A land of great potential.
Location: Europe
At the dawn of the Middle Ages, Europe had great untapped potential. Dense forests covered much of northern Europe that provided timber. Europe also has rich black soil that was better suited for raising crops than the dry soils around the Mediterranean. Beneath the surface of black soils lays' rich minerals the stretch from Poland to Britain.
The seas that surround much Europe provided them with transportation, exploring lands, trading as well as fish for food.
At the dawn of the Middle Ages, Europe had great untapped potential. Dense forests covered much of northern Europe that provided timber. Europe also has rich black soil that was better suited for raising crops than the dry soils around the Mediterranean. Beneath the surface of black soils lays' rich minerals the stretch from Poland to Britain.
The seas that surround much Europe provided them with transportation, exploring lands, trading as well as fish for food.
Germanic Kingdoms
Location: Gaul (France & parts of Germany)
Germanic tribes who migrated across Europe were farmers and herders. Their culture differed greatly from that of the Romans. They had no cities and no written laws. Instead, they lived in small communities governed by unwritten customs. They were ruled by elected kings, that their role was to lead them in war. Warrior nobles swore oaths of loyalty and fought for the king in exchange for weapons and booty (treasure).
Between 400-700 the Germanic tribes carved up Western Europe into small kingdoms. The strongest and most succesful kingdom was that of the Franks. In 481, Clovis, a ruler of great ability, became king of the Franks. Under his brilliant but ruthless leadership, the Franks were able to conquer the former province of Gaul. Clovis ruled his new lands according to Frankish custom. At the same time, however, he managed to preserve much Roman legacy in Gaul.
Clovis's reign reached an important turning point when he converted to Christianity, the religion of many of his new subjects. In doing so, he not only earned the support of the Gauls but also gained a powerful ally, the Roman Catholic Church.
Germanic tribes who migrated across Europe were farmers and herders. Their culture differed greatly from that of the Romans. They had no cities and no written laws. Instead, they lived in small communities governed by unwritten customs. They were ruled by elected kings, that their role was to lead them in war. Warrior nobles swore oaths of loyalty and fought for the king in exchange for weapons and booty (treasure).
Between 400-700 the Germanic tribes carved up Western Europe into small kingdoms. The strongest and most succesful kingdom was that of the Franks. In 481, Clovis, a ruler of great ability, became king of the Franks. Under his brilliant but ruthless leadership, the Franks were able to conquer the former province of Gaul. Clovis ruled his new lands according to Frankish custom. At the same time, however, he managed to preserve much Roman legacy in Gaul.
Clovis's reign reached an important turning point when he converted to Christianity, the religion of many of his new subjects. In doing so, he not only earned the support of the Gauls but also gained a powerful ally, the Roman Catholic Church.
The age of Charlemagne
Charlemagne was an old fashioned war chief and loved battle. He fighted Muslims, the Saxons, Slavs, Avars, and Lombards. He was a successful conqueror who reunited much of the old Roman empire in Europe. Charlemagne helped Pope Leo III against rebellions in Rome. At services on Christmas Day 800, the pope showed gratitude by placing crown on Charlemagne's head and proclaimed him "emperor".
Government
Charlemagne tried to exercise control over his many lands and create a united Christian Europe. He worked closely with the church helping to spread Christianity to the conquered peoples on the fringes oh his empire. During his reign, missionaries won converts among the Saxons and the Slavs.
Like other Germanic kings, Charlemagne appointed powerful nobles to rule local regions. He gave them land so that they could offer support and supply his soldiers for his armies. To keep track and control of these provincial rulers, he sent out officials called missi dominici to check on roads, listen to grievances and see what justice was done.
A Revival of Learning
Charlemagne hoped to make his capital Aachen a second "Rome." To achieve this goal, he made determined efforts to revive Latin learning throughout his empire. Charlemagne himself could read but not write. He built a palace school in Aachen. He asked a respected scholar to run the school. Alcuin of York ran the school and he set up a curriculum that was based on Latin. It included grammar, rhetoric, logic, arithmetic, geometry, music and astronomy. Alcuin also hired scholars to copy ancient manuscripts including the Bible.
Charlemagne's Legacy
After Charlemagne died in 814, his empire soon fell apart. His heirs battled for power for nearly 30 years. Finally in 843, Charlemagne's grandsons drew up the Treaty of Verdun, which splits the empire into three parts.
New Attacks
Muslims: Muslims kept attacking Europe. In the late 800's they conquered Sicily which became a thriving center of Islamic culture.
Magyars: A group of nomadic people settled in what is today Hungary. They have plundered Germany parts of France and Italy.
Vikings: The vikings were not just fierce warriors. They were traders and explorers. They have settled in North America, England, Northern France, Ireland, and parts of Russia.
Government
Charlemagne tried to exercise control over his many lands and create a united Christian Europe. He worked closely with the church helping to spread Christianity to the conquered peoples on the fringes oh his empire. During his reign, missionaries won converts among the Saxons and the Slavs.
Like other Germanic kings, Charlemagne appointed powerful nobles to rule local regions. He gave them land so that they could offer support and supply his soldiers for his armies. To keep track and control of these provincial rulers, he sent out officials called missi dominici to check on roads, listen to grievances and see what justice was done.
A Revival of Learning
Charlemagne hoped to make his capital Aachen a second "Rome." To achieve this goal, he made determined efforts to revive Latin learning throughout his empire. Charlemagne himself could read but not write. He built a palace school in Aachen. He asked a respected scholar to run the school. Alcuin of York ran the school and he set up a curriculum that was based on Latin. It included grammar, rhetoric, logic, arithmetic, geometry, music and astronomy. Alcuin also hired scholars to copy ancient manuscripts including the Bible.
Charlemagne's Legacy
After Charlemagne died in 814, his empire soon fell apart. His heirs battled for power for nearly 30 years. Finally in 843, Charlemagne's grandsons drew up the Treaty of Verdun, which splits the empire into three parts.
New Attacks
Muslims: Muslims kept attacking Europe. In the late 800's they conquered Sicily which became a thriving center of Islamic culture.
Magyars: A group of nomadic people settled in what is today Hungary. They have plundered Germany parts of France and Italy.
Vikings: The vikings were not just fierce warriors. They were traders and explorers. They have settled in North America, England, Northern France, Ireland, and parts of Russia.