Quaestio:Were the “Dark Ages” really dark?

Nunc Agenda:Explain 3 causes for the Fall of Rome

How did Rome fall?• Starting in 200s- Wars in East Asia spark

domino-effect migration from Central Asia (Huns) and Eastern Europe (Germans)

• By 300s- Rome had grown weak due to economic, political, and social problems

• Germanic refugees (those forced to leave their land) treated badly by Romans

• 410- Alaric (Visigoth general and former mercenary!) sacked the city of Rome

• 434- Attila the Hun attacked Europe, pushed more Germanic peoples toward Rome

• 476- Odoacer (Visigoth) removed the Emperor, declared himself King of Italy

How did Rome fall?• Starting in 200s- Wars in East Asia spark

domino-effect migration from Central Asia (Huns) and Eastern Europe (Germans)

• By 300s- Rome had grown weak due to economic, political, and social problems

• Germanic refugees (those forced to leave their land) treated badly by Romans

• 410- Alaric (Visigoth general and former mercenary!) sacked the city of Rome

• 434- Attila the Hun attacked Europe, pushed more Germanic peoples toward Rome

• 476- Odoacer (Visigoth) removed the Emperor, declared himself King of Italy

Rise of Germanic Kings• Germanic tribes (Goths, Vandals,

Franks, Saxons) created smallkingdoms

• Middle Age Europe saw blend ofRoman, Christian, and Germaniccultures

• 486- Clovis (Frankish King)• Conquered Gaul, which became France• Converted to Christianity, allied with Pope• Used religion as an excuse to kill andconquer, put conquered people in army•Murdered all extended family so no one could challenge him

The Battle of Tours• While Germanic tribes expanded in Europe,

the Muslims were also expanding into Spain, and then France

• Charles “Martel” (“The Hammer”) rallies Franks and creates a disciplined army, unlike typical Germanic “barbarian hordes”

• 732- The Battle of Tours: Franks surprised the Muslims with better-than-expected trainingand won the battle

• Charles Martel seen as a hero tothe Franks

Charlemagne – Great?• Charlemagne = Charles the Great• Grandson of Charles Martel• Becomes King of Franks in 768• Built empire across France Germany

Italy Poland Switzerland• 799- helped Pope Leo III defeat his

opponents in Rome• Christmas 800- Pope crowned him “Emperor

of Rome”• So… Christian Pope declares Germanic King

the Roman Emperor… and Christendom (Christian community) united

• Who do you think was really mad about this?

Charlemagne – Great?• Spread Christianity as he conquered (Convert

or Die)• Any secret pagans caught were executed• Let nobles rule local regions, but also sent

officials to keep an eye on nobles, check on the people

• Carolingian Renaissance• Tried to bring back Latin education and create schools• Learned to read himself• Seen as a light in a dark age

• Had five wives, fiveconcubines, and 20 kids!

PENSA•READ and ANNOTATE the Charlemagne reading•WRITE a 10 sentence summary of the article• PREPARE for Socratic Seminar tomorrow

Socratic SeminarQuestions:What were Charlemagne’s qualities?Do you think Einhard (the author) is biased?

PENSA 1/11/13•Read Chapter 7 Section 2 and answer all THREE Checkpoint questions (3 sentences each!)