Monday, May 19, 2014

Middle Ages

Germanic Kingdoms Unite under Charlemange
-Charlemange spread Chirstian civilization throughout northern Europe
Middle ages- medieval period (500-1500 AC)

  • Invasions trigger change in western Europe
    • Invasions and constant war sparks new trend 
      • disruption of trade
        • Europe's cities are no longer economic 
        • Money is scarce
      • Downfall of cities
        • Cities are no longer centers of administration 
      • Population shifts
        • Nobles retreat to the rural areas
        • Cities don't have strong leadership 
    • Decline in learning 
      • Germanic invaders are illiterate but they communicate through oral tradition 
      • Only church officials could read and write 
      • Knowledge of Greek, literature, science and philosophy are almost lost 
    • Loss of a common language 
      • Dialects develope in different regions 
      • By the 800's, French, Spanish, and other Roman-based languages are evolving from Latin 
  • Germanic kingdoms emerge 
    • The concept of government changes 
      • Roman society: loyal to the public government 
      • Germanic society: loyal to family
        • Germanic cheif led warriors 
        • During peace, he provided food, weapons, treasure, and a place to live (lord's hall)
        • During wartime, warrioirs fought for the lord (not the king)
      • ""The king? Who's that? You want to collect taxes from me?" 
      • Franks lived in the Roman providence of Gaul- their leader was Clovis
    • The Franks under Clovis 
      • Another battlefield conversion 
      • Clovis and 300 of his warriors are baptised by the bishops 
      • The church in Rome approve of this alliance 
      • Clovis and the church work together 
  • Germanic people adopt Christianity 
    • 511 AD- Clovis unites the Franks into one kingdom 
    • 600 AD- Church + Frankish rulers convert many 
    • Fear of Muslims in southern Europe spur many to become Christian 
    • Monasteries and convents
      • 520 AD- Benedict wrote the rules for monks and monasteries 
        • Poverty, chastity, obedience and study 
      • His sister Scholastica did the same for nuns in convents
      • 731 AD- the Venerable Bede wrote the history of England 
      • Monks opened schools, maintained libraries, and copied books
    • (Pop) Gregory I expands papal power 
      • Papacy= pope's office
      • Secular power= worldly power 
      • The church can use its money to raise armies, repair roads, help the poor
      • Gregory the Great began to act as Mayor of Rome and as head of an earthly kingdom (Christendom) 

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