Revised Notes

Setting the stage!

Middle ages= medieval period

476-1453 AD
(from the end of the Roman Empire to the conquest of Constantinople by the Turks)

Medieval Europe is fragmented

This is a new society:

This new society has roots in:

·        Classical heritage of Rome

·        Beliefs of the roman catholic church

·        Customs of various Germanic tribes

5^th century Germanic invaders:

Overrun the western half of the Roman Empire:

Causing:

·        Disruption of trade

·        Downfall of cities

·        Population shifts to rural areas

·        Romance languages evolve (French, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian)

Germanic Kingdoms emerge: AD 400-600

·        Germanic warriors’ loyalty is to the lord of the manor he provides them w/food, weapons, treasure

·        Result:

·        No orderly government for large areas

·        Small communities rule

Pope Gregory 1 goes secular

Church revenues are used to help the poor, build roads, and raise armies

This is a theocracy

Charles Martel’s son is Pepin the Short

·        He works with the church and is named “king by the grace of God” by the Pope

·        Pepin the Shorts dies in 768, leaving two sons

·        Son #1- Carloman- dies in 771

·        Son #2 is Charles, known as Charlemagne, meaning Charles the Great

·        Six feet four inches of rocking ruling warrior greatness