STANDARD WHI.9c Charlemagne / the Franks

Objective The student will demonstrate knowledge of Western Europe during the Middle Ages from about 500 to 1000 C.E. in terms of its impact on Western civilization by c) explaining the rise of Frankish kings, the Age of Charlemagne, and the revival of the idea of the Roman Empire.

Essential Understandings Frankish kings used military power to expand their territory.

The alliance between Frankish kings and the Church re-established Roman culture (Christianity) in Western Europe.

Essential Questions How did Charlemagne revive the idea of the Roman Empire?

Essential Knowledge • Age of Charlemagne • Franks emerged as a force in Western Europe. • The Pope crowned the Emperor. • Power of the Church was established in political life. • Roman culture was reinterpreted. • Most of Western Europe was included in the new empire. • Churches, roads, and schools were built to unite the empire.

Charlemagne Takes Center Stage Charlemagne built an empire greater than any known since ancient Rome. Each summer Charlemagne led his armies against the enemies that surrounded his kingdom. He fought the Muslims in Spain and tribes from other Germanic kingdoms. Charlemagne conquered new lands to both the south and the east. Through these conquests, Charlemagne spread Christianity. He reunited western Europe for the first time since the Roman Empire. By 800, the Carolingian empire exceeded the Byzantine Empire. It included two-thirds of Italy, all of present-day France, a small part of Spain, and all of German Saxony. Charlemagne had become the most powerful king in western Europe.

In 800, Charlemagne traveled to Rome to crush an unruly mob that had attacked the pope. In gratitude, Pope Leo III crowned him emperor. The coronation was historic. A pope had claimed the political right to confer the title “Roman Emperor” on a European king. This event signaled the joining of Germanic power, the Church, and the heritage of the Roman Empire.

Charlemagne’s Government Charlemagne strengthened his royal power by limiting the authority of the nobles. To govern his empire, Charlemagne sent out royal agents. They made sure that the powerful landholders, called counts, governed their counties justly. Charlemagne also regularly visited every part of his kingdom. He judged cases, settled disputes, and rewarded faithful followers. He also kept a close watch on the management of his huge estates. They were the source of Carolingian wealth and power.

Cultural Revival One of Charlemagne’s greatest accomplishments was his encouragement of learning. Charlemagne surrounded himself with English, German, Italian, and Spanish scholars. For

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STANDARD WHI.9c Charlemagne / the Franks his many sons and daughters and other children at the court, Charlemagne opened a palace school. He ordered monasteries to open schools that trained future monks and priests. Monasteries expanded their libraries. Monks labored to make handwritten copies of Latin books.

Charlemagne’s Heirs Are Weak Rulers A year before Charlemagne died in 814, he crowned his only surviving son, Louis the Pious, as emperor. Louis was a devoutly religious man. He might have fared better as a monk. Louis proved an ineffective ruler. Louis left three sons: Lothair (loh•THAIR), Charles the Bald, and Louis the German. Louis’s sons fought one another for the empire. The civil war ended in 843 when the brothers signed the Treaty of Verdun. This pact divided Charlemagne’s empire into three kingdoms. After the treaty, Carolingian kings lost power. As central authority broke down, the lack of strong rulers led to a new system of governing and landholding.

(excerpt from McDougal Littell Ancient World History; p.320)

Frankish Method of Spreading Christianity Leader Clovis

Charles Martel Charlemagne

Charlemagne’s Actions Effect of Actions

Conquered new lands

Traveled to Rome to stop an unruly mob from attacking Pope Leo III

Limited power of the nobles

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