Charlemagne Unites Germanic Kingdoms
Germans Adopt Christianity
Germanic Kingdoms Emerge
Invasions of Western Europe
Germanic invaders overran the western half of the Roman Empire
Repeated invasions and constant warfare caused changes 
Politics played a key role in spreading Christianity.
Between 400-600
600 AD
Charlemange Becomes Emporor
The Church had converted many Germanic peoples
Disruption of Trade
Downfall of Cities
Population Shifts
300s and 400s
These new converts settled in Rome's former lands.
Merchants faced invasions and their businesses collapsed. Breakdown of trade destroyed Europe's cities
Missionaries also spread Christianity
Pepin the Short
Died in 768
Two sons: Carlomon and Charles
Cities were abandoned as centers of administration
Change, To make or become different.
Roman cities were left without strong leadership. Population of western Europe became mostly rural
The Decline of Learning
Among the Romans, level of learning sank sharply as more and more families left for rural areas
Knowledge of Greek, long important in Roman culture, was almost lost
Germanic invaders could not read or write
Charloman died in 771
In southern Europe...
Fear of coastal attacks by Muslims spurred many people to become Christians
Charles, know as Charlemange (Charles the great) ruled the kingdom.
Religious travelers worked among Germanic & Celtic groups.
Monasteries, Convents, and Manuscripts
Monasteries are religious communities built by the Church to adapt to rural conditions.
Few people could read Greek works of literature
6 feet, four inches tall
Germanic tribes, had a rich oral tradition of songs and legends
Monks were Christian men who gave up their private possessions and devoted their lives to serving God.
Nuns were Christian women who follwed the Monks way of life and lived in convents.
Loss of a Common Language
Latin changed as German-speaking peoples mixed with the Roman population
Latin was still an official language, but it was no longer understood
By the 800s
520 AD
Benedict, an Italian monk, began writing a book describing a strict yet practical set of rules for monasteries.
Scholastica: Benedict's sister
Germanic kingdoms replace Roman provinces. The church provided order and security for them.
French, Spanish, and other Roman-bases languages had evolved from Latin
Development of various languages mirrored the continued breakup of a once-unified empire
When people moved to rural areas, they focused on farming and drifted away from literacy. Also the Germanic invaders were not literate, therefore they would not in-force it on people
Why couldn't they read or write?
Invasion - the act of attacking a country or region with an armed force
Trade - the transferring goods in exchange for something of value
Headed a convent & adapted the same rules for women
These guidelines became a model for many other religions communities western Europe.
Papal Power Expands Under Gregory l
590 AD
Greg the Great (Gregory l) became a pope.
While was head of the Church in Rome, he expanded the authority of the pope's office beyond its spiritual role.
The papacy also became a secular, or worldly, power involved in politics.
The region from Italy to England and from Spain to Germany fell under his responsibility according to him.
Gregory used church revenues to raise armies, repair roads, and help the poor.
He also strengthened the vision of Christendom.
In Rome, it was a spiritually kingdom, ruled by a pope, which was the central theme of the Middle Ages.
What religion were the people before converting to Christianity?
What caused Christianity to spread through Europe and why was it important?
Politics was a big reason why Christianity spread. It was important, because it changed the culture of the civilization and sometimes even the people in power.
How was Pope Gregory I like a Roman Emperor?
Because he the Church as a kingdom.
Frankish mythology
Religion: A system of beliefs, symbols and rituals, that guide human behavior, gives meaning to life and unites believers into a community.
Christianity:
They are twins!
click to edit
They only lived a couple miles away from each other.
They are buried in one grave and died the same year!
They were inseparable
How did he get the name "Charles the great?
Charlemange extends Frankish Rule
How did Roman and Germanic soldiers differ?
Germanic warriors were loyal to an emperor.
Roman warriors were local to a local lord.
Clovis Rules the Franks
Germanic people lived in small communities that were governed by unwritten rules and traditions.
Clovis ruled Germanic people called the Franks in the province of Gaul.
Gaul brings christianity to them.
Gaul and 3,000 warriors converted to Christianity during a battle. For I have called on my gods, but I find they are far from my aid... Now I call on thee. I long to believe in thee. Only, please deliver me from my enemies
Why did the Church support Clovis's campaigns against other Germanic people?
They welcomed his conversion and it helped to spread christianity. They started a partnership afterwards.
Charles built an empire bigger than Rome
Cities were hit hard because a lot of people lost their support and the economies collapsed which hurt the people
Why were cities particularly hard hit when the Roman Empire declined?
Why did the move to rural areas contribute to a decline in literacy?
Spread Christianity
Re united western Europe
How did he spread the word?
Religion - A system of beliefs, symbols and rituals, that guide human behavior, gives meaning to life and unites believers into a community.
Authority: The power or right to give orders, makes decisions and enforce obedience.
An empire evolves
Change, To make or become different.
Leadership: To be responsible for guiding a group of people or nation.
Charles Martel emerges
He had control of the royal household and estates.
By 700 the Major Domo (mayor of the palace) had become the most powerful person in the Frankish kingdom
Charles Martel, the mayor of the palace in 719 held more power than the king.
He also defeated muslim raiders from Spain at the battle of tours in 732.
Charles Martel became a Christian hero due to his victory at tours.
Cooperation the process of working together to achieve a common outcome
At his death Charles Martel passed on his power to his son, Pepin the short
On behalf of the church Pepin agreed to fight the Lombards, who had invaded central Italy and threatened Rome.
How did Pepin The Short expand the authority he had inherited?
he already had the power of having the title major domo, and since he was crowned king by the pope-he now has the support of the church
In exchange the Pope anointed pepin “king by the grace of god”
The family that would rule the franks from 751 to 987
Thus began the carolingian dynasty
Pepin wanted to be king.
If the muslims would have won, western Europe might have become part of the muslim empire
This battle was very important for Christian europeans.
He extended the the franks reign to the north south and east.
Why might someone be content with the title major domo rather than seeking to be crowned king?
Because power is more important than title.
This made him able to rule the kingdom
unofficially, he led armies and made policy
The Franks controlled the largest and strongest of Europes kingdoms
When the franks first Christian king, Clovis died in 511 he extended Frankish rule over most of what is now France
Formally known as the roman province of gaul
England split into 7 tiny kingdoms, not very big
After the roman empire dissolved, small kingdoms sprang up all over Europe.
He governed the Franks, and decided to call himself king.