THE EARLY MIDDLE AGES

Dates of the Middle Ages

Dates of the Middle Ages

Early Middle Ages: 500 – 1000

High Middle Ages: 1000 – 1250

Late Middle Ages: 1250 - 1500

BREAK UP OF WESTERN EUROPE

In the early middle ages, Germanic tribes established their own kingdoms:Angles and

Saxons in England

Visigoths in Spain

Lombards in Northern Italy

Franks took Gaul (present-day France)

THE RISE OF THE FRANKS

Charles Martel united the Franks.

732: Martel stopped the advance of Islam from Spain into France at the Battle of Tours.

The Franks established the largest of the new Germanic kingdoms in what is now France.

Clovis:King of the Franks,

conquered Gaul and then converted to Christianity in 486, the religion of the people in Gaul. By doing so, he gained the support of the people of Gaul and a powerful ally in the Christian Church of Rome.

THE REIGN OF CHARLEMAGNE: 742 -814

• Grandson of Charles Martel, Charlemagne became king of the Franks in 768.

• Built an Empire from the North Sea to the Mediterranean - included most of modern France, Germany, Holland, Switzerland and Northern Italy

• Supported by the pope, he spread Christianity throughout conquered lands

• Re-birth of Education at Aachen (Aix-la-Chapelle)

Charlemagne’s EmpireCharlemagne’s Empire

Pope Crowned CharlemagneHoly Roman Emperor: Dec.

25, 800

Pope Crowned CharlemagneHoly Roman Emperor: Dec.

25, 800• This step announced to the world that Western Europe was now independent from the Byzantine emperor.

• Also signified the new political and religious unity of Western Europe under the concept of Christendom.

• After Charlemagne’s death, his empire was divided among his sons.

• This step announced to the world that Western Europe was now independent from the Byzantine emperor.

• Also signified the new political and religious unity of Western Europe under the concept of Christendom.

• After Charlemagne’s death, his empire was divided among his sons.

Legacy of Charlemagne

Effects of Crowning

Charlemagne spread Christianity throughout Northern Europe / The crowning widened the split between the East and the West.

GovernmentCharlemagne allowed local nobles allowed to keep most of their power (just don't fight against Charlemagne).

EducationCenter of learning set up in AACHEN (the second Rome) under the direction of Alcuin.

Death

Died in 814 / Charlemagne did not leave a strong successor. His sons fought for 30 years and finally split up the empire into 3 parts by the Treaty of Verdun.

Legacy

Extended Christianity into Northern Europe. Blended German/Roman & Christian Traditions Later European leaders used him as the example of a strong ruler.

EUROPE FACES NEW THREATSThe Vikings • Scandinavia• Vicious/ Warriors/ Barbarians

Maygars & Slavs • Hungary

Muslims • Spain• Moors defeated once by his

Grandfather (the Hammer)

CHARLEMAGNE

Fierce warriors and sailors from Scandinavia in N. Europe.

Sailed south in search of trade, loot, and land.

Between 800-1000, launched repeated and brutal assaults on the coasts of Western Europe, spreading fear and destruction.

BUT created new TRADE ROUTES.Their longboats were easy to

maneuver and could sail in heavy seas or close to land.

Europe’s Greatest Threat: The VIKINGS