Charlemagne and the Germanic Kingdoms

1. Charlemagne and the Germanic Kingdoms 1-13-09

2. Invasions • The fall of Rome in 476 results in chaos • Constant warfare results in new trends • Disruption of trade • Downfall of cities • Population shifts

3. Decline in Learning • Germanic invaders were illiterate • Families left cities • Knowledge of Greek lost • Tribes had no written language • But had oral traditions

4. Loss of Language • Under Roman culture Latin was common language • Germanic people mixed their language with Latin • Every region had a different unrecognizable language

5. Kingdoms Emerge

6. Government • Boundaries shifted and gov’t changed • Family and loyalty more important than citizenship • Lived in small communities • Germanic leaders led small armies of loyal soldiers • Obeyed leaders they respected – would not follow an unknown leader

7. The Franks • Clovis first great leader of the Franks • Wife was Christian – wanted him to convert • While fighting a battle Clovis will convert if victorious • Baptized after – Church in Rome welcomes him – supports his conquests • Clovis unites the Franks

8. Questions • Why would the church welcome Clovis and support his conquests? • Who benefits from this relationship? • What do the people who benefit get?

9. Christianity Spreads • Leaders who had been converted spread Christianity • The church supports these leaders to spread the faith • Missionaries spread the word • Mainly spread in former Roman territories • Also converted to get help against Muslims

10. Rome and Christianity

11. Monasteries and Convents • These were religious communities in rural areas • Monks and Nuns lived here • Older monks had been like hermits • Benedict – set rules for monasteries

12. Rule of Saint Benedict Examples • Read the Handout – Lets make a list of what life is like for a monk • Prayer/Meditation • Service to God • Solitude • Rigid Schedule

13. Gregory I • Expanded papal power • Becomes a secular power in the world • Used church money to raise armies, repair roads, help the poor • Negotiated treaties • The pope controls from Italy to England • Church kingdom

14. European Empire • Fall of Rome led to Roman territory splintering • Small kingdoms begin to unite • Clovis first king unites what is now France • In Clovis’ kingdom major domo (mayor of the palace) became more powerful than the king

15. Charles Martel • Was a major domo • Extended the reign of Franks • Stopped the invading Muslims at Tours • Stops the spread of Muslim faith • At death passed power to son Pepin the Short

16. Pepin • Wanted to be king • Made agreement with Pope to attack Lombards • In exchange Pope names Pepin king • Dies in 768

17. Charlemagne • Charles the Great becomes king in 771 • Built Empire greater than any since Rome and until Napoleon almost 1000 years later • 800 Charlemagne attacks people invading Rome • Pope, in gratitude, crowns him Emperor

18. Government • Limited the power of the nobles • Made sure wealthy landowners were just • Visited the whole kingdom • Closely watched everything on huge estates

19. Learning Revival • Charlemagne encourages learning • Surrounds self with scholars • Opened a palace school for nobles at court • Had monasteries open school

20. Fall of Charlemagne • After his death kingdom given to religious son Louis – weak ruler • Treaty of Verdun – divided the kingdom between three grandsons • Lothair – Central Kingdom • Charles the Bald – West Frankish Kingdom • Louis the German – East Frankish Kingdom

22. Feudalism

23. Invaders • Rome fell due to invaders • New groups begin to invade Europe • Vikings – from Scandinavia • Go through Russia into England and Ireland • Make it to Southern France

24. Viking Culture • Great warriors • Also traders and Explorers • Read the Handout

25. Vikings

26. Vikings

27. Magyars & Muslims

28. All Invaders