Aim: Did the early Middle Ages deserve to be called the Dark Ages?

Do Now: Is it beneficial or a burden to be the middle child?

I What were the Middle Ages?A) The Middle Ages was the time between the fall of the Western Roman Empire (476 CE) and the beginning of the Renaissance (15th century). This was a time of weak government, and a reduction in trade and literacy. B) At the same time as medieval Western Europe, the Byzantine Empire in the east was continuing the legacy of the Roman Empire.

Early Middle Ages 476 CE – 1000 CEHigh Middle Ages 1000 CE – 1300 CE

Late Middle Ages 1300 CE – Renaissance (14th century)

The Development of Latin

Latin

French

Spanish

RomanianItalian

Portuguese

In the Middle Ages, Latin developed into

early forms of the Romance languages that we are familiar with today; French,

Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, and Romanian.

Languages that are spoken every day are known as vernacular.

II Germanic Kingdoms Take Over EuropeA) 400-600 small Germanic kingdoms took over Western Europe.B) Loyalty to local chiefs

Germanic Kingdoms Continued…C) Clovis (466-511) united several Frankish tribes and founded the Merovingian dynasty. **He converted to Catholicism (instead of the Arian form of Christianity practiced by many Germanic peoples).

Arianism was a Christian “heresy” founded by Arius in the 3rd

Century, Alexandria Egypt. He taught that Jesus was not of the same substance as God, but was the highest of created beings.

Germanic Kingdoms Continued…D) Charles Martel “The Hammer” (688 – 741 CE) was a descendent of Clovis. In October 732 Charles won a major victory against the Saracens (Muslims) outside Poitiers despite the fact that the invaders were mounted and the Franks were on foot. The battle, aside from temporarily checking the expansion of the Muslims, was significant as Charles became convinced of the necessity of cavalry. After Poitiers, Charles developed the cavalry as his primary offensive fighting force. This change, however, proved highly expensive. Charles found it necessary to "borrow" considerable lands from the Church; he then dispersed these properties among his lower nobles. In his effort to maintain unity in the Frankish realm and to combat the Saracens, Charles relied heavily on the support of the Church. In 739 Pope Gregory III asked him to defend the Holy See against the Lombards; Charles, however, did not intervene because of an earlier treaty with the Lombards.

Look at the map on the next

slide; why would the Pope fear

the Lombards?

Germanic Kingdoms Continued…Pippin III “The Short” (also spelled Pepin), was the son of Charles Martel, the father of Charlemagne, and the first Carolingian ruler of the Franks to be anointed as King. For years the Merovingian kings had been rulers of Francia in name only. When Charles Martel died in 741, Pippin and his brother were declared "mayors" of the Franks. His brother decided to enter a monastery in 747, leaving Pippin as the sole ruler of the Franks. Pippin decided that, since he already held the responsibilities of rule, he should hold the title as well. He wrote to the pope asking, "Is it wise to have kings who hold no power of control?" Pope Zacharias wrote back authorizing Pippin's coronation. Pippin III was crowned king at Soissons by St. Boniface in November, 751. As king, Pippin was a strong supporter of the Catholic Church. When the king of the Lombards seized Ravenna and threatened Rome, Pope Stephen II requested Pippin's help. When the pope returned to Italy, Pippin and his army went with him and, after a fierce battle, he won from the Lombard king the promise of returning the captured lands to the papacy. Pippin's promise (and the 756 document that would later record it) became known as the Donation of Pippin, part of the precedent used by the Papacy to justify its claims to lands in Italy.

DONATION OF PEPIN BELOW

III CharlemagneA) Charlemagne was a Frankish king who ruled 768 – 814 CE.B) He worked to build a “new Rome” centered in what is today France and Germany. *It only took 53 military campaigns!

The main rivers of France and Germany are the Rhone, Loire,

Seine, and Rhine

Loire River Valley

Charlemagne’s Empire

Charlemagne Continued…C) Charlemagne tried to recreate a centralized government by

dividing his empire into counties, each governed by a Count, and each with their own Bishop.

