AAfterfter

INB p. 121INB p. 121

TThe he FFallallof theof the

RRoman oman EEmpirempire Remember to copy only those notes that appear in RED font.

The Romans once ruled a vast and powerfulempire,with territory extending across partsof three continents.

However, in time…However, in time…

• conflicts arose between the rich and the poor •slave labor caused many Romans to be unemployed and others to become very lazy•Rome became unable to defend itself against barbarian invadersAND•Romans became more loyal to the Church than to the government.

…and all those factors contributed to the weakening and eventual end of the Roman government.

Without the Roman government to controlit, western Europe was left without a centralauthority.

Hey!Who’s in

charge here?!

Who’s steeringthe ship?

Who’s running the store?

Somebody needs to step up to the plate!

HELP!HELP!

Before we can understand who took control of Europe after the Roman Empire, it’s important to know who lived there.

By the first century A.D., the Romans occupied much of western Europe.

In the late 300s, Germanic tribes began to migrate into the Roman Empire.

Some of these tribes, like the Angles, Saxons and Jutes, even moved across the North Sea to become residents of the British Isles.

These Germanic migrations signaled the beginning of a new period of European history known as the…

Middle Ages - the period between the collapse of the Roman Empire (about 500 A.D.)

and the beginning of the Modern Age (about 1500 A.D.)

Historians, however, often refer to the beginning of the Middle Ages as the …

Dark Age - the terrible time after the fallof the Roman Empire when Roman

civilization vanished.

During the Dark Age, Germanic tribes divided Europe into a patchwork of small warring kingdoms.

But even though the Roman government had collapsed, many aspects of Roman life, such as its roads and water systems, survived.

People still created art

and learned Latin.

And rulers dreamed of creating a new empire to carry on the legacy of Rome.

Someday, I shall rule aVAST empire!

In 717 A.D., a leader named Charles In 717 A.D., a leader named Charles Martel controlled the land that is now Martel controlled the land that is now France and Germany.France and Germany.

His name, which means “Charles His name, which means “Charles the Hammer”, describes him well, the Hammer”, describes him well, because he hammered down all his because he hammered down all his rivals and enemies.rivals and enemies.

Charles Martel’s son, Pepin the Short, became the first king of a new dynasty.The dynasty was called the Carolingian,from the Latin form of the name Charles.

Pepin went on to have a son who wasalso named Charles.

It was this Charles who grew up to be one of the most famous rulers of the Middle Ages.

History knows this Charles as…

Charlemagne (Charles the Great) - one of the greatest and most famous leaders of the

Middle Ages. He became king in 768 A.D.

Charlemagne became king whenhe was 26 years old. He was a devout Christian who wanted tobuild a Christian empire in Europe.

Charlemagne’s armies fought many battles in hopes of spreading Christianitythroughout Europe. By the year 800 A.D.his empire included most of central and western Europe.

Charles is ourMAGNEman!

To his people, Charlemagne was a just ruler, who encouraged law and learning.

He enjoyed music and set up a palace schooland library.

He learned Greek and Latin in order to study history.

He ruled his empire personally, riding on horseback from one palace to another.

He ruled his empire personally, riding on horseback from one palace to another.

In battle, he depended on his nobles,not a professional army.

Charlemagne depended on the Catholic Churchto support his rule, and the Church depended on him to spread Christianity.

In 800 A.D., Pope Leo III crowned Charlemagne “emperor”, a title which meantthat the ruler now had a special relationship with God.

Charlemagne died in the year 814 A.D. His power and personality were so great that his empire continued on for some time after.

Within 40 years, however, quarrels among his grandsons divided the empire, and noble families gained control of separate regions.

While Charlemagne spread Christianitythroughout Europe by means of force,others, like monks and nuns, spread the religion through peaceful methods.

Monks and Nuns - deeply religious people who chose to live lives of study and prayer.They often cared for the poor and the sick.

Many monks and nuns were . . .

missionaries - Catholics whose task it was to convert villagers from the countryside who still

clung to their beliefs in the old gods.

Wherever they went, Christian missionariesWherever they went, Christian missionariesbrought a message of both fear and hope.brought a message of both fear and hope.The Church taught that humans were weakThe Church taught that humans were weakand sinful.and sinful.

The devil, they said, was always waiting toThe devil, they said, was always waiting totempt humans into sinful behavior, and the tempt humans into sinful behavior, and the only way to resist temptation and reach only way to resist temptation and reach ““salvation” was through the Church.salvation” was through the Church.

No one DAREDDARED challenge the powerof the Church!

In Medieval Europe, the Church was thesole source of truth and the center of

authority.Even kings had to submit to the teachingsof the Church and judgments of the Pope.

Eventually, most of the groups of peopleliving in Europe were united under the Christian faith.

The idea of Christendom gave the peoplesof Europe a common identity and a sense of purpose. Over time, this sense of commonpurpose would bring them into conflict withtheir Muslim and pagan neighbors.

Next time class meets, you will find out for yourself what life was like for the monksand nuns in the medieval monasteries.

Along with your regular school supplies,be sure to pack a heavy dose of self-discipline.

See you then…

The End