Germanic Kingdoms Unite Under Charlemagne

 

We have a test tomorrow

 

Middle ages = AD 476 – AD 1453

New Society

Classical heritage of Rome

Beliefs of the Roman Catholic Church

Customs of various Germanic tribes

Overrun the Western half of the Roman Empire

Causing: Disruption of trade, downfall of cities, population shifts to rural areas

Tribes had oral tradition, songs, but couldn’t read Greek or Latin

Romance languages evolve, French, Spanish, Portuguese, Italy

Few besides priest were literate

Germanic Kingdoms Emerge: AD 400 -600

Germanic warrior’s loyalty is to be to the Lord of the manor he provides everything basically. 

Clovis rules the Germanic people of Gaul: known as the Franks

In 496 he has a battlefield conversion – he and 3000 of his warriors become Christians

The Church in Rome likes this by 511 the Franks are united into one kingdom, with Clovis and the Church working as partners

Church + Franks = Rise in Christianity

In 520, Benedict writes rules for monks

Vows of poverty which meant they live simply in poverty

Chastity no material relations

Obedience listen to Church superiors 

Pope Gregory 1 goes secular