Transcript German Kingdoms

The Foundations of Medieval
Civilization
Social Studies 08
Sutherland Secondary
The German Kingdoms
The fall of Rome meant the end of the ancient world and the
beginning of a new era. Historians call this period, which lasted until
about 1450, the Middle Ages, or the Medieval Period. Some have
called the early part of this period the "Dark Age s" because few of
the writings of that time have survived. Historians do know, however,
that important changes took place in Europe.
The invaders, called "barbarians" by the Romans, mostly came from
lands to the north of the Roman Empire called Germany . These
invaders set up new kingdoms. One Germanic group called
themselves the Franks, which means "the bold".
The German Kingdoms
The Merovingians
 In 481CE, a 15- yearold warrior, Clovis,
became king of the
Franks. For 30 years he
led them in wars that
widened the boundaries
of the Frank's kingdom.
Eventually, it included
most of what are now
France and Germany.
The Frankish Kingdom
The Baptism of Clovis
 Clovis also encouraged
the Franks to believe in
Christianity. After the
collapse of the Western
Roman Empire, the
Christian church in
Rome continued
traditions of the earlier
times such as using
Latin and making its
center in Rome.
Clovis and the Christian
Church
 The church supported
Clovis in order to promote
the Roman Catholic vision
of Christianity in the area
ruled by the Franks. Once
Clovis had been baptized,
the leaders of the church
encouraged him to spread
Christianity. "Every battle
you fight is a victory for
us," a bishop wrote to
Clovis.
Islamic Expansion Stopped
The Battle of Tours

October 10, 732 AD marks the conclusion of the
Battle of Tours, arguably one of the most decisive
battles in all of history.

A Muslim army, in a crusading search for land and
the end of Christianity, after the conquest of Syria,
Egypt, and North Africa, began to invade Western
Europe under the leadership of Abd-er Rahman,
governor of Spain. Abd-er Rahman led an infantry
of 60,000 to 400,000 soldiers across the Western
Pyrenees and toward the Loire River, but they were
met just outside the city of Tours by Charles Martel,
known as the Hammer, and the Frankish Army.

Not only did this prove to be a decisive battle for the
Christians, but the Battle of Tours is considered the
high water mark of the Muslim invasion of Western
Europe.
Islamic Expansion
Charlemagne
 Charlemagne became king
of the Franks in 768CE. He
became more than King,
he was the emperor of the
former Western Roman
Empire. Charlemagne
looked like a warrior.
Charlemagne's rule began
in 768 and lasted 48 years
of almost constant warfare.
Charlemagne - the warrior
 Charlemagne fought the
Lombards in Italy, the Saxons
in the north, the Avars and
Slavs to the east, and others.
During his reign he fought a
total of 60 wars.
 Charlemagne made his
defeated opponents accept
the Roman church and swear
loyalty to him as their new
ruler.
The Emperor Crowned
 In 800, Charlemagne
marched into Italy to help the
leader of the Christian
church in Rome, Pope Leo
III, stop a rebellion there.
Pope Leo knew that he
would need Charlemagne's
protection and support.
When Charlemagne rose
from kneeling at the altar on
Christmas day, the Pope
surprised him. He placed a
crown on Charlemagne's
head and declared him
emperor.