The Romans had controlled most of Europe (all of Western Europe) from about 117 AD to 476 AD

By 476 AD, Rome was not able to keep control over its empire

-began to lose control on the frontier regions

A new European civilization is created based on:

1. Influence of Germanic tribes

2. Legacy of the Romans

3. Influence of the church

http://historymedren.about.com/library/atlas/blatmapgermanic.htm

Germanic peoples began moving into Roman territories as early as 3rd century

Visigoths in Spain

Ostrogoths in Italy (5th century)

Basques in northern Iberia (still looking for a homeland)

After Rome was sacked in 476, many original documents moved to Constantinople

Visigoths and Ostrogoths maintained Roman style government, but excluded Romans from holding power

In Britain, Romans

abandoned their forts

Angles and Saxons

settled and created an

Anglo-Saxon culture

Baptism of Clovis I, from Encarta Online

Clovis I: Frankish ruler from 481 to 511

Became first Germanic ruler to convert to Christianity

(this occurred during a battle with the Alamanni, Clovis army near

destruction, he called on the Christian god to help him in battle,

and his army was victorious)

His wife was Christian, but she was not able to convince him to

convert until this event

This conversion gave Clovis and the Franks support from the Catholic church

Clovis and the Franks were also obliged to protect the church in Rome

By 510, Clovis had united all of the Franks into one kingdom

Upon his death, his kingdom was divided equally among his sons—following traditional Frankish custom

Throughout Europe, Germans and Romans began to intermarry which created a new society

Many of the new governments adopted aspects of the Romans

But Germanic social customs began to play a more important role

In Germanic society, family was the crucial social bond

Focused especially on the extended family

These groups worked their land together

These groups also protected each other

In Roman law, serious crimes were considered crimes against the state

In Germanic society, crimes were considered personal and often led to blood feuds or other savage acts of revenge

Wergild: new system developed to avoid violence

Word means: “money for a man”

This was the amount of money paid by a wrongdoer to the family of the person injured or killed

Varied by crime, but also varied by social status

Ordeals: were used to help determine guilt

-based on the idea of divine intervention

What was the significance of Clovis’s conversion to Christianity?

This conversion gained him the support of the Roman Catholic Church

Organization of the Church

Pope

Diocese: led by archbishop

Bishopric: led by bishops

Parish: led by priests

Pope: was bishop of Rome

Became recognized by

Western Christians as

leader of church

government

church

Pope Gregory I

(Gregory the Great)

Was pope from 590 to 604

Took spiritual and political control of Rome and its territory

(Papal States)

Was responsible for the conversion of many Germanic peoples to

Christianity through the monastic movement

               

Abbot Paul Delatte from http://homepage.mac.com/fahrenheit451/quarr/solesmes.html

Monk:

A man who separates himself from human society in order to totally

dedicate his life to God

Monasticism:

The practice of living the life of a monk

Saint Benedict:

Founded a community of monks in 6th century

Wrote rules he thought monks should live by

(Benedictine Rule)

Important aspects of Benedictine Rule:

“The Proper Work of God” (prayer)

-monks prayed together as a community seven times each day

-other times of day required individual meditation and prayer to

GodIdleness is the “Enemy of the Soul”

-physical work required of all monks several hours each day

Benedict believed monastic life should be communal

-monks ate, worked, slept, and worshipped together

-no private property

Abbot:

Ruled each monastery

Had complete control

Monasteries owned their own land

-were self-sufficient and isolated

Monasteries came to be seen as the ideal Christian society

-provided a moral example to the surrounding society

Monasteries provided social services to local communities:

-schools for youth

-hospitality for travelers

-hospitals for sick

-improved agriculture techniques and production

-were excellent craftsmen

Missionaries: people sent out to carry a religious message

Christian missionaries spread and converted many Germanic people

By 1050, most western Europeans were Catholic

Nuns: women who withdrew from the world

-lived in convents

-abbess: led each convent

-also contributed to the spread of Christianity

What was the role of the Catholic Church in the growth of the new European civilization?

Through its monasteries, it converted the pagans, spread learning, and provided social services

Monks became the new heroes of Christian civilization

Mayors of the palace:

Chief officers of the Frankish kings households

-began to gain power over the Frankish kings

Pepin the Short: mayor who assumed kingship of the Franks

-Pepin was the son of Charles Martel

-died in 768

-his son Charles became king

Charles Martel’s army defeated an Islamic army at the Battle of Tours in 732

-stopped the spread of Islam further into western Europe

Charlemagne (Charles the Great):

-Pepin the Short’s son

-ruled from 768 to 814

-determined, decisive, highly intelligent, curious

-fierce warrior, strong statesman, devout Christian

-couldn’t read or write, but supported education

Charlemagne expanded Frankish rule, created the Carolingian Kingdom (in green above)

Counts:

German nobles who acted as Charlemagne’s representatives in local areas

Missi dominici:

“messengers of the lord king”

-men from Charlemagne’s staff who traveled to local districts to check on the counts

Charlemagne crowned as first Holy Roman Emperor

-this event demonstrated strength in the

idea of an enduring

Roman Empire

This coronation marked the ‘coming together’ of Roman, Christian, and Germanic elements

-it marks the beginning of a new civilization in Europe

4 minutes

Carolingian Renaissance:

Charlemagne’s desire to promote learning led to a revival of learning and culture

-a renewed interest in Latin culture and classical (Greek and Roman) works

Scriptoria:

Monastic writing rooms

-became crucial in the preservation of ancient manuscripts (Bible, Latin scholars, Greek and Roman works…)

-most of these ancient works that survive today were preserved by monks

What was the importance of missi dominici?

They were the messengers of the king (or lord) who ensured that the counts were carrying out the king’s orders

They were a way to centralize administration and keep the counts under the power of the king

Wergild:

Ordeal:

Bishopric:

“money for a man”

The value of a person in money, depending upon social status, in Germanic society

A fine paid by a wrongdoer to the family of the person he or she had injured or killed

A means of determining guilt in Germanic law

Based on the idea of divine intervention: if the accused person was unharmed after a physical trial, he or she was presumed innocent

A group of Christian communities, or parishes, under the authority of a bishop

Pope:

Monk:

Monasticism:

The bishop of Rome and head of the Roman Catholic Church

A man who separates himself from ordinary human society in order to dedicate himself to God

Monks live in monasteries headed by abbots

Practice of living the life of a monk

Missionary:

Nun:

Abbess:

A person sent out to carry a religious message

A woman who separates herself from ordinary human society in order to dedicate herself to God

Nuns live in convents

The head of a convent

Summarize the crucial bond among the Germanic peoples and one area of its application.

The crucial bond was family

It affected the concept of crime and punishment

List the daily activities of Benedictine monks.

Prayer and manual labor

What significance did Charlemagne’s coronation as Roman emperor have to the development of European civilization?

It symbolized union of Roman, Christian, and Germanic elements

Fill in the chart with significant events in the religious and political realms for each listed leader.

Ruler Religious Realm Political Realm

Clovis

Gregory I

Charlemagne

Conversion Frankish kingdom

Extended papal authority

Controlled Rome

Crowned by Pope Carolingian Empire