Early Middle Ages Early Middle Ages (751-1100)(751-1100)

1. INTRODUCTION1. INTRODUCTION The Merovingians were replaced in 751 by The Merovingians were replaced in 751 by

the the CarolingiansCarolingians, from the kingdom of , from the kingdom of AustrasiaAustrasia. Their most famous king was . Their most famous king was Charles the Great (Charles the Great (CharlemagneCharlemagne) who later ) who later almost doubled the territory ruled by the almost doubled the territory ruled by the Franks. His empire, after his death, Franks. His empire, after his death, however, weakened & however, weakened & fell apartfell apart. His . His descendants continued many of his descendants continued many of his projects but were unable to maintain his projects but were unable to maintain his empire any longer. empire any longer.

Charlemagne, or Charles the Great, was among the greatest of military leaders in the Middle Ages. He conquered much of western and central Europe. As king, Charlemagne revived the political and cultural life that had disappeared with the fall of the Western Roman Empire four centuries before.

2.THE EMPIRE OF CHARLEMAGNE2.THE EMPIRE OF CHARLEMAGNE (768-814)(768-814)

A.A. Creation and Administration of the EmpireCreation and Administration of the Empire

Charlemagne's empire  of the Charlemagne's empire  of the Atlantic Atlantic OceanOcean & the & the North SeaNorth Sea was gained by was gained by military might & maintained through military might & maintained through centralized administrationcentralized administration, personal , personal loyalties, bishops and other important loyalties, bishops and other important churchmenchurchmen. Carolingian rulers, each of . Carolingian rulers, each of whom was anointed by a bishop on taking whom was anointed by a bishop on taking the throne, listened to the Pope in Vatican, the throne, listened to the Pope in Vatican, Rome and saw themselves as Rome and saw themselves as ruling "by ruling "by the grace of God."the grace of God."

Charlemagne's Empire in 800Under the rule of Pepin the Short and his son Charlemagne, the Carolingians of the 8th and 9th centuries conquered vast territories and combined large portions of western Europe into a single unit. In 800 Pope Leo III crowned Charlemagne emperor of the Empire of the West, a region later known as the Holy Roman Empire.

2.THE EMPIRE OF CHARLEMAGNE2.THE EMPIRE OF CHARLEMAGNE

B.B. Revival of the Western Empire Revival of the Western Empire

When in 800, the pope placed the crown When in 800, the pope placed the crown on his head, the first emperor from 475, on his head, the first emperor from 475, Charlemagne desired to be an Charlemagne desired to be an Christian Christian emperoremperor instead of a Roman emperor. instead of a Roman emperor. In 1254, when the emperor's power fell to In 1254, when the emperor's power fell to the bottom & every king became an the bottom & every king became an emperor in his own kingdom, the title emperor in his own kingdom, the title Holy Holy Roman EmpireRoman Empire (-1806) was created. It (-1806) was created. It covered central Europe & Germany today covered central Europe & Germany today without Italy. without Italy.

Charlemagne and the PopeThe Frankish king Charlemagne was a devout Catholic who maintained a close relationship with the papacy throughout his life. In 772, when Pope Adrian I was threatened by invaders, the king rushed to Rome to provide assistance. Shown here, the pope asks Charlemagne for help at a meeting near Rome.

2.THE EMPIRE OF CHARLEMAGNE2.THE EMPIRE OF CHARLEMAGNE

C.C. Unity and DiversityUnity and Diversity

Charlemagne saw Charlemagne saw ChristianityChristianity as the key as the key factor unifying the empire. When he forced factor unifying the empire. When he forced the tribes conquered to be the tribes conquered to be baptizedbaptized, any , any who returned to their old religions were who returned to their old religions were executedexecuted. The Empire consisted of many . The Empire consisted of many different regions, each with its own different regions, each with its own language, customs, and laws, different language, customs, and laws, different from the practice in Christian worship, so from the practice in Christian worship, so little unity was achieved as Charlemagne little unity was achieved as Charlemagne expected.expected.

Anglo-Saxon ChronicleConsidered the primary source for English history between the 10th and 12th centuries, the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle also contains earlier examples of prose. This page depicts Charlemagne, king of the Franks in the late 8th century, killing the heathen Saxons.

3.THECAROLINGIAN RENAISSANCE3.THECAROLINGIAN RENAISSANCE

The purposeThe purpose: to create an orderly and : to create an orderly and unified Christian empire, unified Christian empire, reviverevive wisdom of wisdom of Roman writers; Roman writers; with with Christian literature Christian literature and learning; and learning; create create new works of art and new works of art and literature; literature;

The legacyThe legacy: important : important Christian textsChristian texts provided: the Vulgate Bible, chants for the provided: the Vulgate Bible, chants for the Mass, & the Benedictine Rule followed by Mass, & the Benedictine Rule followed by monasteries. Its scholars' writings as a monasteries. Its scholars' writings as a solid foundation for the schools and solid foundation for the schools and universities in 1100s to develop. universities in 1100s to develop.

The Palatine Chapel of CharlemagneCharlemagne’s palace at Aachen, Germany, built about 792-805, is one of the finest examples of Carolingian architecture. The most dramatic part of the structure is the 16-sided Palatine chapel, shown here.

