WH Chapter 8 Section 1 Notes

Chapter 8Section 1 Notes

Around 600 AD, waves of invaders were sweeping across Europe

Trade slowed to a trickle, towns emptied, and learning virtually ceased

The period from about 500-1450 AD is known today as the Middle Ages because it came between the fall of Rome and the start of the modern era

During the Middle Ages, Europe was a backward region cut off from advanced civilizations

Medieval civilization---blended Greco-Roman, Germanic, and Christian traditions

Setting the Scene

Europe is relatively small---the second smallest in land area of the seven continents

It lies on the western edge of Eurasia, the giant land mass that stretches from present-day Portugal in the west all the way to China in the east

Despite Europe’s size, its impact on the modern world has been enormous

Geography of Western Europe

Medieval Europe Map

From about 500-1000 AD, this region was a frontier land---sparsely populated and undeveloped area

Resources---dense forests, rich earth, minerals, seas, rivers and streams

Geography of Western Europe

The Germanic tribes had a culture that differed greatly from that of the Romans

Differences---they were farmers and herders, lived in small communities instead of cities, had no written laws

They elected kings to lead them in war Warrior nobles swore loyalty to the king in

exchange for weapons or loot

The Germanic Kingdoms

Tribes in Europe

Between 400 and 700 AD, Germanic tribes carved Western Europe into small kingdoms

The strongest kingdom to emerge was that of the Franks

In 486 AD, Clovis, king of the Franks, conquered the former Roman province of Gaul

He ruled his new lands according to Frankish custom but also preserved Roman legacy in Gaul

Clovis took an important step when he converted to Christianity

He gained a powerful ally in the Christian Church of Rome by doing so


Clovis---King of the Franks

As the Franks and other Germanic peoples carved up Europe, a new power was emerging across the Mediterranean

The religion of Islam appeared in Arabia in 632 AD

From there, Muslims built a huge empire and created a civilization

European Christians were stunned when Muslim armies overran Christian lands from Palestine to North Africa to Spain


When a Muslim army crossed into France, Charles “The Hammer” Martel rallied Frankish warriors

At the Battle of Tours in 732 AD, Christian warriors triumphed over the Muslim armies

This was supposedly a sign that God was on their side

The Battle of Tours was important because it stopped the Muslim advance into Western Europe, although the Muslims continued to rule Spain


Charles “The Hammer” Martel

Battle of Tours

Around 800 AD, Western Europe had a moment of unity when

The Hammer’s grandson built an empire reaching across France, Germany, and part of Italy

This emperor was known as Charlemagne (Charles the Great)

He loved battle and spent much of his 46-year reign fighting Muslims in Spain, Saxons in the north, Avars and Slavs in the east, and Lombards in Italy

His conquests united reunited much of the Old Roman empire

The Age of Charlemagne

Charlemagne’s Empire

Charlemagne

In 800 AD, Pope Leo III called on Charlemagne for help against rebellious nobles in Rome

Frankish armies marched south and crushed the rebellion

On Christmas Day, the pope showed his gratitude by crowning Charlemagne and proclaiming him Emperor of the Romans

This was a significant event because a Christian pope had crowned a German king successor to the Roman emperors

In the long run, the crowning of Charlemagne helped widen the split between the eastern and western Christian worlds


Charlemagne tried to exercise control over his many lands and create a united Christian Empire

Working closely with the Church, he helped spread Christianity to the conquered peoples on the fringes of his empire

Missionaries converted many Saxons and Slavs


Charlemagne appointed powerful nobles to rule local regions

He gave them land so that they could offer support and supply soldiers for his armies

To keep control of these provincial rulers, he sent out officials called “missi dominici”

Their job was to check on roads, listen to grievances, and see that justice was done


Charlemagne wanted to make his court at Aachen a “second Rome”

He set out to revive Latin learning in his empire

Education had declined so much that even educated clergy were often ignorant

Charlemagne himself could read but not write


Aachen

Charlemagne founded a school at Aachen under the direction of a respected scholar, Alcuin of York

Alcuin created a curriculum based on Latin learning

The curriculum included grammar, rhetoric, logic, arithmetic, geometry, music, and astronomy

Alcuin also hired scholars to copy ancient manuscripts, including the Bible and Latin works of history and science

Alcuin’s model would become the educational model for medieval Europe


Alcuin of York

After Charlemagne died in 814 AD, his empire soon fell apart

He heirs battled for power for nearly 30 years

Finally in 843 AD, Charlemagne’s grandsons drew up the Treaty of Verdun which split the empire into three regions

After Charlemagne

Charlemagne left a lasting legacy He extended Christian civilization into

northern Europe and furthered the blending of German, Roman, and Christian traditions

He also set up strong, efficient governments Later medieval rulers look to his example

when they tried to strengthen their own kingdoms

Legacy of Charlemagne

Charlemagne’s heirs faced new waves of invasions

Despite the victory at Tours, Muslim forces still posed a threat to Europe

About 896 AD, the Magyars settled in what is today Hungary

From there, they overran eastern Europe and moved on to plunder Germany, parts of France, and Italy

Finally, after 50 years, they were pushed back into Hungary

A New Wave of Invasions

The Vikings snapped the last threats of unity in Charlemagne’s empire

These expert sailors burst out of Scandinavia, a northern region that now includes Norway, Sweden, and Denmark

Starting in the 900s AD, they looted and burned communities along the coasts and rivers of Europe

The Vikings

Vikings

Scandinavia

The Vikings were not just destructive raiders They were also traders and explorers who

sailed around the Mediterranean Sea and across the Atlantic Ocean

Vikings opened trade routes that linked northern Europe to Mediterranean lands

Vikings also settled in England, Ireland, northern France, and parts of Russia

Around the year 1000, Leif Erikson set up a short-lived Viking colony on North America

The Vikings

Viking Boats

Viking Discovery

Erik the Red

Leif Erikson

According to Viking mythology, Valhalla was a great hall in the grandest palace of Odin, king of the gods

The walls of Valhalla were gold, and its roof was made of battle shields

Vikings believed that if they died heroically in battle, they would spend eternity fighting and feasting in Valhalla with Odin

To make the voyage to Valhalla, a Viking hero needed a proper funeral

This included being buried with is weapons, his clothing, and a ship

Servants of Viking warriors were buried with them to serve their masters on the journey and beyond

Sometimes, instead of being buried, the fully stocked ship was cast adrift and burned

Valhalla

Valhalla

Viking Funeral

Let’s listen to the Immigrant Song by Led Zeppelin and interpret the lyrics to see how they relate to the Vikings!!!

Vikings and Led Zeppelin

WH Chapter 8 Section 1 Notes

Education

Transcript of WH Chapter 8 Section 1 Notes