Global connections Unit 3Chapter 7 section 1

Europe after the fall of the Roman EmpireThe Frankish Kingdoms

Early Middle Ages

The Early Middle Ages500-1000 AD

• Characteristics (a dark age?)• Culture

• 3 elements (German, Christian, Roman)• How did the Roman Catholic Church survive as

the Empire fell?• Autonomy (courts and law)• Leadership• Organization

Life after Rome: Barbarian tribes established Kingdoms throughout Europe

The Expanded Role of the Clergy Early Caesaropapism: Popes of this time were

forced to assume both temporal and spiritual authority Pope Gregory the Great (590-614) (Chant)

exercised independent Temporal power (ex: helped the poor) St. Benedict (Monte Cassino 529): The rules for monastic

life The Role of Monks and Nuns

Manuscript illumination Missionary work (St. Boniface) Hospitals, education of farmers

Germanic Culture Oral tradition Rural not urban Legal system

Trial by ordeal Customs

Polygamy Incest Divorce Infanticide

The Franks 486, Clovis conquers

Gaul after making an alliance with the Roman Catholic Church United all the Frankish

Tribes

Europe in 526 AD

Battle of Tours 732 Muslim army crossed

into France Charles (The

Hammer) Martel rallied Frankish warriors

Christians triumphed Importance of this

victory?

Charlemagne 742-814 Grandson of Charles

Martel Hunting, riding, and

singing Christian upbringing 4 legal wives and 6

concubines King of Franks Became known as

Charlemagne “Charles the Great”

Charles as Germanic Warrior Saved Papacy from Lombards 773-774 Defeated the Byzantines and the Avars Used fear and his incredible energy to control

his Empire He sought to awe conquered peoples with his

fierce presence and terrible justice 4,000 Saxons killed at Verdun in one day

The Empire of Charlemagne

Battle of Roncesvalles 778

On way home form Spain his rear guard was

ambushed by Basques or Saracens Charlemagne’s only defeat

Roland became a great hero of many songs, dances, and romances (The Song of Roland)

Charles as Christian Administrator Delegated authority to local Counts Checked on what they were doing using a

system of Missi Dominici (agents of the King) One clergy one layman (every year) Accountability

Scholarship He Studied Logic, Rhetoric,

Dialects He could read Latin but could

not write Sponsored education by establishing

Cathedral schools (most imp?) At his court in Aachen (aka. Aix-

Le-Chapelle) Charlemagne assembled scholars Alcuin of Northumbria Einhard (Vita Caroli)

Pope Leo III and the Coronation Asked for Charlemagne’s

help against rebellious nobles in Rome

800 AD, Christmas Day The Pope proclaimed him

Emperor This event solidifies his identity as a man

of Frankish practices and Christian ideals