The European Middle Ages

1. CHAPTER 7 – THE RISE OF
EUROPE
500 AD – 1500 AD

2. New Germanic Kingdoms
 The Roman Empire falls in 476 AD
 Following the fall of Rome,
Germanic people started to move in
and overrun lands once occupied
by the Roman Empire.
 By 500 AD, the Western Roman
Empire had been replaced by a
number of German kingdoms.
 Constant fighting disrupts trade and
government; people abandon cities.
 Marks the beginning of the Middle
Ages — period from 500 to 1500

3. The Decline of Learning
 As cities are
abandoned, level of
learning declines
 Knowledge of Greek
language and culture is
almost completely lost
 Introduction of German
language and mixing
with Latin helps
develop different
dialects (Romance

4. Upheaval in Europe
 Germanic people
were constantly at
war
 Wars continually
change borders
between kingdoms
 During this time of
upheaval, the
Church continues to
grow and offers
security

5. The Dark Ages
 The Middle Ages are often times referred to as
“the Dark Ages”.
 Can you explain why this time period got this
nickname?

7. Kingdom of the Franks
 Only one Germanic kingdom proved to be a
lasting one – the kingdom of the Franks.
 The kingdom was established by Clovis, a strong
military leader around 500AD.
 Clovis was able to unite the Franks as well as
other Germanic tribes into one kingdom.
 Clovis was also the first Germanic ruler to convert
to Christianity.
 His conversion gained him the support of a small,
yet growing sect, the Roman Catholic Church,
who was eager to have the friendship of a

8. Clovis’ Conversion to
Christianity
 What is so important about Clovis converting
to Christianity? Discuss.
 Compare this to politicians nowadays.
 What did his conversion do for the Catholic
church?

9. Kingdom of the Franks
 Clovis had established a kingdom that
stretched from the Pyrenees Mountains in the
southwest, to German lands in the east.
(Modern day France and West Germany.)

11. Charles Martel
 During the 600’s and 700’s, the
Frankish kings started to lose
power.
 Islam was growing and spreading
throughout the Middle East and
Africa and into Europe.
 The Church and Christian kingdoms
became weary of these invaders.
 In 732, a man named Charles
Martel rallied Christian warriors to
defeat Muslim armies who were

12. The Carolingians
 With his
triumphant victory,
Charles Martel
took steps to
assume the
kingship for
himself and his
family.
 This lays the
foundation for a

13. Europe in Turmoil
 When Charles Martel, king of the
Frank’s dies, Europe is thrust into
turmoil.
 At this time the Franks were
falling back into barbarian ways,
neglecting their education and
religion.
 Many people were still pagans.
 The Church was also having its
own struggles.
 In 771, Martel’s grandson,

14. Charlemagne
 Charlemagne was raised
to be a devout Christian.
 Charlemagne was
determined to
strengthen his realm and
to bring order to Europe.
 His devotion to the
Church became the
driving force in his life.

15. King of the Franks? Or King of the
Burgers?

16. Charlemagne the Warrior
 In 772, he launched a military
campaign that would last more
than 30 years and included
more than 50 military
expeditions.
 At 6’4, Charlemagne was a tall
and a powerful warrior and
often accompanied and fight
along side his troops during
these campaigns.
 Charlemagne was an
ambitious king, aggressive and
ruthless. He had the ability to

17. Charlemagne Brings Order to
Europe
 By 800 Charlemagne was the
undisputed ruler of Western Europe.
 What had once been unified territory of
the Roman Empire was once again
under a new central authority, that of
Charlemagne.
 His vast realm encompassed what are now
France, Switzerland, Belgium, and The
Netherlands and included half of present-day
Italy and Germany, and parts of Austria and
Spain.
 By establishing a central government
over Western Europe, Charlemagne

19. Did you know?
 Despite his great military
record and being the king
of such as vast territory,
Charlemagne was very
uneducated in his
younger years.
 In fact, he was illiterate
and could not read or
write.
 This did not stop him, he
tried his best to learn
himself and encouraged
Here, can you read
this?
Looks like Chinese or
something to me…

20. Charlemagne and the Church
 Devoutly Christian,
Charlemagne would not only
conquer his territories, he
would convert the people as
well. Sometimes, at the tip of
a sword.
 The Church also relied on
Charlemagne for protection
and leadership.
 Charlemagne ruled and
protected the Christian
Kingdom, and since the
Church was in Rome, it could
be said that he had the

21. Charlemagne’s Coronation
 On Christmas Day in 800, while
Charlemagne knelt in prayer in
Saint Peter's in Rome, Pope Leo
III placed a golden crown on the
bowed head of the king, crowning
him the first Holy Roman
Emperor, the divinely appointed
leader of the earthly Christian
world.
 His head was anointed with holy
oil, and the Pope renamed
Charlemagne as Emperor and
Augustus.
 Germanic power, the Church,

22.  How important is Charlemagne to Europe?
Discuss.
 How did he help strengthen his realm?
 How did he help the spread of Christianity?

23. Charlemagne’s Legacy
 Charlemagne unites western
Europe and spreads
Christianity.
 He encourages learning and
orders monasteries to open
schools
 Germanic power, Church,
heritage of Roman Empire now
joined together as one
 Because of his actions as a
ruler, Charlemagne is

24. Following Charlemagne
 Charlemagne dies in
814; his son, Louis,
rules poorly
 Charlemagne’s three
grandsons fight for
control of empire
 In 843 they divide
empire into three
kingdoms
 Europe once again,
becomes unstable.