Charlemagne – Flashcards

or Charles the Great was the emperor who built an empire reaching across France, Germany, and part of Italy around 800. He loved battle and spent much of his 46 -year reign fighting Muslims, Saxons, Avars, Slavs, and Lombards. His conquests reunited much of the old Roman Empire.

Charlemagne became the "king of the Romans" because Pope Leo III called on him for help against rebellious nobles in Rome. The Frankish armies marched south and crushed the rebellion. The Pope showed his gratitude by placing a crown on Charlemagne's head and proclaiming him Emperor of the Romans.

Charlemagne's crowning widened the split between east and west Rome because it united the Christian community and laid the ground for desperate power struggles between future Roman Catholic popes and German emperors. At the same time the eastern emperor saw himself as the sole Roman ruler and was outraged at the "backwards "Frankish king.

"missy dominici" were the officials sent out by Charlemagne to check on roads, listen to grievances, and see that justice was done. He introduced the missi to "administer the law fully and justly in the case of the holy churches of God and of the poor, of wards and of widows, and of the whole people."

Alcuin was a respected scholar from York who helped to found the school Aachen. Alcuin created a curriculum or formal course of study, based on Latin learning. It included grammar, rhetoric, logic, arithmetic, geometry, music and astronomy.

After Charlemagne died in 814, his empire fell apart. His heir battled for power for nearly 30 years. In 843, Charlemagne's grandsons drew up the Treaty of Verdun, which split the empire into three regions.

Charlemagne's legacy was that he extended Christian civilization into northern Europe and furthered the blending of German, Roman and Christian traditions. He also set up a strong, efficient government. Later medieval rulers looked to his example when they tried to strengthen their own kingdoms.

Clovis was the Merovingian king of the Franks; he ruled his new lands according to the Frankish custom and converted to Christianity. Conquered the former province of Gaul in 486.

The Franks was the strongest kingdom to emerge between 400 and 700 Germanic tribes.

Europe's resources in the frontier area were dense forests, rich earth good for raising crops, underground mineral resources, seas for fish and food/ transportation routes.

a sparsely populated, undeveloped area on the outskirts of a civilization.

Europe lies on the western end of Eurasia, the giant landmass that stretches from present day Portugal in the west all the way to China in the east.

The word medieval comes from the Latin for "middle age"

During the early middle ages waves of invaders swept across Europe, trade slowed down, towns emptied, and learning virtually ceased. It was a relatively backward religion cut off from advanced civilizations in the Middle East.

- decline in great cities - Europe became poor and disorganized - learning declined - loss of literacy (not many people could read/write) -trade, business and economy declined - lack of a common language

A rough justice system based on the belief that God will protect the innocent and expose the guilty. It replaced the Roman justice system of logic and written laws. They came about in the Dark ages because of the decline in civilization.

1. Built an empire in Europe reuniting much of the old roman empire 2. Crushed rebellious nobles in Rome 3. Was crowned "Holy Roman Emperor" by Pope Leo III 4. Made a united Christian Community 5. Had control over many lands 6. Spread Christianity to the conquered people 7. Appointed powerful nobles 8. Sent out "miss dominici" 9. Latin learning in his empire 10. Founded a school Aachen

The Franks

Clovis

Gaul

a time period where invaders swept across Europe, trade slowed, towns emptied and learning stopped.

Latin, it means middle age

France

includes physical features, such as mountains, islands, rivers and seas

Charlemagne's grandfather, he rallied Frankish warriors when a muslim army crossed into France.