
How might the study of medieval Europe affect
our thinking about the world today? In other
words, why do we study medieval Europe? Why
does it even matter?
A New Western
Empire
Refer to Pages 185-192
Guiding Questions:

What post-Roman Empire political conditions
led to the rise of the Carolingian Empire? What
factors led to its disintegration, setting the stage
for the feudal system?
Clovis I



“King of the Franks”
Conversion to Christianity
Supported by the Roman
Church - alliance
Merovingian House

“Do-Nothing Kings”


Descendents of Clovis I
Mayors of the palace

Pepin II
Defeated the others
 Reunited Frankish territory

Separate ruling “lineage”
 Grandson, Pepin the Short took over rule as “king”


Carolingian House
Donation of Pepin



Lombard threat
Papal states
Pope becomes ruler in
European politics
Empire of Charlemagne


Carloman and Charles
Charles = Greatest Carolingian king

“Charlemagne”
Charlemagne





Strong
Tall
Stately
Dignified
Abhorred
drunkenness


Beheaded his
prisoners in
cold blood
Divorced
and
remarried
many times
Charlemagne’s Conquests






United much of Europe
Rescued Rome (again)
Defeated Avars
Drove back the Spanish
Muslims
Created administrative
districts
Foundation of modern
Germany, France, and
Italy
Pope crowns Charlemagne and
proclaims him as Roman Emperor!


Revived the idea of another Roman Empire
Raises a serious question:
Whose authority is supreme—the state’s or the church’s?
 This struggle will continue throughout the Middle Ages

Carolingian Renaissance




Charlemagne loved to learn; royal court at Aixla-Chapelle became leading center of learning
Became concerned with better-educated clergy
Emphasis on education renewed interest in the
Bible and in classical literature
Monasteries as libraries, universities
Disintegration of Charlemagne’s
Empire

Domestic Problems:
Civil war after Louis the Pious
 Treaty of Verdun

Charles the Bald = West Frankland
 Louis the German = East Frankland
 Lothair = Central Kingdom

Disintegration of Charlemagne’s
Empire

International Problems:
Saracens (Muslims)
 Magyars
 Vikings
