Chapter 7: Early Middle Ages Chapter 7: Early Middle Ages (751-1100)(751-1100)

1. INTRODUCTION1. INTRODUCTION The The MerovingiansMerovingians were replaced in 751 by the were replaced in 751 by the

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

Charlemagne, or Charles the Great, was among the greatest ofmilitary leaders in the Middle Ages. He conquered much of westernand central Europe. As king, Charlemagne revived the political andcultural life that had disappeared with the fall of the Western RomanEmpire 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 Charlemagne's empireempire of the of the Atlantic OceanAtlantic Ocean & &

the the North SeaNorth Sea was gained by military might & was gained by military might &maintained through maintained through centralized administrationcentralized administration,,personal loyalties, bishopspersonal loyalties, bishops andand otherother importantimportantchurchmenchurchmen. Carolingian rulers, each of whom. Carolingian rulers, each of whomwas anointed by a bishop on taking the throne,was anointed by a bishop on taking the throne,listened to the Pope in Vatican, Rome and sawlistened to the Pope in Vatican, Rome and sawthemselves as themselves as ruling "by the grace of Godruling "by the grace of God."."

Charlemagne'sEmpire in 800Under the rule ofPepin the Shortand his sonCharlemagne, theCarolingians ofthe 8th and 9thcenturiesconquered vastterritories andcombined largeportions ofwestern Europeinto a single unit.In 800 Pope LeoIII crownedCharlemagneemperor of theEmpire of theWest, a regionlater known asthe Holy RomanEmpire.coronation.

2.THE EMPIRE OF CHARLEMAGNE2.THE EMPIRE OF CHARLEMAGNE

B.B. Revival of the Western EmpireRevival of the Western Empire WhenWhen In 800, the pope placed the crown on hisIn 800, the pope placed the crown on his

head, the first emperor from 475, Charlemagnehead, the first emperor from 475, Charlemagnedesired to be an desired to be an Christian emperorChristian emperor instead of a instead of aRoman emperor. InRoman emperor. In 1254,1254, whenwhen thethe emperor'semperor'spower fell to the bottom & every king becamepower fell to the bottom & every king becamean emperor in his own kingdom, the title an emperor in his own kingdom, the title HolyHolyRoman EmpireRoman Empire (-1806) was created. It covered (-1806) was created. It coveredcentral Europe & Germany today withoutcentral Europe & Germany today withoutItaly.Italy.

Charlemagne and the PopeThe Frankish king Charlemagne was a devout Catholic who maintained aclose relationship with the papacy throughout his life. In 772, when PopeAdrian I was threatened by invaders, the king rushed to Rome to provideassistance. Shown here, the pope asks Charlemagne for help at a meetingnear Rome.

2.THE EMPIRE OF CHARLEMAGNE2.THE EMPIRE OF CHARLEMAGNE

C.C. Unity and DiversityUnity and Diversity Charlemagne Charlemagne saw saw ChristianityChristianity as the key factor as the key factor

unifying the empire. When he forced the tribesunifying the empire. When he forced the tribesconquered to be conquered to be baptizedbaptized, any who returned to, any who returned totheir old religions were their old religions were executedexecuted. The Empire. The Empireconsisted of many different regions, each withconsisted of many different regions, each withits own language, customs, and laws, differentits own language, customs, and laws, differentfrom the practice in Christian worship, so littlefrom the practice in Christian worship, so littleunity was achieved as Charlemagne expected.unity was achieved as Charlemagne expected.

Anglo-SaxonChronicleConsidered theprimary source forEnglish historybetween the 10thand 12th centuries,the Anglo-SaxonChronicle alsocontains earlierexamples of prose.This page depictsCharlemagne, kingof the Franks in thelate 8th century,killing the heathenSaxons.

3.THECAROLINGIAN RENAISSANCE3.THECAROLINGIAN RENAISSANCE

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

TheThe legacylegacy: important : important Christian textsChristian texts provided: provided:the Vulgate Bible, chants for the Mass, & thethe Vulgate Bible, chants for the Mass, & theBenedictine Rule followed by monasteries. ItsBenedictine Rule followed by monasteries. Itsscholars' writings as a solid foundation for thescholars' writings as a solid foundation for theschools and universities in 1100s to develop.schools and universities in 1100s to develop.

