The Early Middle Ages Section 1

The Early Middle Ages Section 1

Preview

• Starting Points Map: Europe

• Main Idea / Reading Focus

• Building an Empire

• A New Society

• Quick Facts: Charlemagne’s Achievements

Charlemagne’s Empire

The Early Middle Ages Section 1

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The Early Middle Ages Section 1

Reading Focus

• How did Charlemagne and the Carolingians build the Frankish empire?

• How did Charlemagne’s actions contribute to shaping a new society?

Main Idea

1. Through conquest and social change, Charlemagne tied much of western Europe together in a single empire.

Charlemagne’s Empire

The Early Middle Ages Section 1

Powerful Kingdom

• Crowning of Charlemagne a surprise, but not random decision

• His predecessors, the kings of the Franks, worked for 200 years to make kingdom most powerful in Europe

Early Carolingians

• One of first Carolingians to gain power, Charlemagne’s grandfather

• Charles Martel, political adviser, war leader for Frankish king

• Led Frankish army in many crushing defeats of opponents, notably Muslims

Frankish Empire

• By 800s Franks ruled much of western, central Europe

• Leaders most influential in expansion of Franks all belonged to one family—Charlemagne’s family, the Carolingians

Building an Empire

The Early Middle Ages Section 1

2. Charlemagne’s Rise to Power• Charlemagne, Old French for Charles the Great

• Name proved accurate, Charlemagne a great leader

• Historically considered one of most important leaders in European history

• Foundation of success, his military power

Pippin• Charles’s son, Pippin III, also skilled leader; won many battles,

captured new lands for Franks

• Became first king of Carolingian dynasty, 751

• Upon death, 768, Pippin passed kingdom to son, ruler known today as Charlemagne

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• Recognized Charlemagne’s skill, called on him for help when Lombards attacked Papal States, 774

• Papal states, region in central Italy under control of pope

• Franks defeated Lombards; Charlemagne became king of Lombards as well as Franks

Pope Leo III

• Assembled army each year, led into battle against a foe

• Incorporated land of vanquished foe into his sphere of influence, formed alliances with local rulers

• In this way Charlemagne increased size and power of Carolingian kingdom

Increased Kingdom

Military Power

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• Pope Leo III thanked Charlemagne by naming him emperor of Roman people

• Title implied Charlemagne had restored glory of Roman Empire in Europe

• Pope’s action suggested that Charlemagne’s rule had backing of church, God

A Pope’s Thanks

• Pope Leo III grateful for Charlemagne’s help against Lombards

• 799, called on Charlemagne again when angry supporters of previous pope ran Leo out of Rome

• Charlemagne had Leo escorted back to Rome, restored to power

Another Cry for Help

Helping the Pope

The Early Middle Ages Section 1

Powerful

• Charlemagne had tremendous power as emperor

• Empire large, not easy to rule; changes made government efficient, effective

• Established permanent capital at Aachen, in what is now Germany

Oversight

• Inspectors kept tabs on Charlemagne’s counts

• Rewarded counts who did jobs well, punished those who did not

• Inspectors helped ensure counts remained loyal, empire was well run

Delegating Authority

• Built huge palace, cathedral to reflect own greatness

• Chose counts, officials to help rule parts of empire in his name

• Counts bound to obey, granted large tracts of land, given much authority

Charlemagne’s Rule

The Early Middle Ages Section 1

Summarize

How did Charlemagne turn his kingdom into an empire?

Answer(s): strong warrior; restored the pope to power; provided stability and order; barons helped him rule

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3. Although Charlemagne is known mostly as a warrior and a political leader, he also made sweeping changes to Frankish society.

• Charlemagne personally interested in learning, spent much time studying

• Wanted leaders in empire to be able to read, write

• Ordered churches, monasteries to start schools

• Students learned:– Religion – Music– Grammar

Education• Noted European scholars

invited by Charlemagne to Aachen

• Spent time teaching, as well as studying, copying ancient texts

• Sent copies of texts to monasteries across Europe; monks there made copies

• Saved many valuable works for posterity

Scholars

A New Society

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• In addition to improving education, Charlemagne wanted to preserve, spread Christian teachings

• Worked closely with church to create unified Christian empire• Used force to accomplish, ordered those he conquered to convert to

Christianity under penalty of death• Sent monks to live among conquered to help Christianity take root

• Honored traditional laws of tribes brought under his rule

• Most laws existed only in oral tradition

• Had many tribal laws recorded

• Allowed tribal legal codes to maintain separate existence

Law• Western Europe reached great

heights under Charlemagne

• Empire did not survive long after death in 814

• Civil war wracked kingdom, grandsons divided empire

• Empire weak, invaders poured in

Great Heights

Religion

The Early Middle Ages Section 1

The Early Middle Ages Section 1

Find the Main Idea

How did Charlemagne change society in his empire?

Answer(s): built an education system, preserved ancient writings, expanded religion, developed single law code