Medieval Period_Charlemagne_and_Feudalism.ppt

Editor's Notes

• #1: King – Nobility – Knights – serfs Trade protection for freedom and lands
• #2: Early Middle Ages = 500-1000CE Invaders wiping out Roman civilization Europe = small area with new culture that has a BIG impact Geography = Northern forests, black soil = good for crops with rich materials; sea = good for trade, travel, food, water Germanic Tribes = farmers and herders = small communities with no written laws 400-700CE carved lands into small farming communities
• #3: For the entire period of the Middle Ages Europe was an enormous game board for ambitious leaders of tribes and nations from every corner of the European continent and beyond. Some of the many entities struggling for either a foothold on the continent or expansion of their existing territories were: (see map at right) Vikings (A), Huns, Avars & Slavs (B), Persians, Magyars & Hungarians (C), Visoths, Basques, Umayyads, Murabits & Suevs (D) just to name a few. There were perhaps twice this number sweeping in and, almost as quickly, being swept back out. Within Europe at the contraction of the Western Roman Empire were many Germanic factions or tribes such as the Frisians, Angles, Saxons, Franks, Lombards, Thuringians, Burgundians, Alemanni, Marcomanni, Quadi, Gepids, Rugians, Visogoths, Ostrogoths, Asding and Siling Vandals and more. Most names are now but footnotes of the Middle Ages. With so many aggressors wandering the continent plundering and looting and demanding fealty to totally foreign systems, powers and beliefs it was incumbent on people to take a suspicious and defensive stance with all passing through their districts. Eventually each of these peoples would have a turn at being the wandering nation seeking more room, food, power or just plunder. These were devastating centuries and, with the additional ravages of hunger and disease, it would be reasonable to wonder how civilization managed to advance at all.
• #6: The Huns were still on their rampage westward and it wasn't until 451 that they were turned around after threatening Gaul which, for the most part, is present day France. Shortly thereafter Clovis, King of the Franks, the tribe that had breached the Roman lines at the Rhine, succeeded in capturing the northwestern area of Gaul. From this point on the Franks suffered few setbacks in their push to conquer all of Europe. Clovis and, on his death, his son Chlotar, one of the four sons to inherit the Merovingian dynasty of Clovis began the work of unifying the Germans under one rule. They were followed by a succession of remarkable leaders that continued the expansion and solidifying of the German nation. During this explosive expansion of the Germans there was another, similar succession of advances by the Arab nations. They had succeeded in conquering much of the lands of the former Roman Empire and had expanded across northern Africa, crossed over into Spain and had penetrated Gaul (France). It seemed an unstoppable advance of Arabs was driving hard into the heart of Europe until the then leader of the Franks, Charles Martel defeated them at Poitiers. CLOVIS = 481 CE King of the Franks Frankish custom with Roman Gaul influence Coverts to Christianity = support of the people and RCC Refused wife’s plea to adopt Christianity until battle – wins = conversion! Support of the RCC and Pope Charismatic leader who conquered Gaul Germanic Society = Family most important/blended Roman and German Wergild = $$ for loss of life based on social status Ordeal = divine intervention / physical trial to determine innocence or guilt
• #7: The fourth century started with Barbarian invaders from the East such as the Franks, the Vandals and the Visigoths. People feared for their safety and began allying themselves with local lords in exchange for protection from the barbarians. In this way, the feudal society that would characterize so much of the Medieval Age began to emerge. Christianity in France received a boost when Clovis, King of the Franks, converted to Christianity. In some ways Clovis' reign brought stability and unity to France, but in some ways it also contributed to fragmentation, because Clovis divided up the territory as gifts and rewards. 
• #8: Over time lost power to the Mayors of the Palace = King’s chief officers
• #9: Charles Martel = Frankish leader/Mayor of the Palace 732CE Battle of Tours which defeats the Islamic advancement “God” on Christian side = establishes a hostile view toward the Muslim world Islamic Empires victorious throughout the Middle Eastern Region Muslim invasions serious conflict in the Eastern Roman Empire Islamic rule in Spain Pepin the Short = son who took on the kingship Charlemagne = grandson = Charles the Great 6+ feet tall (very tall for the time period) 46 year reign Successful conqueror
• #10: Charles Martel, Tours, 732 CE
• #11: Following the death of their father Charles Martel in 741, Pépin the Short along with his older brother Carloman imprisoned their half brother Grifo and took control of the Frankish Empire as joint Mayors of the Palace.  Pépin ruled in Neustria, Burgundy and Provence and Carloman ruled in Austrasia.  In order to legitimize their rule, the brothers revived the kingship by raising Childeric III to the throne in 743.  Pépin and Carloman continued to hold the real power. That same year, Pépin and Carloman conquered their brother-in-law Duke Odilo of Bavaria.  However, discord in Bavaria continued; and it was not until 757 that Odilo's son (Pépin's nephew) Duke Tassilo III of Bavaria and the magnates of Bavaria were finally forced to acknowledge themselves as vassals of Pépin the Short.    In 747, Carloman withdrew from politics.  With the support of the church and the Pope, Pépin had himself declared King of the Franks in 751. The former king, Childeric III, retired to a monastery. In the winter of 753-754 after the Lombards forced Pope Stephen to leave Rome, the Pope visited Pépin the Short.  The next summer, Pope Stephen anointed Pépin and his two sons Charlemagne and Carloman, and declared that the Franks were never to elect a king who was not of the sacred lineage of Pépin the Short.  In return for Pope Stephen's support, Pépin the Short took his army to Italy and defeated the Lombards.  Pépin's gift of a wide strip of land in central Italy to the Pope became known as the "Donation of Pépin".  This land, called the Papal States, remained under the control of the popes until the unification of Italy in the 19th century.
• #12: Charlemagne
• #13: Territory included western and central Europe
• #14: Coronation of Charlemagne Began the "Holy Roman Empire"
• #16: The election of his successor Pepin the Short as King of the Franks marked the beginning of the dynasty known as the Carolingian dynasty. His son Charlemagne in turn succeeded to the throne and, after adding the lands of the Saxons, Lombards and Bavarians and destroying the Avar kingdom, was crowned Emperor of the West. In the 9th century Charlemagne's Frankish Empire included much of the former Western Roman Empire and the majority of Europe. On his death the empire was distributed, as was custom, amongst his surviving male heirs.
• #20: Heirs battle for power for 30 years 843 CE = Treaty of Verdun Blended German, Roman, Christian traditions in Europe with strong and efficient government
• #23: Vikings = Leif Erickson; 1000CE North American colony; traders and explorers; strong fighters from Scandinavia Magyars = 896CE – attacked and pushed back after 50 years Attacks from the Middle East until 900CE Golden Age of Ireland Celtic heritage dominates the Western European culture Clans = monasteries = focus of religious and social events Wood buildings house the monks Christian and classical influences Artists, artisans, lawyers, historians Monks traveled around and established monasteries