500-1200

Your family can decide to leave Alstonville if they wish.

A family living in the countryside in Medieval Europe did not have that ability

Charlemagne

Many Germanic kingdoms that took control after the Roman Empire were reunited under Charlemagne’s empire.

The Pope

Germanic troops overrun the Western Roman Empire by the 5th Century. Results include:

• Disruption of trade• Downfall of cities• Population shifts• Decline of learning• Loss of common or written language

Holy Roman Emperor

Gaul is a former Roman Province located in modern–day France.

Clovis becomes a Christian after asking God to help him while fighting another Germanic tribe.

Clovis is believed to be the first Germanic leader to embrace Christianity.

Coin depicting Clovis “King of France”

Clovis gets support from the Christian Church which allows him to defeat the other Germanic Armies.

This alliance marked the beginning of a powerful partnership.

Statue of the baptism of Clovis

the Church grew in Europe by establishing religious communities called monasteries.

Monks gave up their lives to become servants of god.

Monks and monasteries helped spread Catholic Christianity

Benedict, an Italian Monk set down a list of strict, yet practical rules for Monks.

Gregory The Great became Pope in 590.

Gregory expanded the Church’s influence beyond religion into politics.

This is the first time the church is involved in secular (non-religious) activities.

Pope Gregory raised armies, repaired roads and helped the poor and negotiated peace treaties.

Gregory felt that the region from Italy to England and from Spain to Western Germany fell under his responsibility.

The idea of a church influenced kingdom is a central theme of the Middle Ages.

Modern map of the territory Gregory held influence over

Charlemagne is the first great ruler after the fall of the Roman Empire.

Charlemagne used his conquests to spread Christianity.

In 800, Charlemagne traveled to Rome to protect Pope Leo III. In return, the pope crowned him Emperor

Charlemagne united the Germanic Empires, the Church and the heritage of the Roman Empire

Charlemagne sent royal agents to make sure that landowners (called counts) governed justly

Charlemagne regularly visited every part of his kingdom.

He judged cases, settled disputes and rewarded faithful followers

Charlemagne makes his son, Louis the Pious emperor.

Louis’ three sons, Lothair, Charles the Bald and Louis the German fight each other for the empire.

The Treaty of Verdun divides the Empire into three weaker empires.

As central authority breaks down, the lack of strong rulers leads to a new system of governing and landholding.

After the treaty of Verdun, Charlemagne’s three feuding grandsons broke the kingdom up even further.

Part of this territory also became a battleground as new waves of invaders attacked Europe.

The political turmoil and constant warfare led to the rise of feudalism- a military and political system based on land ownership and personal loyalty.

Charlemagne’s Empire starts to fall apart