Objectives: Early Objectives: Early Middle Ages 13.1Middle Ages 13.1• Define “Dark Ages” and explain why this label for

the Early Middle Ages is misleading. • Describe the impact that the collapse of the

Roman Empire and the Germanic invasions had on western Europe

• Explain the rise of the Franks and Charlemagne’s importance within the history of the Franks

• Describe the significance of the Carolingian Renaissance

• Identify the three major influences on the development of medieval Europe

**Also see pages 56-57 in the historical atlas

PeriodizationPeriodizationPeriodizationPeriodizationEarly Middle Ages: 500 – 1000

High Middle Ages: 1000 – 1250

Late Middle Ages: 1250 - 1500

Europe in the Europe in the 6c6c

Europe in the Europe in the 6c6c

Medieval Period in a Historical Medieval Period in a Historical NutshellNutshell• Rome attacked in 476 C.E.

• The beginning of the Middle Ages is often called the "Dark Ages”– Fall of Greece and Rome– Life in Europe during the Middle Ages was very hard.– Very few people could read or write and nobody expected conditions to

improve.– Only hope: strong belief in Christianity; heaven would be better than life

on earth. • In contrast:

– The Muslims in the Middle East and North Africa studied and improved on the works of the ancient Greeks

– Civilization flourished in sub-Saharan Africa, China, India, and the Americas.

• Great change by about 1450– Columbus & America– literacy spread– scientists made great discoveries– The Renaissance is the beginning of modern history.

The Renaissance

Middle Ages: General Middle Ages: General TimelineTimeline

476 C.E.Fall of Rome

1066 C.E.Norman

invasion of Britain

1095-1291C.E. Crusades

1306-1321 Dante’s Divine

Comedy

1386 C.E.Chaucer begins writing

Canterbury Tales

1455 C.E.Printing

Press

Beowulf Composed sometimebetween

850 C.E. 900 C.E. 1453Fall of

Byzantine Empire with invasion of

Ottoman Turks

306 C.E.Constantine comes to power in Eastern Roman Empire; beginning of Byzantine Empire

1347 Bubonic Plague

450 C.E.Anglo-Saxons invade

England

Main Influences on Main Influences on the Middle Ages the Middle Ages

1. Classical heritage of Rome

2. The beliefs and growing power of the Roman Catholic Church

3. Customs of various Germanic tribes

Key Concepts of the Middle Key Concepts of the Middle AgesAgesWar

ReligionTURMOIL

Crusades

Feudalism: The Middle Ages’ social order

• Church became deeply involved in government• Christianity provided the basis for a first European

"identity," unified in a religion common to most of the continent

• Crusades: Popes, kings, and emperors unite and defend Christendom from the perceived aggression of Islam

• From the 7th century onward, Islam had been gaining ground along Europe's southern and eastern borders.

Germanic PeoplesGermanic PeoplesRoman empire overran by Germanic groups with repeated invasions and constant warfare

• Breakdown of trade: money became scarce.

• Cities abandoned – no longer center of economy or administration

• Population became rural.

• Decline of literacy – priests and other church officials were the few that were literate.

• Breakup of unified empire – language began to change. Latin branches off into Romance languages

• End of Democracy

Rome

• Unified by common language, loyalty to public government, and written law

• Orderly governmentGermanic

• Family ties and personal loyalty unified the Germanic tribes

• People lived in small communities governed by unwritten rules and traditions

• Ruled by a Chief who led a band or warriors loyal only to him – not some emperor they’d never seen

The Franks The Franks

European Empire European Empire EvolvesEvolvesAfter the decline of the Roman Empire small

kingdoms sprang up all over Europe.

The largest and the strongest was controlled by the Franks

• Lead by Clovis – first Christian king

• Area that is now France & Switzerland

• Greatest king was Charlemagne

• most powerful king in Western Europe

• encouraged learning & helped strengthen the power of the Church

The Rise of the FranksThe Rise of the Franks• Clovis—first Christian king of the Franks—brought

Christianity to the Germanic tribes living in the former Roman province of Gaul

• By 511 Clovis had extended Frankish rule over most of what is today France

• Charles Martel: “mayor of the palace” and eventually took on military status—major victory at Tours in 732 against Muslims

• Pipin the Short: fought the Lombards in Italy on behalf of the pope—in exchange the pope anointed him “king by the grace of god”—beginning of the Carolingian Dynasty (751-987)

Battle of Tours: 732 CEBattle of Tours: 732 CE• October 10, 732 CE October 10, 732 CE

marks the conclusion marks the conclusion of the Battle of of the Battle of Tours, arguably one Tours, arguably one of the most decisive of the most decisive battles in all of battles in all of history. (history. (Charles Martel Charles Martel in 732 defeated the in 732 defeated the Moors at the Battle of Moors at the Battle of Tours) Tours)

• Martel became a Martel became a Christian hero by Christian hero by saving western saving western Europe from Muslim Europe from Muslim control control Charles

Martel

Charlemagne: 742 to Charlemagne: 742 to 814814

Charlemagne: 742 to Charlemagne: 742 to 814814

Charlemagne’s Charlemagne’s EmpireEmpire

Charlemagne’s Charlemagne’s EmpireEmpire

Charlemagne’s RuleCharlemagne’s Rule• First emperor since the fall of Rome First emperor since the fall of Rome • Established reforms to rule efficiently Established reforms to rule efficiently • Set up a bureaucracy in AachenSet up a bureaucracy in Aachen• Gave power to counts who ruled the counties—Gave power to counts who ruled the counties—

they were members of the warrior aristocracy they were members of the warrior aristocracy • Sent important officials out to check on the Sent important officials out to check on the

behavior of the counts and the collection of taxes behavior of the counts and the collection of taxes (usually a aristocrat and a high-ranking church (usually a aristocrat and a high-ranking church official) official)

• Passed laws effective for whole empirePassed laws effective for whole empire• Required the leaders of the empire to meet once Required the leaders of the empire to meet once

a year at a general assembly a year at a general assembly

Pope Crowned CharlemagnePope Crowned CharlemagneHoly Roman Emperor: Dec. Holy Roman Emperor: Dec.

