Opening Discussion (3/10/11)Philosophical questions to consider from our previous topic1. Why are laws imperfect at times?2. How can law provide hope for humanity?3. How do humans most commonly display their ideals and

beliefs about the world around them?• Think about the way in which humans, as a species, interact with

the world around us.• Think about the nature of the human race.PUT YOUR MOSAIC IN THE BLACK TRAY

“Perfection is impossible; but if you chase perfection, you can attain excellence” **extra credit for whoever can tell me the person that once said this (5 points)

Topics for Discussion Today

1. Germanic Tribes and their Characteristics2. Franks – dominance in Europe (600-900 AD)3. Charlemagne – 1st “Holy Roman Emperor”

THINGS TO CONSIDER- Think of how Charlemagne and Justinian are

similar?- Think about

What happens after Rome Falls Mr. Pratt??? I’m scared

1. Disruption of Tradea) Money was scarceb) Invasion from Barbariansc) Businesses collapsed

2. Cities are abandoneda) Law and order soon vanishedb) Population shifts (migration of people) from urban areas

(cities) to rural areas (boondocks) 3. Church Authority Grows

a) This is the uniting institution for Western and Central Europeb) The Church will survive of Fall of Rome and provide stability

as well as order in Europe

What happens cont…

• Decline in Learninga) Only Church Officials were literateb) Germanic invaders could not read or write• Oral Traditions of songs and legends replaced written language

among almost all people

c) Scholarship was only kept alive in the monasteries by monks • Much of it was still lost though

• Loss of Common Languagea) Latin changed – will no longer be spoken by common

peopleb) By the 800’s – French, Spanish, Italian, and other Roman

based languages emerge

Map of Barbarian Kingdoms after Rome Falls

Characteristics of Germanic Tribes• Economy – Based on hunting, herding (pigs and cattle), farming and

pillaging• Government – Originally a Chief – elected by elder council• Eventually develops hereditary kingship

• Military– Hard Military Class – Eager for a fight– Chiefs or Kings share spoils of war

• Social– Family units are strong– Larger Clan (group of families) is very important

Germanic Tribe Characteristics• Ideas on Law and Justice (Based on tribal customs and

rituals)a) Compensation payments to those offendedb) Personal Solemn Oath – Lying = Death!• can be supported with character witnesses

c) Trial by Ordeal (test of physical fitness)d) Trial by Personal Combate) No written Law

• Religion Originally Polytheistic (Nature Based)– Group of Cult Gods (a little like early Greek mythology)

• Dominated by THOR (Sky God)– Easter – comes from “Eastre” (spring goddess

Major Tribes

• Goths – group that does most damage to Romans in W. Europe– Visigoths (Western Goths)

• Pushed into Spain by Franks in 507 AD• Defeated by Muslims who invaded Spain in 711-715 AD

– Ostrogoths (Eastern Goths)• Create large kingdom in Italy – lose power to Lombards

• Saxons– Settle in NW Germany by 100’s AD– Move into Britannia as Romans flee in 400’s– Anglos and Saxons combine forces to take over

• England is most affected by Germanic Migrations/Invasions• Vandals

– Settle in North Africa – defeated and wiped out by Muslims in late 600’s• Lombards

– Eventually conquer Italy and force Roman Church to pay tributes

Most Dominant Tribe - FRANKS• Clovis (481-511 AD) – 1st to unite all the Franks

• Called the Merovingian Kingdom

• Defeats Romans and Visigoths– Converts to Christianity

(Roman Church) in 496 AD• Baptized in order to gain

support from papacy (Roman Pope) and large amount of followers

– After death, Empire split between his four sons• Frankish Tradition• Fighting exist for next 200 years

as kingdoms splits up

Charles “The Hammer” Martel• Father was Pepin II• Father reunites divided

kingdoms in 714– “Mayor of the Palace”

– Holds the real power– Not actually the King

though• Sets the stage for the

Merovingian Dynasty to be replaced by the Carolingian Dynasty

732 AD – Battle of Tours• Christian Franks vs.

Spanish Moors (Muslims)• Victory secures

Christianity’s survival in Europe

• Develops Professional Cavalry Class of Soldiers– Land grants in return for

military service and loyalty– Basis of Feudalism in

Europe• Helps to Convert many

Germanic tribes to Roman Christian Church in the following years

Pepin III “The Short” (752-768 AD)

• Son of Charles Martel• Elected King in 752 AD

by group of nobles– Beginning of

Carolingian Kingdom• Asks Pope to anoint

him as King in 754 AD– Legitimizes his rule– Franks and Church

Relationship Strong– Frees Church from

Lombard domination as repayment

Charlemagne – “Charles the Great”• Reign = 768-814 AD

– Creates Capitol at his palace Aix-la-Chapelle in Aachen (Modern Day Belgium)

• Expansion of Frankish Territory for Carolingian Kingdom– Italy completely defeats Lombards– Northern Spain (Pyrenees

Mountains)• Defeat in Pyrenees basis of the French Epic

“Song of Roland”

– Saxony in Northern Germany (30 Year War)• Brutally represses people as he forces them

to accept Roman Church’s version of Christianity (executes thousands during war)

Desire to restore the glory that was ROME

Crowned as Holy Roman Emperor• 800 AD – Christmas Day (most significant moment of Charlemagne’s

rule)• Pope Leo III as heir to the Roman Emperor

– Title = “Holy Roman Emperor”• Basis of Roman Church’s claim that Pope has authority over secular

(non-religious) rulers– Leads to later struggles b/w church and monarchs

“Carolingian Renaissance”

• First era of relative peace and prosperity– Temporary hope to many in Western Europe

• Expands learning and the arts– Even though he was illiterate (common for anyone outside of church)

• Palace Academy at Aachen – church scholars from all over Western Europe

• Curriculum made for Monasteries and Cathedrals (all based in Latin)– Early roots of European universities that come many years later

After Charlemagne’s Death• His son Louis the Pious Rules (814-840 AD)

– Ineffective, only concerned with religious matters during reign• After his son dies Empire split between three grandsons

– Lothair– Louis the German– Charles the Bald

Brothers begin to feud…a) All three are brought together to re-divide the former empire of Charlemagneb) Meet at the city of Verdun in modern day France

Key Effectsa) Shapes Modern Day differences between Germany and Franceb) Fighting still continues, which weakens all the kingdoms a) Lothair dies and brothers split up the kingdom… chaos/anarchy by end of 800’sc) New wave of invaders take away pieces of the former kingdom 1) Magyars Hungary 2) Slavs East Germany 3) Muslims Southern areas 4) VIKINGS ALL OVER

TREATY OF VERDUN (843 AD)

http://chalk.richmond.edu/education/projects/webquests/charlemagne/