The Early Middle Ages

1. The Early Middle Ages Germanic Invasion Notes

2. Objectives • The student will demonstrate knowledge of Western Europe during the Middle Ages from about 500 to 1000 C.E. in terms of its impact on Western civilization by • Sequencing events related to the invasions, settlements, and influence of migratory groups, including the Angles, Saxons, Magyars, and Vikings • Sequencing events related to the spread of Christianity and the Catholic Church throughout Europe • Explaining the rise of the Frankish kings, the Age of Charlemagne, and the revival of the idea of the Roman Empire • Essential Questions • How did invasions by the Angle, Saxons, Magyars, and Vikings influence the development of Europe? • How and why did the Church grow in importance in the Middle Ages • How did Charlemagne revive the idea of the Roman Empire?

3. Barbarian Invasions • Areas of Settlement • Angles/Saxons • Came from Continental Europe • Settled in England • Magyars • Came from Central Asia • Settled in Hungary • Vikings • Came from Scandinavia • Many settled in Russia

5. Invasions drastically change Europe • 5 consequences • Disruption of Trade • Downfall of Cities • Population Shifts • Decline of Learning • Loss of a common language

6. Disruption of Trade • Merchants faced invasions from both land and sea, which led to their businesses collapsing. • The breakdown of trade destroyed Europe’s cities as economic centers. • Money became scarce.

7. Downfall of Cities • With the fall of the Roman Empire, cities were abandoned as centers of administration

8. Population Shifts • As Roman centers of trade and government collapsed, nobles retreated to the rural areas and cities were left without strong leadership. • Other city dwellers also fled to the countryside, where they grew their own food. • The population of western Europe became mostly rural.

9. Decline of Learning • The Germanic invaders could not read or write and only Roman church officials continued to be literate. • Knowledge of Greek was almost lost and few people could read Greek works of literature, science, and philosophy. • The Germanic tribes had a rich oral tradition of songs and legends, just no written language.

10. Loss of a Common Language • As German-speaking peoples mixed with the Roman population, Latin began to change and was no longer understood from region to region. • By the 800s, French, Spanish, and other Romance languages had evolved from Latin.

11. Germanic Kingdoms Emerge • Between 400- 600 C.E. Germanic Kingdoms replace Roman provinces • Borders constantly changing • Church only source of stability • New concept of Government • Family ties and personal loyalty most important • Small communities • Governed by unwritten rules and traditions

12. The Franks • Former Roman province of Gaul (France) • Clovis • 496 C.E. led army against warring Germanic tribe • Fearing defeat prayed to the Christian God • Franks won and Clovis converted to Christianity (as well as his soldiers) • The church supported Clovis • 511 C.E. Clovis united the Franks into one kingdom

13. Germanic Christianity • By 600 C.E. many Germanic people Christian • Rulers and missionaries helped spread religion • Spreads to England • Monasteries and Convents • Built to adapt to rural conditions • Saint Benedict 520 C.E. • Benedictine rule • Benedictines most influential monastic order • Most educated, preserved history • Preserved Greco-Roman cultural achievements • Gregory I (The Great) • Became Pope in 590 C.E. • Broadened role of the church • Became secular, involved in worldly affairs such as politics • Idea of a churchly kingdom of Europe ruled by the Pope • Made church administration more efficient • Endorsed missionaries • Supported Benedictine rule

15. The Frankish Empire • Franks controlled largest kingdom in Europe • Clovis created the Merovingian dynasty • Near Paris, defeated rival groups 486-507 C.E. • Successors weak rulers • Charles Martel 719 C.E. • Mayor of the palace • More power than King • Battle of Tours 732 C.E. • Defeated invading Muslim army • Became Christian hero • Passed power to his son • Pepin the Short • Cooperated with Pope • Fought for the church and became the King • Created Carolingian Dynasty • Wife “big-footed Bertha”

17. Charlemagne • Pepin died in 768 C.E. • Charlemagne (Charles the Great) • Empire • Greatest since Ancient Rome • Conquered lands through military victory • Spread Christianity through conquests • Reunited Western Europe • Pope Leo III crowned him Emperor in 800 C.E. • He needed a strong powerful leader for Western Europe • Called himself a “Roman Emperor” • Linked Carolingian Monarchy with Church

19. Charlemagne’s Rule • Government • Limited authority of nobles • Strengthened central authority • Used Royal agents to report on countryside • Regularly participated in his kingdom’s affairs • Culture • Roman culture was reinterpreted • Encouraged learning • Opened a palace school • Built schools, churches and roads to unite the empire • Ordered monasteries to open schools to train monks and priests • Monasteries expanded their libraries

20. The end of an Empire • Charlemagne crowned his son Louis the Pious king in 814 C.E. • Religious man • Ineffective ruler • Louis’ heirs • Three sons • Fought civil war • Treaty of Verdun in 843 C.E. split kingdom • New system of government and landholding evolved • Unifying effect of Charlemagne never died

21. Objectives • The student will demonstrate knowledge of Western Europe during the Middle Ages from about 500 to 1000 C.E. in terms of its impact on Western civilization by • Sequencing events related to the invasions, settlements, and influence of migratory groups, including the Angles, Saxons, Magyars, and Vikings • Sequencing events related to the spread of Christianity and the Catholic Church throughout Europe • Explaining the rise of the Frankish kings, the Age of Charlemagne, and the revival of the idea of the Roman Empire • Essential Questions • How did invasions by the Angle, Saxons, Magyars, and Vikings influence the development of Europe? • How and why did the Church grow in importance in the Middle Ages • How did Charlemagne revive the idea of the Roman Empire?