The Middle Ages

1. The Middle Ages • 500 to 1500 • fall of Rome to modern era • aka Dark Ages • Key events: revival of learning under Charlemagne, breakup of Charlemagne’s empire & return to Dark Ages, end of Dark Ages, slow return of learning (scholasticism), & Renaissance

2. The Middle Ages what is so important about the year 1000? Early Middle Middle Middle Late or High Middle • millenia fear • importance of the church  Christendom

3. The Middle Ages • Early Christian church in Europe • little organization at beginning • no distinction between laity & clergy • need arises for organization as church grows • two officials  presbyter (elder) & bishop (overseer) • by 100s, presbyters (later known as priests) answer to bishops • local churches administered by priests • several churches make up diocese – run by bishop • several diocese adm. by archbishop  modeled after Rome

4. The Middle Ages • Growth of monasticism • St. Benedict • monk  lives apart from worldly concerns • prayer & labor • early monasteries adm. by abbot • - provide important function in medieval world • social worker  care for sick & poor • schools – centers of learning • role model • transcription • kept alive European culture

5. The Middle Ages • But before we keep talking about the role of the church, we need to talk about… • The Franks (great name) • 300s on  Rome was a mess! • invaders, bad gov’t, etc. • 476 – last Roman emperor replaced by German king  Odoacer • Franks settle in northern Gaul or known as France today • first king – Clovis • unite Franks • converts to Christianity • begins Merovingian line of kings

6. The Middle Ages • Merovingian kings – Do-Nothing Kings • problems: succession, Mayors of the Palace • Charles Martel – the Hammer! • Mayor of the Palace • 732  defeats Muslims at Tours • son  Pepin the Short • Seizes kingdom – 751 – Carolingian line of kings • helps pope remove threat of Lombards • rewarded by pope proclaiming Pepin “king by the grace of God”

7. The Middle Ages • Donation of Pepin - takes land from around Rome and gives it to the Pope • accomplishes 3 things: • create long-lasting alliance between the Franks and the pope that greatly benefited both sides • Pope looks west for help rather than east • established precedent where pope confers right to rule onto the king

8. The Middle Ages • Charlemagne – Charles the Great • 768-814 • expands Frankish empire to most of western and central Europe • 3 great achievements (maybe 4) • Military • - conquers Lombards in Italy • - Avars in central Europe • - Saxons in Germany • - drives Muslims back into Spain 2. Government (administration) - each region organized into county headed by count - missi dominici - Aix-la-Chapelle or Aachen - no taxes - low expenses - each person responsible for military duty

9. The Middle Ages • 3. Education • - founded palace school • - brought in best scholars from around Europe • - produce authentic and readable Bible • liked to have books read to him – illiterate • Carolingian Renaissance • 4. Crowned Emperors of the Romans • solidifies relationship between Franks and papacy • - established empire in the model of the old Roman Empire  Holy Roman Empire • - with the church’s blessing

10. The Middle Ages • Charlemagne dies 814 • empire divided by 3 grandsons • Treaty of Verdun (843) • Charles the Bald (France), Lothair (middle kingdom), & Louis the German (Germany) • begin fighting amongst themselves • - Difficult to hold together divided kingdoms • division allowed invaders to come • north – Vikings south – Muslims east- Magyars • begin the Dark Ages again – end of Carolingian Renaissance