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THE CAROLINGIAN AGE
PROGRESS & CHANGE IN THE9TH–10TH CENTURIES
The FRANKISH EMPIRE
• Frankish Kings = MEROVINGIANS– WEAK kings ceremonial role after 639
• strong MAYORS of the PALACE– CHARLES MARTEL, Battle of Tours, 732– counts and dukes of provinces
• 751 PEPIN the SHORT usurped throne• “CAROLINGIAN DYNASTY”
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CHARLEMAGNE
• r. 768–814– 800: Holy Roman
Emperor• Expanded Frankish
Empire• Reforms &
RENAISSANCE
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CAROLINGIAN EXPANSION
• Originally ruled with CARLOMAN– 777 Carloman died: Charles ruled alone
• Conquered Italy from Lombards• Conquered East: Bavaria, Saxony
– forcibly converted pagans to Christianity• battled Muslims on Spanish border
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REFORMS• Administration
– Legal reforms:written law
– COMES (Counts)local rulingfamilies
– MISSI DOMINICIroving assessors
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ECONOMIC REFORM
• new standardized silver coinage• much better record-keeping• micromanagement of taxes, prices and
levies
EDUCATION REFORM
• monastic schools• copying of classical
texts• important sponsor &
employer of literarymen
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The Empire United• many ethnicities,
languages, origins• ROMAN
CATHOLICISM– standardized the liturgy– built new monasteries &
churches– forced conversions
The Martyrdom of St Boniface
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RENAISSANCE
• A flowering of art, literature,history music, architecture– MEDIEVAL LATIN– CAROLINGIAN MINISCULE
SCRIPT– NEW TEXTS– LIBERAL ARTS
CURRICULUM
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AN EMPOWERED CHURCH
• Many new monasteries– Important land-owners
• Abbots and Bishops: local MAGNATES– Powerful LAY INFLUENCE
• A single Christianity for Europe– Increased confidence– Renewed focus on non-Christians
CHRISTENDOM
ROMAN CATHOLICISMfirmly at the HEART of
EUROPE
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RISING ANTI-SEMITISM
• Jews across Europe:– Blamed for Jesus’ death– Subject to “Blood libels”– Victims of sporadic violence
• Jewish Life– Urban– Educated– Focused on TRADE & FINANCE
Why?
• URBANIZATION• CHURCH REFORMS• RISE OF MONETARY ECONOMY
– Usury = lending of money for income• Strengthened CHRISTIAN IDENTITY• Association with MUSLIMS
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THE FATE OF EMPIRE
• Charlemagne died 814• 10 women (4 marriages):• 20 children:
– 9 illegitimate children– 7 legitimate daughters– 4 legitimate sons
• Only LOUIS outlived his father
LOUIS THE PIOUS• 814–840
– Holy Roman Emperor 816–840• Strengthened church• Renaissance continued• Louis WEAKER:
– poor provision for the inheritance– 3 civil wars with his sons– 3 surviving legitimate sons
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CIVIL WARS
• 840–843– Lothair vs.– Louis the German vs.– Charles the Bald
• 843 – TREATY OF VERDUN• 869 – TREATY of MERSEN ⇒
– West & East Francia, Italy
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