Transcript Charlemagne and the Franks

Charlemagne and the Franks
Bell Ringer: 3/5/13
Give me three reasons for the fall of the
Roman empire ?
The fall of Rome brought many important
changes to Western Europe.
Effects of the Fall of Rome
• Germanic tribes took over Roman lands.
• Hundreds of little kingdoms took the place
of the Western Roman Empire in Europe.
• Initially, there was no system for
collecting taxes.
• Kingdoms were always at war with one
another.
• People lost interest in learning.
Warfare increased. Trade decreased.
The “Dark Ages” began.
The “Dark Ages”
• Historians call the period following the fall
of Rome the “Dark Ages.”
• Formerly, this period is known as the
beginning of the Middle Ages.
• It was a time of increased warfare,
decreased trade, and a decline in learning.
Clovis was
an important
king of the
Franks. The
Franks were
one of the
largest
Germanic
tribes.
Clovis and the Franks
• In A.D. 481, Clovis united the Franks and
became their king.
• Clovis converted to the Roman Catholic
faith.
• Essentially, the Franks blended Germanic
and Roman cultural practices.
Charlemagne
became king
of the Franks
in 768 A.D.
He conquered
a vast empire
and tried
to recreate
the glory of the
Roman
Empire.
Charlemagne
• Charlemagne became king of the Franks in
768 A.D. He tried to recreate the glory of
the Roman Empire.
• He conquered a vast empire and was
proclaimed Emperor of the Holy Roman
Empire by Pope Leo III.
• He gave land to his nobles in exchange for
their loyalty and military service.
Pope Leo III crowned Charlemagne “Holy
Roman Emperor”.
During his reign, Charlemagne tried to
recreate the Roman Empire. However,
after his death, the empire declined.
Germanic Life and Society
A. Germans and Romans intermarried and created a new society in
which German customs had an important role.
– The extended family was the center of German society.
– They worked the land together and protected each other in
violent times.
B. The German concept of the family affected crime and punishment.
• Murder
– Germanic law was personal. One person injuring another often
led to a savage blood feud.
C. A system using a fine called a wergild (“money for a man”)
developed to avoid bloodshed after crimes such as murder.
– The wrongdoer paid the injured party’s family a set amount of
money, which varied by social status.
D. The ordeal was one Germanic way of determining guilt.
– The practice was based on the belief that the gods would not let
an innocent person be punished.
– If the accused unharmed after a physical trial (ordeal), he or she
was presumed innocent.
Directions: Compare and contrast the article from the book, The Crowning of Charlemagne, with
the article above, Pope Leo III and Charlemagne. What similarities and differences arise?
Pope Leo III and
Charlemagne
BOTH
Article from book: The Crowing
of Charlemagne
Directions: Respond to the question below and then with a partner, go over your responses.
Why is it important to read more than one historical account of a person or an event? How can
historians interpret articles differently? Why is important to be able to research multiple sources
and writings? How does this affect one when researching?
The Role of the Church
• Organization of the Church
• Parishes (communities) they were headed by a
•
•
•
priest
A group of Parishes were headed by a bishop
This was all under the control of an Archbishop.
Later the Bishop of Rome became the Pope
meaning “papa” father
The Role of the Church
• Gregory the I –strengthened the role of
the church in by being the head of the
Roman church and Rome its self
• Monks- separates himself from the
ordinary human life
• Living your life this way in known as
Monasticism
• St. Benedict founded the1st community of
Monks
The Role of the Church
• He wrote rules that the Monks live by.
• Head monk is an abbot
• They sent monks on Missionaries all over
Europe to spread Christianity
• Nuns were the female equivalent of Monks
• Head nun was an abbess.
The Rise of Feudalism
• While Charlemagne’s descendants were
not able to recreate the glory of the
Roman Empire, the Franks did greatly
affect life in the Middle Ages.
• Indeed, the Frankish practice of giving
land to nobles in exchange for loyalty and
military service spread throughout
Western Europe.
Life during
the Middle Ages
was based on
a series of
exchanges.
Lesser Lords obeyed
more powerful Lords in
exchange for
land.
Questions for Reflection:
• Why did historians call the early Middle
Ages the “Dark Ages”?
• Who was Clovis and how did his
conversion affect the Franks?
• Why did Pope Leo III crown Charlemagne
“Holy Roman Emperor”?
• Define feudalism.
• How is feudalism different from other
political systems?