Charlemagne’s Castle at Aachen

Charlemagne Continued…D) He brought in foreign scholars to build schools. Subjects were taught in Latin, not vernacular languages. Scholars copied and preserved ancient Greek and Roman texts. *Many Franks resisted, as they did not believe literacy was beneficial to a warrior lifestyle.

Primary Source on Charlemagne by Einhard, His Good Friend

He [Charlemagne] most zealously cultivated the liberal arts, held those who taught them in great esteem, and conferred great honors upon them... The King spent much time and labor with him studying rhetoric [the art of public speaking], dialectics, and especially astronomy… and used to investigate the motions of the heavenly bodies most curiously, with an intelligent scrutiny. He also tried to write, and used to keep tablets and blanks in bed under his pillow, that at leisure hours he might accustom his hand to form the letters; however, as he did not begin his efforts in due season, but late in life, they met with ill success.

Charlemagne Continued…E) He tried to conquer the Moors (Spanish Muslims) but failed. He DID force them across the Pyrenees [mountains that separate Spain & France]. Created a buffer zone between Christian and Muslim Europe.

F) Charlemagne’s Empire had required military service. His men fought with whatever weapons they owned. *This was not an organized and well trained army like that of ancient Rome.

The Song of RolandThe Song of Roland was an epic poem written circa 1100 CE. The poem is about Roland, a fearless warrior who fights the Saracens (Muslims) for Charlemagne. In the story, the Muslims far outnumbered the Franks, so Charlemagne asked God for help, and won the battle. *It is the oldest surviving piece of French literature.

1. Who were the “heathens”? How do you know?1. How is this story different from reality?

The heathens said, “We were born to shame. This day for our disaster came: Our lords and leaders in battle lost… We hear the trumpets of France ring out… Hurl we our missiles, and hold aloof.”… They flung, with all their strength and craft, Javelin, barb, and plumèd shaft. Roland’s buckler was torn and frayed… Yet entrance none to his flesh they made... Then from the field have the heathen flown Roland remaineth, on foot, alone.

Song of Roland, 1100 CE

IV Charlemagne & the PopeA) On Christmas Day 800 CE Pope Leo III crowned Charlemagne and declared him “Emperor of the Romans”. His Empire became known as the Holy Roman Empire.B) Pope Leo III did this to form an alliance with Charlemagne against the Byzantine Empire.

V Death of CharlemagneA) Charlemagne died in 814 CE of an unknown illness. In 843 his grandsons signed the Treaty of Verdun that split the Empire into 3 regions.B) Soon after the Empire lost power due to Muslims and Viking invasionsC) The Holy Roman Empire was revived by Otto I in 962 CE. It lasted until 1806!

VI Charlemagne’s Legacy

POSITIVES

Expanded Christian

civilization

Spread education

Made strongest centralized government in Western

Europe since Rome.

NEGATIVES

His empire broke up immediately after his death.

His education reforms were limited due to a lack of

resources & proper roads.

He did not fulfill his goal of creating a new Roman Empire.

Led to long lasting conflict between Emperors & Popes for power

Focus Questions1. Begin to fill in your Period 3 civilization chart for medieval western Europe. *Keep in mind that we will be discussing this topic for 1-2 weeks, so stick to what you think is the most important.2. What were the main accomplishments (according to western European Christians) of Clovis, Charles Martel, Pepin III, and Charlemagne? *When discussing Charlemagne, use evidence from his biography by Einhard.3. How did the relationship between the Church and Frankish kings evolve during this period? Do you think this helped or hurt western Europe?4. Voltaire, an Enlightenment philosopher said the following about the Holy Roman Empire: "This agglomeration which was called and which still calls itself the Holy Roman Empire was neither holy, nor Roman, nor an empire." Do you agree or disagree with this statement? Explain in 1-2 paragraphs.

Key VocabularyArianismBuffer ZoneCarolingiansCharlemagneCharles MartelClovisDonation of PippinEinhardFranksHoly Roman EmpireLoireLombardsMerovingiansMoorsPepin IIIPope Leo IIIRhineRhoneRomance LanguagesSeineSong of RolandTreaty of VerdunVernacular Languag