Germanic Societies and the
Emergence of the Christian West
I. The Germanic Peoples
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Society based on kinship ties
Tribes foreshadow nations (political community – see page 210)
Tribal structure also forerunner to warrior kings & nobles in Europe
Patriarchal
Polytheistic
By 1st century AD (CE),
German tribes in constant
confrontation with Roman
people as they migrate into
Roman territory.
Circa 100 AD
II. Decline of the Western Roman Empire
A. Divided Empire (page 211) and Diocletian
284 AD
Administrative and military
policies laid foundation for
division and eventual rise of
Eastern Empire
Late Roman Empire ….
Civil Wars 235 – 284 AD (Diocletian)
Constantine (306 – 337 AD)
Battle of Milvian Bridge (312 AD)
Sees a Vision … sign of cross …
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restores empire unity
Sole ruler by 324 AD
Enlarges army & bureaucracy
Moves capital of Roman empire to EAST - Constantinople
Read pg. 208 in text
B. Transformation of Christianity
Under Constantine:
 Supporter of Christian faith (see page 213)
 Legalized Christianity in 313 AD
Under Theodosius:
380 AD made Christianity official religion of Roman Empire
(see page 214 Document 9.1 Decree)
 Banned pagan worship
 Closed temples to Roman and Greek gods
 Ended Olympic games
Vocabulary:
 Bishop
 Pope
 Papal Primacy
C. Hunnic & Germanic Invasions (370 – 500 AD)
•Huns attack Goths (see map for different divisions of Germanic people)
•Visigoths move south against Roman armies – 378 AD
•Theodosius able to hold truce with Visigoths (see page 216-217)
Attila the Hun “scourge of God”
http://sciencestage.com/v/6139/1-3-the-most-evil-men-in-history-attila-the-hun.html#
This video is about character of Attila the Hun and his army
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pMZHovydSFQ
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uBkNuZ6rySA&NR=1
These are History Channel videos part 1 and 2 about the Battle of Chalon and the
aftermath in 451/452 AD.
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**Please watch these videos as the information is important in understanding the final
collapse of the Roman Empire and the measure of Germanic/Hunnic tribes that came
against it.
D. Fall of Rome and end of Western Empire
(textbook page 217 – 218)
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Vandals take Rome in 455 AD
476 AD last Roman Emperor abdicated by German
warlord
476 AD Roman Empire in West Ends
Results:
1. Authority now rests in Pope
2. Eastern Rome (Constantinople) losses authority in
West
Early Medieval Europe – Germanic & Christian
Connections
III.
Middle Ages = Medieval Era
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Domination by Germanic Tribes
Roman cities destroyed/disarray
Roads, trade & money unused
learning & literacy decline
commerce declines
central administration gone
A. Emergence of Germanic Kingdoms
(textbook page 219)
(Be familiar with the breakdown of the map 9.4 and the
following slide)
Ostrogoths and Lombards = Italy
Visigoths = Spain
Franks = France
Angles & Saxons = England
B. Early Medieval Church
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Celts & Germans adopt Christianity into their traditions
Monasticism (page 220)
Saint Benedict (480-543 AD)
Be familiar with the Rule of St. Benedict
http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/mona/hd_mona.htm
Monasticism in Medieval Christianity (Art) Link
Monastic Culture
“high” church people are educated
Withdrawal from general society
1. prayer
2. study (Monasticism)
3. Benedictine Monks
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Chastity
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Poverty – deny luxuries
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Missionary work
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Clothing changes – robes
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Establish monasteries
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(same time period as splits between East/West Church)
C. Frankish Kingdom and Unification of West
Clovis (482-511AD)
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warrior German chieftan
founded 1st Frankish Dynasty (Merovingian)
Roman province of Gaul into France
Merovingian Dynasty (Clovis’ line)
1. Constant struggle between “one” and “many”
a. Kings (Clovis’ sons) = centralized government
b. Local rulers fought for regional autonomy
2. Held together through Pacts
3. Created new officials – “Count”
4. By 7th century “Mayor of Palace” held real authority
Carolingian Dynasty
Charles the Great or “Charlemagne” (768-814 AD)
Son of Pepin the Short
Accomplishments:
1. finishes conquering Italy Lombards and assumes crown
2. devoted life to kingdom expansion
3. Pope Leo III crowns him Emperor ***
Pontificus Maximus
*** symbolizes fusion of Roman, Christian and Germanic elements
that form the basis of European Civilization
The coronation of Charlemagne by Pope Leo III,
as depicted in a medieval French manuscript
© Scala/Art Resource, NY
4.
Imperial “Look”
a. Festive courts
b. “counts”
5.
King’s Palace School
a. Latin in official documents
b. New and legible style of handwriting (standardize)
6.
Carolingian Manor
a. Chief ECONOMIC institution (communal farm)
1. medieval farms in clustered villages
2. status of peasants determined by nature of holdings (Serfs)
7.
Military = Knights
nobility
8.
Creation of new Agriculture and methods
crop rotation and plow
Church of Charlamagne
The Manor
Break up of Carolingian Kingdom
After Charlamagne’s death his 3 sons take over …
843 AD – Treaty divided the kingdom
Creates a Vacuum in Europe that Church tries to fill
Plummets into Dark Ages ….
D. Vikings, Muslims & Magyars
After Charlemagne a new set of invaders
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Norsemen (Vikings) (see text pages 224-225)
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Muslims (Saracens) (see text page 226)
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Magyars (see text page 226)
918 AD Henry I (Duke of Saxon)
consolidates Bavaria, Saxony, Francia and Lothargina
Otto I “The Great” (936 – 973 AD)
(son of Henry I)
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invades Italy and proclaims self King
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Otto defeats Hungarians
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secured German borders and established western frontiers
of Europe***
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appointed bishops and abbots to administer lands
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Pope John bestows Imperial Title on Otto
IV.
Europe’s Warrior Nobility
Feudal Society
Evolves out of Survival
Vassals
chief obligation was military
1. ransom lord from enemy
2. outfit for major military campaigns
3. defray costs of festivities at marriages…
Lord
1. protect vassal from physical harm
2. stand as advocate in courts
3. provide maintenance by giving fief
Vocabulary:
Vassal
Lord
Serf
Knight