The Early Middle Ages

1. The Early Middle Ages Chapter 19

2. Fall of Rome • Germanic groups invaded western Roman Empire. • These groups overthrew the last emperor in Rome. • Western Europe was then divided into many kingdoms, and many Catholic Christianity strongly influenced societies.

3. Rivers and Seas • Rivers played an important role in Europe's growth. • Major rivers such as the Rhine, Danube, Seine, and Po all flowed from inland mountains into the oceans and seas surrounding the continent.

4. The Franks in Europe • Strongest Germanic group • They settled in what is now France, and western Germany. • Clovis was their first King. • Clovis was the first Germanic ruler to accept Catholic Christianity. Soon after all Franks became Catholic.

5. The Franks in Europe cont. • After death of Clovis, the power switched from the king to the church. • Charles Martel or “Charles the Hammer” became the mayor of the palace, and his power was given to him by the Pope. • Stopped the spread of Islam.

6. Charlemagne

7. Charlemagne • Grandson of Charles Martel. • Became the King of the Franks • Nearly doubled the size of the kingdom to include what is today Germany, France, northern Spain, and most of Italy. • For the first time since the fall of Rome, most of Western Europe was ruled under one government. • This earned the name “Charlemagne” or “ Charles the Great”.

8. Charlemagne cont. • Charlemagne came to Rome and defended the Pope from unruly Roman nobles. • The Pope then declared Charlemagne as the new Roman emperor. • Charlemagne then wanted to advance learning, and established a school for children of government officials. • The students studied religion, Latin, music, literature, and arithmetic.

9. Waves of Invaders • After Charlemagne died his empire split into 3 kingdoms. • Muslims, Magyars, and Vikings all invaded. • Vikings raided from their homeland in Scandinavia. • Vikings attacked villages and churches.

10. Scandinavia

11. Formation of the Holy Roman Empire • The eastern Frankish kingdom was known as Germany • Germany was ruled by nobles • Duke Otto of Saxony was elected king of Germany • Defeated the invaders • Duke Otto of Saxony tried to unite under a central government but the pope wanted freedom. • Pope joined Italy’s cities to resist the emperors forces.

12. The Church and Its Influence • Priest named Patrick traveled to Ireland and spread Christianity. • This inspired Pope Gregory I to spread Christianity. • Gregory asked monks to become missionaries. • Missionaries- people who are sent out to teach their religion. • Most of Western Europe became Catholic Christians.

13. The Church and Its Influence • Provided schools and hospitals • Taught carpentry and weaving • Improved farms • Monks lived in communities called abbots • Nuns lived in their own monasteries.

14. Church Authority • Church Monasteries were very powerful and wealthy. • King wanted church to obey him, and churches thought king should obey the church. • Pope Gregory declared that King Henry was no longer the emperor and excommunicated him. • Henry traveled to Italy and begged for forgiveness • Henry then seized Rome and appointed a new Pope.