Monk in a ScriptoriumMany of the books used for education in medieval Europe were reproduced by monks. They diligently copied entire texts in a monastery room called a scriptorium, which was designed for this purpose.

Portrait of Saint MatthewThis is a page from the illuminated manuscript known as the Ebbo Gospels (about 816-835). It depicts Saint Matthew writing his gospel account, and is a good example of the use of portraits of authors in illuminated manuscripts that was popular in the early Middle Ages.

4.THECAROLINGIAN ECONOMY4.THECAROLINGIAN ECONOMY

A. A. Land Use and Agricultural PracticesLand Use and Agricultural Practices

The economy was largely based on land. The economy was largely based on land. Large estates were organized into Large estates were organized into manorsmanors, , which had two parts: one belonging to the which had two parts: one belonging to the lordlord and one to the and one to the peasantspeasants. The peasants . The peasants were dependents of the lord, farming both were dependents of the lord, farming both parts, and owed the lord labour on his land, parts, and owed the lord labour on his land, and dues and other services. and dues and other services.

B. B. TradeTrade

marketsmarkets held/silver held/silver coinscoins minted for minted for commercecommerce

Serfdom in the M. AgesDuring the Middle Ages in Europe, peasants became legally bound to live and work in one place in servitude to wealthy landowners. In return for working the land of the owner, known as the lord, these peasants, called serfs, received a crude house, a small adjoining plot of ground, a share of the surrounding fields, some farm animals, and protection from outlaws and other lords. The serf gave part of his own crop to the lord as payment of rent and was subject to many other payment obligations and taxes. Serfdom differed from slavery because serfs had the right to own property, could not be sold, and could theoretically purchase their freedom from their lords.

Gathering HoneyThe women shown here is harvesting honey from beehives in the 15th century. During the Middle Ages, families that had the resources to do so often kept bees. Bees and beehives were an important source of honey, which was used as a sweetener and to ferment to make mead, an alcoholic beverage. The beeswax was used to make candles.

5.THE 5.THE BREAKUP OF THE EMPIREBREAKUP OF THE EMPIRE

A. A. InvasionInvasion

In 800s, the empire met invasions by In 800s, the empire met invasions by Muslims, Magyars &Vikings. Muslims, Magyars &Vikings. The The MuslimsMuslims were finally thrown out of  were finally thrown out of their strongholds in France and southern their strongholds in France and southern Italy. The Italy. The Magyars Magyars were defeated in 955 were defeated in 955 and settled down in today’s Hungary. The and settled down in today’s Hungary. The VikingsVikings settled Normandy. settled Normandy. ScandinaviaScandinavia itself was drawn into Europe as its people itself was drawn into Europe as its people mingled with Europeans and converted to mingled with Europeans and converted to Christianity. Christianity.

Routes of the VikingsThe Vikings were both a warrior and farming society from the region now known as Scandinavia. They were also seafaring explorers who sailed beyond their homelands not only to raid, but also to build settlements in other parts of the world. The Danish Vikings went south toward Germany, France, England, Spain, and into regions on the northwestern Mediterranean coast. Swedish Vikings went to eastern Europe, while the Norwegians sailed to Greenland and North America.

Viking Raiding PartyViking ships, because of their shallow draft, were able to successfully navigate rivers and streams that many other vessels could not. This allowed the Vikings to raid settlements far upriver from the sea, settlements that frequently were not prepared for an attack from the water.

5.THE 5.THE BREAKUP OF THE EMPIREBREAKUP OF THE EMPIRE

B. B. Consequences InvasionConsequences Invasion

B1. B1. EnglandEngland

Alfred and his successors pushed out most Alfred and his successors pushed out most of the Vikings and of the Vikings and unifyunify England. England.

B2. B2. FranceFrance

The king unable to mobilize his forces to The king unable to mobilize his forces to fight the Viking raids; local dukes fight the Viking raids; local dukes organized their own regional defenses. organized their own regional defenses. France France fragmentedfragmented into small, nearly into small, nearly independent independent principalities.principalities.

5.THE 5.THE BREAKUP OF THE EMPIREBREAKUP OF THE EMPIRE

C. C. Social ChangeSocial Change

Most peasants as half-free Most peasants as half-free serfsserfs, owed , owed dues & services to the local strong man; dues & services to the local strong man; warriors as an elite of warriors as an elite of knightsknights; a hereditary ; a hereditary social system of lords, vassals, and fiefs, social system of lords, vassals, and fiefs, feudalism,feudalism, took shape in certain took shape in certain principalities and later in kingdoms. principalities and later in kingdoms.

D.D. Changes in the Church Changes in the Church

Churches became part of governmental Churches became part of governmental system; bishops served as governors & system; bishops served as governors & spiritual leaders. spiritual leaders.

Weapons of Medieval WarfareDuring the Middle Ages, warriors in Europe developed into an elite class of knights. Living under the threat of invasions from foreigners, the people of Europe also developed a different kind of weaponry. Mounted warriors, known as cavalry, could move quickly and strike hard with axes, pikes, lances, and two-edged swords longer than those used by men on foot.