The Dark Ages (approximately 500-1000 AD)

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The Dark Ages (approximately 500-1000 AD)

• Students will be able to identify and/or define
  the following terms
• Effects of the Fall of Rome
• Franks
• Charlemagne
• Feudalism

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The Dark Ages

• Historians call the period following the fall of
  Rome the Dark Ages.
• This period is known as the beginning of the
  Middle Ages (the time between the fall of Rome
  and the Renaissance).

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The fall of Rome brought many important changes
to Western Europe.
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Warfare increased. Trade decreased. The Dark
Ages began.
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Effects of the Fall of Rome

• Germanic tribes took over Roman lands.
• Hundreds of little kingdoms took the place of the
  Western Roman Empire in Europe.
• Kingdoms were always at war with one another.
• People lost interest in learning.

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Europes Geography
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Geography made Europe difficult to unite. Today,
it is the second smallest continent but has 50
countries. Its division can be traced back to the
many tribes in the Dark Ages.
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Clovis was an important king of the Franks.
The Franks were one of the largest Germanic tribes
.
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Clovis and the Franks

• In A.D. 481, Clovis united the Franks and became
  their king.
• Clovis converted to the Roman Catholic faith.
• Essentially, the Franks blended Germanic and
  Roman cultural practices.

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Charlemagne became king of the Franks in 768
A.D. He conquered a vast empire and tried to
recreate the glory of the Roman Empire.
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Charlemagne

• He conquered great amounts of land including
  parts of present-day France, Germany, and Italy
• He was proclaimed Emperor of the Holy Roman
  Empire by Pope Leo III.
• He gave land to his nobles in exchange for their
  loyalty and military service.

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Pope Leo III crowned Charlemagne Holy Roman
Emperor.
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Charlemagne's Achievements

• Government Officials called missi dominici were
  sent to check on nobles and ensure justice.
• Learning Wanted his capital at Aachen to be a
  second Rome. Created a curriculum, or formal
  course of study.
• Extended Christianity into Northern Europe.
• Blended German, Roman, and Christian traditions.

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During his reign, Charlemagne tried to recreate
the Roman Empire. However, after his death, the
empire declined.
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Effects of Charlemagne

• While Charlemagnes descendants were not able to
  recreate the glory of the Roman Empire, the
  Franks did have effects
• 1. Christianity continued to spread.
• 2. His government was an example for later
  monarchs.
• 3.The Frankish practice of giving land to nobles
  in exchange for loyalty and military service
  spread throughout Western Europe.

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Feudalism

• Life during the Middle Ages was based on a series
  of exchanges.
• Lesser Lords obeyed more powerful Lords in
  exchange for land. They also gave the more
  powerful lords military service.
• Peasants, known as serfs, gave their lords a
  portion of crops in return for protection.

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Questions for Review

• Why did historians call the early Middle Ages the
  Dark Ages?
• Who was Clovis and how did his conversion affect
  the Franks?
• Why did Pope Leo III crown Charlemagne Holy
  Roman Emperor?
• How is feudalism different from other political
  systems?