Key TermsEffects of the Fall of Rome

FranksCharlemagne

Feudalism

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Coach Smith

The fall of Rome brought many importantchanges to Western Europe.

Effects of the Fall of RomeGermanic tribes took over Roman lands.Hundreds of little kingdoms took the place of

the Western Roman Empire in Europe.Initially, there was no system for collecting

taxes.Kingdoms were always at war with one

another.People lost interest in learning.

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Coach Smith

Warfare increased. Trade decreased.The “Dark Ages” began.

The “Dark Ages”Historians call the period following the fall of

Rome the “Dark Ages.”

Formerly, this period is known as the beginning of the Middle Ages.

It was a time of increased warfare, decreased trade, and a decline in learning.

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Coach Smith

Clovis was an importantking of the

Franks. TheFranks wereone of the

largestGermanic

tribes.

Clovis and the FranksIn A.D. 481, Clovis united the Franks and

became their king.

Clovis converted to the Roman Catholic faith.

Essentially, the Franks blended Germanic and Roman cultural practices.

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Coach Smith

Charlemagnebecame king of the Franksin 768 A.D.

He conquereda vast empire

and triedto recreate

the glory of theRomanEmpire.

CharlemagneCharlemagne became king of the Franks in

768 A.D. He tried to recreate the glory of the Roman Empire.

He conquered a vast empire and was proclaimed Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire by Pope Leo III.

He gave land to his nobles in exchange for their loyalty and military service.

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Coach Smith

Pope Leo III crowned Charlemagne “HolyRoman Emperor”.

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During his reign, Charlemagne tried torecreate the Roman Empire. However,

after his death, the empire declined.

The Rise of FeudalismWhile Charlemagne’s descendants were not

able to recreate the glory of the Roman Empire, the Franks did greatly affect life in the Middle Ages.

Indeed, the Frankish practice of giving land to nobles in exchange for loyalty and military service spread throughout Western Europe.

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Coach Smith

Life duringthe Middle Ageswas based on

a series of exchanges.

Lesser Lords obeyed more powerful Lords in

exchange for land.

Questions for Reflection:Why did historians call the early Middle Ages

the “Dark Ages”?Who was Clovis and how did his conversion

affect the Franks?Why did Pope Leo III crown Charlemagne

“Holy Roman Emperor”?Define feudalism.How is feudalism different from other

political systems?

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Mini-ProjectA. Historical Research:

The name Charlemagne means Charles the Great. In a 3-5 paragraph essay explain how Charles became known as the Great.

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