1

THE CAROLINGIAN AGE

PROGRESS & CHANGE IN THE9TH–10TH CENTURIES

The FRANKISH EMPIRE

• Frankish Kings = MEROVINGIANS– WEAK kings ceremonial role after 639

• strong MAYORS of the PALACE– CHARLES MARTEL, Battle of Tours, 732– counts and dukes of provinces

• 751 PEPIN the SHORT usurped throne• “CAROLINGIAN DYNASTY”

2

CHARLEMAGNE

• r. 768–814– 800: Holy Roman

Emperor• Expanded Frankish

Empire• Reforms &

RENAISSANCE

3

CAROLINGIAN EXPANSION

• Originally ruled with CARLOMAN– 777 Carloman died: Charles ruled alone

• Conquered Italy from Lombards• Conquered East: Bavaria, Saxony

– forcibly converted pagans to Christianity• battled Muslims on Spanish border

4

REFORMS• Administration

– Legal reforms:written law

– COMES (Counts)local rulingfamilies

– MISSI DOMINICIroving assessors

5

ECONOMIC REFORM

• new standardized silver coinage• much better record-keeping• micromanagement of taxes, prices and

levies

EDUCATION REFORM

• monastic schools• copying of classical

texts• important sponsor &

employer of literarymen

6

The Empire United• many ethnicities,

languages, origins• ROMAN

CATHOLICISM– standardized the liturgy– built new monasteries &

churches– forced conversions

The Martyrdom of St Boniface

7

RENAISSANCE

• A flowering of art, literature,history music, architecture– MEDIEVAL LATIN– CAROLINGIAN MINISCULE

SCRIPT– NEW TEXTS– LIBERAL ARTS

CURRICULUM

8

AN EMPOWERED CHURCH

• Many new monasteries– Important land-owners

• Abbots and Bishops: local MAGNATES– Powerful LAY INFLUENCE

• A single Christianity for Europe– Increased confidence– Renewed focus on non-Christians

CHRISTENDOM

ROMAN CATHOLICISMfirmly at the HEART of

EUROPE

9

RISING ANTI-SEMITISM

• Jews across Europe:– Blamed for Jesus’ death– Subject to “Blood libels”– Victims of sporadic violence

• Jewish Life– Urban– Educated– Focused on TRADE & FINANCE

Why?

• URBANIZATION• CHURCH REFORMS• RISE OF MONETARY ECONOMY

– Usury = lending of money for income• Strengthened CHRISTIAN IDENTITY• Association with MUSLIMS

10

THE FATE OF EMPIRE

• Charlemagne died 814• 10 women (4 marriages):• 20 children:

– 9 illegitimate children– 7 legitimate daughters– 4 legitimate sons

• Only LOUIS outlived his father

LOUIS THE PIOUS• 814–840

– Holy Roman Emperor 816–840• Strengthened church• Renaissance continued• Louis WEAKER:

– poor provision for the inheritance– 3 civil wars with his sons– 3 surviving legitimate sons

11

CIVIL WARS

• 840–843– Lothair vs.– Louis the German vs.– Charles the Bald

• 843 – TREATY OF VERDUN• 869 – TREATY of MERSEN ⇒

– West & East Francia, Italy

12