25, 80025, 800

Pope Crowned CharlemagnePope Crowned CharlemagneHoly Roman Emperor: Dec. Holy Roman Emperor: Dec.

25, 80025, 800

The Carolingian The Carolingian RenaissanceRenaissance

The Carolingian The Carolingian RenaissanceRenaissance

Charlemagne on a coin—modeled after

coins from the Roman Empire

Charlemagne devoted himself to the study of

the liberal arts, set up a palace school, promoted

art & architecture

Carolingian MinisculeCarolingian MinisculeCarolingian MinisculeCarolingian Miniscule

Carolingian or Caroline minuscule is a script developed as a writing standard in Europe so that the

Roman alphabet could be easily recognized by the small literate

class from one region to another. It was

used in Charlemagne's

empire between approximately 800

and 1200.

Decline of the Decline of the Franks Franks • Charlemagne’s son Louis the Pious Charlemagne’s son Louis the Pious was was

weak and indecisiveweak and indecisive• Louis’ 3 sons were Lothair, Charles Louis’ 3 sons were Lothair, Charles

the Bald, and Louis the German –all the Bald, and Louis the German –all wanted the kingshipwanted the kingship

• Treaty of Verdun (843)—divided Treaty of Verdun (843)—divided empire up into 3 parts—end of a empire up into 3 parts—end of a large unified empire under Frankish large unified empire under Frankish control control

While the Roman Empire declined the Church remained

• Missionaries succeeded in spreading Christianity

• Adapted to rural conditions by building monasteries – religious communities of men

oFirst monks were hermits

o Rules first established by St. Benedict (ca. 500)

o Became best educated communities

o Nunneries also founded— St. Scholastica founds first order of Benedictine nuns

• Shared belief bonded the people together

• The church served as a stable force as well as social center

Power of the ChurchPower of the Church

Pope Gregory the Great (590-Pope Gregory the Great (590-604)604)

• Successful administrator and persuasive personality—greatly increased the power of the pope (successor of St. Peter)

• Wrote about religious works • Broadened the Church’s power by

becoming involved in secular affairs • Sponsored conversion efforts—sent St.

Augustine to England to convert the Anglo-Saxons

The ClergyThe ClergyReligious officials had different ranks within the

church structure

The Medieval Catholic ChurchThe Medieval Catholic ChurchThe Medieval Catholic ChurchThe Medieval Catholic Church

filled the power vacuum left from the collapse of the classical world.

Monasticism:

St. Benedict – Benedictine Rule of poverty, chastity, and obedience.

provided schools for the children of the upper class.

inns, hospitals, refuge in times of war.

libraries & scriptoria to copy books and illuminate manuscripts.

monks missionaries to the barbarians. [St. Patrick, St. Boniface]

The Power of the The Power of the Medieval ChurchMedieval ChurchThe Power of the The Power of the Medieval ChurchMedieval Church

bishops and abbots played a large part in the feudal system.

the church controlled about 1/3 of the land in Western Europe.

tried to curb feudal warfare only 40 days a year for combat.

curb heresies crusades; Inquisition

tithe 1/10 tax on your assets given to the church.

Peter’s Pence 1 penny per person [paid by the peasants].

A Medieval Monk’s DayA Medieval Monk’s DayA Medieval Monk’s DayA Medieval Monk’s Day

A Medieval Monastery: The A Medieval Monastery: The ScriptoriumScriptorium

A Medieval Monastery: The A Medieval Monastery: The ScriptoriumScriptorium

Monks laboriously copied

manuscripts by hand—mostly

religious works but also “pagan”

works from ancient Greece

and Rome—centers of the

preservation of knowledge in the Early Middle Ages

Celtic monasteries especially devoted to

learning and to preserving classical

civilization

Early Monasticism in EnglandEarly Monasticism in England

St. Columba founded the monastery at Iona in the 8th century—island off the coast of Scotland—important center of manuscript illumination and preservation of knowledge—later moved to Kells in Ireland to escape the Vikings

Illuminated Manuscripts; Early Illuminated Manuscripts; Early Middle Ages Middle Ages

Illuminated Manuscripts; Early Illuminated Manuscripts; Early Middle Ages Middle Ages

Book of Kells: Chi-Rho page—page is vellum and the inks were made from various minerals and plants

**The Book of Kells is an Irish (Celtic) illuminated manuscript containing the 4 books of the Gospel

**Created in a monastery on the island of Iona

**Dynamic Celtic patterns—this chaos contained by the letters, which represent Christ

Book of Kells: Chi-Rho page—page is vellum and the inks were made from various minerals and plants

**The Book of Kells is an Irish (Celtic) illuminated manuscript containing the 4 books of the Gospel

**Created in a monastery on the island of Iona

**Dynamic Celtic patterns—this chaos contained by the letters, which represent Christ

Romanesque Architectural Romanesque Architectural StyleStyle

Romanesque Architectural Romanesque Architectural StyleStyle Rounded Arches & barrel vaults—based

on the Roman basilica plan (cruciform)

ca. 900s-1200—examples found all over Europe—reflects regional styles

Thick walls to support roof—aimed towards height

Darker, simplistic interiors.

Small windows, usually at the top of the wall.

TheEarly

MiddleAgeswas a

dangeroustime. The

social, political, and

economic system of feudalism

evolved out of this

turbulent world