The Palatine Chapelof CharlemagneCharlemagne’spalace at Aachen,Germany, builtabout 792-805, isone of the finestexamples ofCarolingianarchitecture. Themost dramatic partof the structure isthe 16-sidedPalatine 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 wasdesigned for this purpose.

Portrait of SaintMatthewThis is a page from theilluminated manuscriptknown as the EbboGospels (about 816-835). It depicts SaintMatthew writing hisgospel account, and is agood example of theuse of portraits ofauthors in illuminatedmanuscripts that waspopular in the earlyMiddle Ages.

4.THECAROLINGIAN ECONOMY4.THECAROLINGIAN ECONOMY

A. A. Land Use and Agricultural PracticesLand Use and Agricultural Practices TheThe economy was largely based on land. Largeeconomy was largely based on land. Large

estatesestates were organized into were organized into manorsmanors, which had, which hadtwo parts: one belonging to the two parts: one belonging to the lordlord and one to and one tothe the peasantspeasants. The peasants were dependents of. The peasants were dependents ofthe lord, farming both parts, and owed the lordthe lord, farming both parts, and owed the lordlabor on his land, and dues and other services.labor on his land, and dues and other services.

B. B. TradeTrade markets markets held/silver held/silver coinscoins minted for commerce minted for commerce

Serfdom in the Middle AgesDuring the Middle Ages inEurope, peasants becamelegally bound to live andwork in one place inservitude to wealthylandowners. In return forworking the land of theowner, known as the lord,these peasants, called serfs,received a crude house, asmall adjoining plot ofground, a share of thesurrounding fields, somefarm animals, andprotection from outlaws andother lords. The serf gavepart of his own crop to thelord as payment of rent andwas subject to many otherpayment obligations andtaxes. Serfdom differedfrom slavery because serfshad the right to ownproperty, could not be sold,and could theoreticallypurchase their freedom fromtheir lords.

Gathering HoneyThe women shownhere is harvestinghoney from beehivesin the 15th century.During the MiddleAges, families thathad the resources todo so often kept bees.Bees and beehiveswere an importantsource of honey,which was used as asweetener and toferment to makemead, an alcoholicbeverage. Thebeeswax was used tomake candles.

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

A. A. InvasionInvasion In 800s, the empire met invasions by Muslims,In 800s, the empire met invasions by Muslims,

Magyars &Vikings. TheMagyars &Vikings. The MuslimsMuslims werewere finallyfinallythrown out of their strongholds in France andthrown out of their strongholds in France andsouthern Italy. The southern Italy. The Magyars Magyars were defeated inwere defeated in955 and settled down in today955 and settled down in today’’s Hungary. Thes Hungary. TheVikingsVikings settled Normandy. settled Normandy. ScandinaviaScandinavia itself itselfwas drawn into Europe as its people mingledwas drawn into Europe as its people mingledwith Europeans and converted to Christianity.with Europeans and converted to Christianity.

Routes of the VikingsThe Vikings were both a warrior and farming society from the region nowknown as Scandinavia. They were also seafaring explorers who sailed beyondtheir homelands not only to raid, but also to build settlements in other partsof 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 toGreenland and North America.

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

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

B. B. Consequences InvasionConsequences InvasionB1. B1. EnglandEngland Alfred and his successors pushed out most ofAlfred and his successors pushed out most of

the Vikings and the Vikings and unifyunify England. England.B2. B2. FranceFrance The king unable to mobilize his forces to fight The king unable to mobilize his forces to fight

the Viking raids; local dukes organized theirthe Viking raids; local dukes organized theirown regional defenses. France own regional defenses. France fragmentedfragmented into intosmall, nearly independent small, nearly 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 dues &, owed dues &

services to the local strong man; warriors as anservices to the local strong man; warriors as anelite of elite of knightsknights; a hereditary social system of; a hereditary social system oflords, vassals, and fiefs, lords, vassals, and fiefs, feudalism,feudalism, took shape took shapein certain principalities and later in kingdoms.in certain principalities and later in kingdoms.

D.D. Changes in the Church Changes in the Church Churches became part of governmental system;Churches became part of governmental system;

bishops served as governors & spiritualbishops served as governors & spiritualleaders.leaders.

← Weapons of Medieval WarfareDuring the Middle Ages, warriors in Europe developed into an elite class ofknights. Living under the threat of invasions from foreigners, the people ofEurope 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. →