Notes 5/19/14

Germanic kingdoms unite under Charlemagne

 

Main idea

• Many Germanic kingdoms that succeeded the Roman empire were reunited under Charlemagne's empire

Why it matters now

• Charlemagne spread Christian civilization throughout northern Europe. Which is where many of us come form

Setting the stage

• Middle ages = medieval period
• 500 - 1500 AD
• Medieval Europe is fragmented

A.Invasion trigger changes in western Europe

1.Invasions and constant warfare spark new trends

a.Disruption of trade

• Europe`s cities are no longer economic centers
• Money is scarce

b.Downfall of cites

• Cities are no longer centers of administration

c.Population shifts

• Nobles retreat to the rural areas
• Cities don’t have strong leadership

 

2.Decline of learning

a.Germanic invaders are illiterate, but they communicate through oral tradition

b.Only priests and church officials could read and write

c.Knowledge of Greek (literature, science, philosophy)

3.Loss of a common language

a.Dialects develop in different regions

b.By the 800s, French, Spanish, other Roman-based languages are evolving from Latin

B.Germanic kingdoms emerge

1.The concept of government changes

a.Roman society: loyal to public government

b.Germanic society: loyal to family

• Germanic chief led warriors
• During peace, he provided food, weapons, treasure, a place to live (the lords hall)
• During wartime, warriors, warriors fought for the lord

c."The king? Who's that? You want to collect taxes from me? Who the heck are you?"

d.Franks live in the Roman province of Gaul--their leader is Clovis

2. The franks under Clovis
1. Another battlefield conversion! (Just like Constantine)
2. Clovis and 3000 of his warriors are baptized by the bishop
3. The church in Rome approves of this "alliance"
4. Clovis and the church began to work together

A simple mathematical equation

 

Clovis` military expertise

+ the church's support and money

3. Germanic peoples adopt Christianity
5. (Pope) Gregory I expands papal power
1. Papacy = popes office
2. Secular power = worldly power
3. So…under Gregory the Great…

PaPal Power(the power of the pope) is Political Power

Presented from the PoPe`s Place

4. The church can use church money to:

Raise armies

Repair roads

Help the poor

5. Gregory the Great began to act as mayor of Rome, and as head of an Earthly kingdom (Christendom)