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The Middle Ages THE MIDDLE AGES Changes in Western Europe In Europe, the centuries after the fall of Rome are called the Middle Ages, which lasted from about 500 to 1350. The Middle Ages refers to the time between the ancient and modern worlds. During this long stretch of time, Western Europe passed through two distinct phases: the early Middle Ages, lasting from about 500 to 1050, and the late Middle Ages, lasting from about 1050 to 1350. A Shift to the North At its height, the Roman empire included much of Western Europe. Rome unified the region and spread classical ideas, the Latin language, and Christianity to the tribal peoples of Western Europe. But Rome was a Mediterranean power. The Germanic peoples who ended Roman rule in the west shifted the focus to the north. There, the peoples of Europe would begin to create a new civilization, building on the legacy of Rome. Despite the disorder and decay that came with the fall of Rome, Western Europe was a place of great potential. It had fertile land and other resources, such as timber, furs, and tin. In the early Middle Ages, gradual changes took place that would eventually bring a measure of order. A Time of Decline As Rome declined and withdrew from its provinces in Western Europe, these lands suffered severe blows. Waves of invaders swept in, and Roman civilization slowly disappeared. Wars raged constantly. Trade slowed to a trickle, towns emptied, and learning virtually ceased. The early Middle Ages was a harsh and difficult time for the peoples of Europe. Much later, some people looked back on this time and called it the "dark ages" because of the disorder and loss of Roman civilization. Today, historians recognize that the Middle Ages were, in fact, a time of new beginnings. During this long period, Greek, Roman, Germanic, and Christian traditions were slowly blended and gave rise to medieval civilization. Medieval comes from the Latin term for “middle age.” ​ ​ ​ ​ DESCRIBE: What was Western Europe like after the collapse of the western Roman empire? ​ __________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________ Foundations of early medieval society ● Classical heritage of ______________ ● ___________________ beliefs ● Customs of _____________________ tribes Invasions shattered Roman protection over the Empire. The decline of Roman influence in Western Europe left people with little _______________________ against __________________, so they entered into ______________ ________________________ with landholding lords who promised them _____________________. Feudal society during the Middle Ages ● ____________ (land) ● ____________ (landlords; nobles) ● ____________ (peasants) ● Feudal ___________________ Manorial system during the Middle Ages ● Rigid class structure ● __________________________ manors Germanic Kingdoms The Germanic tribes that conquered parts of the Roman empire included the Goths, Vandals, Saxons, and Franks. Their culture was very different from that of the Romans. They were mostly farmers and herders, so they had no cities or written laws. Instead, they lived in small communities governed by unwritten customs. Their kings were elected leaders, chosen by tribal counsels. Warriors swore loyalty to the king in exchange for weapons and a share in the plunder taken from defeated enemies. Between 400 and 700, these Germanic tribes carved Western Europe into small kingdoms. The Kingdom of the Franks The strongest and most successful kingdom was that of the Franks. In 486, Clovis, king of the Franks, conquered the former Roman province of Gaul. Later, this area would be known as France. Clovis ruled his new lands according to Frankish custom. At the same time, however, he managed to preserve much of the Roman legacy in Gaul. Clovis also took an important step when he converted to Christianity, the religion of his subjects in Gaul. In doing so, he not only earned their support, but he also gained a powerful ally in the pope, leader of the Christian Church of Rome. Muslim Armies Advance Into Europe As the Franks and other Germanic peoples carved up Europe, a powerful new force, Islam, swept out of the Middle East across the Mediterranean world. The pope and the Christian kingdoms in Europe watched with alarm as Muslim armies overran Christian lands from Palestine to North Africa and Spain. When a Muslim army crossed into France, Charles Martel rallied Frankish warriors. At the Battle of Tours in 732, Christian warriors triumphed. To them, the victory was a sign that God was ​ on their side. Muslims advanced no farther into Western Europe, although they continued to rule most of what is now Spain. To European Christians, the Muslim presence in Spain and around the Mediterranean was a source of anxiety and anger. Even when the Muslim armies were no longer a threat, Christians continued to have a hostile view of the Muslim world. Still, medieval Europeans did learn from the Arabs, whose knowledge in many areas, especially science and mathematics, was extensive and exceeded their own. IDENTIFY: How did the Germanic tribes govern their kingdoms? _______________________________ ​ ​ __________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________ Charlemagne Builds an Empire In 768, the grandson of Charles Martel became king of the Franks. He built an empire reaching across what is now France, Germany, and part of Italy. The founder of this empire became known as Charlemagne, or Charles the Great. Charlemagne spent much of his 46-year reign fighting Muslims in Spain, Saxons in the north, Avars and Slavs in the east, and Lombards in Italy. Charlemagne loved battle and was a successful conqueror who reunited much of the old Roman empire in Europe. Emperor of the Romans In 799, Pope Leo III asked Charlemagne for help against rebellious nobles in Rome. Charlemagne aided the pope against his attackers. On Christmas Day in the year 800, the pope showed his gratitude by placing a crown on Charlemagne’s head and proclaiming him Emperor of the Romans. This ceremony would have enormous significance. A Christian pope had crowned a Germanic king ​ successor to the Roman emperors. In doing so, Pope Leo III revived the ideal of a united Christian ​ community, which came to be called Christendom. The pope’s action also outraged the eastern Roman emperor in Constantinople. The Byzantine emperor saw himself as the sole Roman ruler. In the long run, the crowning of Charlemagne would deepen an already growing split between the eastern and western Christian worlds. Perhaps even more important, the crowning sowed the seeds for a long and desperate power struggle between later popes and Germanic emperors. Charlemagne built an empire his descendants could not hold together. Locate Charlemagne's empire in 814. Predict Consequences: What might be one result of the division of his empire? Explain. Creating a Unified Christian Empire Charlemagne set out to exercise control over his lands and create a united Christian Europe. Many of his subjects were pagans, as non-Christians were called. Charlemagne worked closely with the Church to spread Christianity to the conquered peoples on the fringes of his empire. During his reign, missionaries won converts among the Saxons and Slavs. Like other Germanic kings, Charlemagne appointed powerful nobles to rule local regions. He gave them land so they could offer support and supply soldiers for his armies. To keep control of these provincial rulers, he sent out officials called missi dominici to check on roads, listen to grievances, ​ ​ and see that justice was done. In the reading above, highlight at least 3 events that demonstrate the partnership between the Franks and the Church? (you should start with the section titled “The Kingdom of the Franks”) ​ Charlemagne Revives Latin Learning Charlemagne hoped to make his capital at Aachen a "second Rome." To achieve this goal, he made a determined effort to revive Latin learning. Charlemagne could read but not write. He is said to have kept a slate by his bed so that he could practice making letters. For him, education also served to strengthen his empire as he saw the need for records and clear reports. To ensure a supply of educated officials, Charlemagne set up a palace school and brought scholars there from all over. He asked a famous scholar, Alcuin of York, to run his palace school. There, scholars were set to work copying ancient manuscripts including the Bible and Latin works of history and science. Charlemagne's Legacy Although Charlemagne's empire crumbled, the great Frankish ruler left a lasting legacy. He extended Christian civilization into northern Europe and furthered the blending of Germanic, Roman, and Christian traditions. He also set up a system for strong, efficient government. Later medieval rulers looked to his example when they tried to strengthen their own kingdoms. REVIEW CHARLEMAGNE: ● Highlight some of Charlemagne’s most important accomplishments in the reading above. ● How did Charlemagne unify Europe after the collapse of Rome? _________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________ ● Pick a leader we’ve discussed this year and
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