2.2 WESTERN EUROPE
DURING THE MIDDLE AGES
THE FRANKS TAKE OVER
BETWEEN THE FALL OF ROME (476 C.E.)AND
WILLIAM THE CONQUEROR (1066 C.E.):
FRANKS CONTROL WESTERN EUROPE
• Rome fell, which left no
central government in
power. The Franks, a
powerful Germanic group
and a barbarian tribes
controlled much of
Europe.
• Their success was due to a
new style of warfare:
armed knights on
horseback who
demanded payment of
land and privileges.
THE FRANKS INTRODUCE THE 3 C’S
TO MEDIEVAL WESTERN EUROPE:
•CLOVIS
•CHARLEMAGNE
•CHRISTIANITY
(only the Roman
Catholic Church)
CLOVIS, THE
FIFTEEN-YEAR-OLD KING:
• King of Franks at 15
• In 481 C.E., in Gaul (modern
France), defeats last great
Roman army Married
Clotilda, a Christian who
influences husband
• Baptized into Roman
Catholic Church and
followers followed!
• http://www.history.com/top
ics/middleages/videos/dark-agesthe-franks---clovis-part-2
300 YEARS LATER: CHARLEMAGNE
(AKA CHARLES THE GREAT)
• Most important leader of
Franks
• Ruled from 768 to 814,
more than 40 years
• Illiterate but encouraged
education and
scholarship
• Aachen, (in modern
Germany) is city of his
court, center of learning
• http://www.history.com/t
opics/charlemagne/vide
os/the-reign-ofcharlemagne
CHARLEMAGNE: A PARTNERSHIP
WITH THE CATHOLIC CHURCH
• Unified all Christian
lands in Europe into his
empire
• He was called the
“King Father Of Europe”
• Pope, head of Roman
Catholic Church,
crowned him Holy
Roman Emperor in 800
C.E.
• https://www.youtube.c
om/watch?v=cTTaVnZy
G2g
CHARLEMAGNE AND POPE LEO III
• The Roman Catholic
Church was center of
medieval European
society.
• Charlemagne couldn’t
ignore this.
• Charlemagne needed
the blessing of the
church (“God is on my
side…”).
• Pope Leo III needed
the support of
Charlemagne’s army.
VATICAN IN ROME,
HOME OF THE POPE
VATICAN (AND POPE) STILL
IN ROME TODAY
THE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE POPE AND
CHARLEMAGNE CREATES HISTORICAL PROBLEM
• Who has more power:
the pope (the church)
or the king?
• The pope says he does;
after all, he placed the
crown on
Charlemagne’s head.
• Charlemagne says,
“Only because I let
you. I have the ultimate
authority over my
people.”
THIS PROBLEM CAME UP IN U.S.
POLITICS IN 1960
• If elected president,
would JFK, a
practicing Catholic,,
listen to the Pope
over Americans?
• He said, “No,” and
was elected.
• Only Protestant
Christians have been
President before and
since (43 out of 44).
CHARLEMAGNE DIES IN 814 C.E. BUT
FEUDALISM LIVES ON
• His kingdom survived many barbarian
attacks, including Vikings from the north,
Muslims, and Saxons.
• When he died, his empire was divided
among his three sons, and it quickly fell
apart.
• New rulers were weak leaders.
• However, these rulers helped prepare
Europe for feudalism.
CHARLEMAGNE’S LEGACY:
ORDER FROM CHAOS
• Rulers followed the Frank’s practice of
rewarding knights with land and privileges, in
return for military service (feudalism). This
reestablishes order in post-Roman Europe.
• Knights are trained to fight!
• Then, in1066, European feudalism enters
England through the Norman (French) king
William the Conqueror.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bQ8A5gRe
_Dw
1066 WILLIAM THE CONQUEROR, KING
OF ENGLAND
• Norman (French)
but his ancestors
were really Vikings
from Scandinavia
• Beats two rivals
• Brings French castle
lifestyle, language,
fashion to England
• This family line lasts
for 400 years in
England
HOWEVER, THE QUESTION REMAINS…
• Since all of Medieval
Europe is Catholic,
shouldn’t the people’s
true ruler be the Pope,
since he is God’s
representative on Earth?
• Footnote: the pope and
priests keep the long
robes and colors of
Roman emperors to keep
the historical connection
with power!
MONARCHS SAY, “NO WAY!”
• They claim the “divine
right of kings.” They
believe that God gave
them the right to rule,
which makes them the
ultimate authority over
people.
• http://www.history.com/t
opics/middleages/videos/the_pope_v
s_the_emperor?m=528e3
94da93ae&s=undefined&
f=1&free=false
PAY ATTENTION TO THE FOLLOWING
TERMS IN BRAIN POP CLIPS
“MIDDLE AGES” AND “FEUDALISM”:
• Hierarchy
• Manor
• Fiefs
• Notice that the
church is not
included in this
hierarchy; it has its
own parallel system
(Chap. 3).
FIEF AND MANOR EXPLAINED:
FIEF IS THE GIFT OF LAND; MANOR IS
EVERYTHING BUILT ON THE LAND.