The Middle Ages- 500 to 1500- fall of Rome to modern era- aka Dark Ages-Key events: revival of learning under Charlemagne, breakup of Charlemagne’s empire & return to Dark Ages, end of Dark Ages, slow return of learning (scholasticism), & Renaissance

The Middle Ages

- millenia fear - importance of the church Christendom

what is so important about the year 1000?

Early Middle Middle Middle

Late or High Middle

Early Christian church in Europe- little organization at beginning- no distinction between laity & clergy- need arises for organization as church grows- two officials presbyter (elder) & bishop (overseer) - by 100s, presbyters (later known as priests) answer to bishops

- local churches administered by priests- several churches make up diocese – run by bishop- several diocese adm. by archbishop modeled after Rome

Growth of monasticism- St. Benedict- monk lives apart from worldly concerns- prayer & labor- early monasteries adm. by abbot

- provide important function in medieval world- social worker care for sick & poor- schools – centers of learning- role model- transcription- kept alive European culture

But before we keep talking about the role of the church, we need to talk about…

The Franks (great name)300s on Rome was a mess!- invaders, bad gov’t, etc.- 476 – last Roman emperor replaced by German king Odoacer - Franks settle in northern Gaul

or known as France today- first king – Clovis- unite Franks- converts to Christianity- begins Merovingian line of kings

- Merovingian kings – Do-Nothing Kings- problems: succession, Mayors of the Palace

Charles Martel – the Hammer!- Mayor of the Palace - 732 defeats Muslims at Tours- son Pepin the Short

- Seizes kingdom – 751 – Carolingian line of kings- helps pope remove threat of Lombards- rewarded by pope proclaiming Pepin “king by the grace of God”

- Donation of Pepin - takes land from around Rome and gives it to the Pope- accomplishes 3 things:

- create long-lasting alliance between the Franks and the pope that greatly benefited both sides- Pope looks west for help rather than east- established precedent where pope confers right to rule onto the king

Charlemagne – Charles the Great768-814- expands Frankish empire to most of western and central Europe- 3 great achievements (maybe 4)

1.Military- conquers Lombards in Italy- Avars in central Europe- Saxons in Germany- drives Muslims back into

Spain2. Government (administration)- each region organized into county headed by count- missi dominici- Aix-la-Chapelle or Aachen- no taxes - low expenses- each person responsible for military duty

3. Education- founded palace school- brought in best scholars from around Europe- produce authentic and readable Bible-liked to have books read to him – illiterate- Carolingian Renaissance

4. Crowned Emperors of the Romans- solidifies relationship between Franks and papacy - established empire in the model of the old Roman Empire Holy Roman Empire

- with the church’s blessing

- Charlemagne dies 814- empire divided by 3 grandsons

- Treaty of Verdun (843)- Charles the Bald (France), Lothair (middle kingdom), & Louis the German (Germany)

- begin fighting amongst themselves- Difficult to hold together divided kingdoms

- division allowed invaders to come- north – Vikings south – Muslims east- Magyars- begin the Dark Ages again – end of Carolingian Renaissance