Sectin+13-1+Charlemagne+Unites+Germanic+Kingdoms

Charlemagne Unites Germanic Kingdoms


 * Bold: **
 * Middle Ages ** - a age in the Roman empire spanned from about 500 to 1500, During these centuries a new society slowly emerged.
 * Franks- ** a German person who was lead by Clovis.
 * monasteries- ** a place where Christian monks would live.
 * secular- ** a worldly, power involved in politics.
 * Carolingian Dynasty- ** the family that will rule the Franks from 551 to 987.
 * Charlemagne- ** Charles the Great who ruled the kingdom after his father and brother died.


 * Important People: **

- The slow decline of the Roman empire had Europe enter the Middle Ages or the medieval period. It last from 500-1500. It had roots to the classical heritage of Rome, the beliefs of the Roman Catholic Church and the customs of various German Tribes.
 * Setting the Stage: **

- Germanic invaders overran the entire western half of the Roman Empire. Repeated invasions had things fall, Merchants business collapsed, money was scarse and cities and economic collapsed. - As the invasions continued cities were abandon. Romans trade and government center collapsed. The Roman cities no longer had a strong government. The people moved to more rural areas and grew their own food.
 * Invasions of Western Europe: **

- the German who invaded Rome couldn't read or write. So the level of learning dropped dramatically. Lots of knowledge was lost. The German tribes had a rich oral tradition of songs but no written languages.
 * The Decline of Learning:**

- as Romans and Germans mixed Latin changed. It was no longer understood. Different dialect were formed. By the 800s languages like French, Spanish and other romance languages were formed.
 * Loss of a Common Language**:

- Smal German kingdoms replaced Roman provinces, The kindoms were constantly changed because of war. During times of political chaos the Church provided order and security.
 * Germanic Kingdoms Emerge:**

- The German communities had no written rules. family ties and personal loyalty held the Germans together. - Every German chief had a band of warriors who were loyal to him. The warriors lived in the lords hall. he gave them food, weapons and treasure. the warriors fought to the death by the lord's side. The warriors were not loyal to kings they haven't met and messengers sent byt he lord that they had never met.
 * The Concept of Government Changes:**

- Franks held the power in Gaul. Their leader brought Christianity to the region. According to legend his wife had him convert to her faith. In 496 Clovis waged war on an Germanic army. He prayed to the Christian god the Franks one and after Clovis and 3,000 of his warriors asked the bishop to baptize them. - The Church of Rome support Clovis' conversion to Christianity and supported his military campaigns against other Germanic peoples. By 511 Clovis united the Franks into one people. The alliance between the Church and Clovis marked the tart of a partnership between two very powerful forces.
 * Clovis Rules the Franks:**

- Politics was key in spreading Christianity. With help form the Franks the Church converted many people. Missionaries also helped spread Christianity. The newly converted Christians lived in Rome's farm land. In southern Europe the fear of coastal attacks by muslims also made some people become Christians.
 * Germans Adopt Christianity:**

- To adapt to rural living situations the Church built monasteries. There men called monks devoted themselves to godo and gave up all their private possessions. Women who choose to follow this path were called nuns and lived in convents. - An italian monk named Benedict began writing a book laying out a set of struct yet practical rules for monasteries. Benedict's sister, Scholastica, went to a convent and adapted to the same rules. These rules were used by many other religious places in Europe. - Monasteries also became Europe's best education centers. Monks opened schools, maintained libraries and copied books. An english monk named Venerable Bede wrote a history of england. This was considered the best historical book in the Middle Ages. Monks made beautiful religious writings.
 * Monasteries, Convents, and Manuscripts:**

- Gregory the Great became the pope. He expanded the pope's office beyond spiritual role. He became a secular. the pope's palace became the center of Roman government. Gregory used church revenues to raise armies, repair roads and help the poor. He also negotiated peace treaties with attackers. -Gregory felt that the region from Italy to England and from Spain to Germany fell under his responsibility. Gregory strengthened the vision of Christendom. This idea of churchly kingdom ruled by the pope was the central theeme for the Middle Ages.
 * Papal Power Expands Under Gregory:**

- After the Roman Empire dissolved small kingdoms poped up all over Europe. Englad had seven kingdoms. some of them were no larger than the state of Connecticut. The Franks controlled the largest and strongest kingdoms. When Clovis died the Frankish rule over most of what now is France.
 * An Empire Evolves:**

- By 700 an official know as the major domo or the major of the palace had become the most powerful person in the Frankish kingdom. He had control of the royal household and the estates. Unofficially he had control of the army and made policy. - Charles Martel the major of the palace had moe power than any king. He extended the Frank rein to the north, south, and east. He also defeated Spanish raiders in the Battle of Tours. This victory made him a Christian Hero. - When Charles died he gave his power to his son Pepin the Short. Pepin wanted to be king. On the behalf of the Church Pepin agreed to fight the Lombards who invaded central Italy and threatened Rome. In return the pope appointed Pepin "king by the grace of god" This then became the Carolingian Dynasty.
 * Charles Martel Emerges:**

- After Pepin the Short died he left the strong kingdom to his two sons. Carloman and Charles. After Carloman's death Charles took rule.
 * Charlemagne Becomes Emperor:**

- Charlemagne built an empire greater than any other since the ancient Rome Empire. Each summer he would take his armies and have them fight against enemies surrounding the Empire. This helped spread Christianity. He reunited western Europe for the first time since the Roman Empire. He had become the most powerful king in western Europe. - Charlemagne traveled to Rome to crush an unruly mob that had attacked the pope. In gratitude pope Leo III crowed him emperor. It was outrageous because the pope had the power to make someone Roman Emperor. This event signaled the joining of Germanic power, the Church and the heritage of the Roman Empire.
 * Charlemagne Extends Frankish Rule:**

- Charlemagne strengthened his power by limiting the power of nobles. To govern his empire he sent out royal agents. They made sure the strong people in the empire ran the government properly. Charlemagne often visited the parts of his kingdom. He also closely watch the larger estates. The source of Carolingian power an wealth. He greatly supported learning. He surrounded himself with scholars of different religions and races. Charlemagne opened a palace school. He also ordered monasteries to open schools to train future monks and priests.
 * Charlemagne Leads a Revival:**

- Before Charlemagne died he crowed his only son Emperor his son's name was Louis the Pious. Louis was a very religious man but he was an ineffective ruler. He had three children. the three fought for the control of the Empire. In 843 the three brother signed a treaty called the Treaty of Verdun. This divided the empire into three kingdoms. In the end the kings lost their power and central authority broke down. This lead to a feudalism.
 * Charlemagne's Heirs:**