The Early Middle Ages8.1

Mr. Marsh

Columbus North High School

Geography of Western Europe

• Roman roads linked distant European territories

• With those roads spread Christianity, Trade, Learning Etc…

• Europe is relatively small (2nd smallest continent

Germanic Kingdoms

• Germanic tribes migrated across western and northern Europe.– Very different culture than that of the Romans

– Franks-strongest Germanic Kingdom• Clovis, king of the Franks 486 AD

– Converted to Christianity– Kept many Roman traditions in the area of Gaul

Europe and the Muslim World

• 711 Muslims enter Europe at the Strait of Gibraltar

• 732 the Muslim warriors were stopped by European Christian Army at the Battle of Tours– Lead by Charles Martel

• (Grand Father of Charlemagne)• To them, the victory at tours was a sign that God

was on their side

Charlemagne

• Around 800 AD Charles Martel’s grandson built and empire that stretch from France into Germany and parts of Italy

• Charlemagne loved to fight– His conquest reunited much of the old Roman

Empire

Charlemagne Cont’

• Pope Leo III called on Charlemagne for help against rebellious nobles in Rome

• Christmas Day Pope Leo placed a crown on Charlemagne’s head and proclaimed him the Emperor of the Romans– Christian Pope crowned a German King

Emperor of Rome (BIG DEAL!!!!)

Charlemagne Cont’

• Pope Leo’s actions outraged the Emperor of the eastern Roman Empire at Constantinople

• Government– Appointed powerful nobles to rule local regions– Missi Dominici (MIH see dohm in NEE kee)

• Government officials that checked roads, listen to grievances, took care of justice etc…

Revival of Learning lead by Charlemagne

• Charlemagne wanted to see his court at Aachen (AH kuhn) become a “second Rome”

• Founded a school at Aachen– Curriculum based on Latin Learning

• Grammar, logic, arithmetic, geometry, music and astronomy

• Scholars' were also hired to copy books such as the Bible

After Charlemagne

• Died in 814 his empire soon fell apart

• His heirs battled for power for 30 years until 843 when 3 grandsons signed the Treaty of Verdun (YOU MUST KNOW) which split his empire into three parts

• Charlemagne Legacy– Spread Christian civilization north– Blended German, Roman and Christian traditions– Strong efficient governments

• C:\Documents and Settings\workstation\Desktop\The_Age_of_Charlemagne.asf