas day in A.D. 800.

Who were the Franks?

Charlemagne- Pepin’s son, became king of empire that covered most of western and central Europe. Crowned Holy Roman Emperor by the Pope

Pepin the Short-Son of Martel, became mayor of the palace, defeated the Lombards in Italy, gave the land to the pope and this became the Papal States

King Clovis-King of the Franks who became Catholic, winning the support of the Romans

Mayor of the Palace-Nobles under the king who took over royal duties such as giving out land, settling disputes, and fighting wars

Charles Martel “The Hammer”-Wanted to united all the frankish nobles under his rule. Led the Franks against the Muslims in 732 in the “Battle of Tours” which stopped the advance of Muslims in Europe

Name

Aachen was the capital of Charlemagne’s empire.

Charlemagne believed in and promoted education.

After Charlemagne’s death, his son divided the empire into three kingdoms. These kingdoms were weak and suffered invasions.