today in class we went over the test that we took yesterday. we also started preparing for the final exam which is next week. i had a great time in west civ and a great time with Mr.Schick. for one last time on my blog


GOD BLESS AMERICA

Today in class we took the middle ages test. I didn’t do that well I on the test because I didn’t like the material but I should’ve study harder and put more time into studying. I got a 73 and matt got an 80 which shocked me because matt usually doesn’t do better or even as well as me. Not trying to be rude but it is true.  

Today in class matt and I taught the class for the middle Ages test tomorrow. I actually am not the interested in the middle ages as I was with Rome and Greece. I liked Rome and Greece because they actually did things for the world and evolved into bigger and better things, but with the middle ages they just basically took a step back and didn't do anything. 

Charles “the hammer” Martel

Major domo- mean mayor of the palace in Latin

One of the most pivotal crucial battles in European history when Charles the hammer took on Muslims of the battle of tours, but Charles won.

Charles has a son Pepin the short

Pepin is working for the pope and the pope says Pepin is now king. Pepin was king by the grace of God.

Pepin had two sons Carolmeign and Charles.

His son Charles took over.

His son Charles is known as Charles the Great. Built the greatest since rome. Fought the muslims in spain. Spread Christianity. The most powerful king in western Europe.

Pope Leo the 3^rd makes him emperor on Xmas day in 800AD.

His government

He limited the authority of the nobles. He regularly visited every place. Kept close watch on his huge estates. Encouraged learning, ordered monasteries to open up schools for everybody.

But his sons were pretty much weenies.

His son was Louis Pious was a quite prayer just sat back and very quiet. Than he based the power to his three sons. Lothair, Charles the Bald, and Louis the German. So they spilt up the empire. Called the Treaty of Verdun is 843 AD. 

Germanic Kingdoms that unite with Charlemagne

Many Germanic kingdoms that do well are the ones that were reunited under Charlemagne’s empire.

Charlemagne spread Christian civilization through northern Europe, which is where many of us came from.

Middle ages= medieval period

500-1500 AD

Medieval Europe is fragmented

Invasions trigger changes in Western Europe

Invasions and constant warfare spark new trends. Disruption of trade. Europe’s cities are no longer economic centers. 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.

Invasions trigger changes in western Europe

Decline of learning. Germanic invaders are illiterate, but they communicate through oral tradition. Only priests and church officials could read and write. Knowledge of Greek is almost lost.

Loss of common language.

Dialects develop in different regions. By the 800’s French, Spanish, other roman based languages are evolving from latin.

Germanic kingdoms emerge

The concept of government changes. Roman society, loyal to public government.

Germanic society, loyal to family. Germanic chief led warriors. During peace he provided food, weapons, treasure, a place to live. During wartime warriors fought for the lord

Franks lived in the roman province Gaul –their leader in clavis.

The Franks under Clavis. Another battlefield conversion. Clavis and 3000 of his warriors are baptized by the bishop. The church in rome approves of this alliance. Clavis and the church begin to work together.

The church helps the poor, repair roads, raise armies. There’s no separation between church and state. The pope is acting as a king on earth. 

Fifth Century- angles and Saxons invade Britain.
 486- Clovis leads Frankish Confederacy against Romans and rival Germanic invaders in Gaul
527-565 Reign of Emperor Justinian in the Eastern Empire.
542- Plague hits Egypt, then spreads throughout the Mediterranean area and much of western Europe.
568- Lombards conquer most of northern Italy
570-632- Life of Muhammad
595- Missionaries sent by the pope begin to convert the pagans of England.
711-Muslim invasion of Spain
800-Slavs occupy almost all of eastern Europe

Cesar Augustus was the 1st emperor.
Caligula- started off well, granting bonuses to those in the military. Declaring treason trials a thing of the past, and made government spending a matter of public record. He then began to fight with the senate. Claimed to be a god. He put statues of himself all over the place even in the Jewish temples. Spent much of the money of Rome on big huge orgies for him and his friend. He was just nuts. Assassinated by his own aides at 28 years old.
Next comes Claudius- he had a bad limp, speech impediment. Her rose to the occasion he expanded the Empire somewhat into Britain. He add on the roads and canals. He was doing all the right things. His wife was a tramp. And tried to have him killed and have her lover become emperor. So Claudius had his wife and her lover killed.
 Christianity and Judaism monotheistic.
Romans had many gods, plus at times the emperor was viewed as a god.
A group of Jews called the zealots tried to rebel against the Romans, but they failed so the Romans destroyed them and burned down their biggest temple except one wall. It is called the Western Wall. They claim it is there holiest of all Jewish shrines. Half of million Jews were killed during this rebellion.
Romans would be harsh to the ones that did not worship the emperor. Especially Christians who were viewed as followers of a new upstart religion. Despite the oppression, Christianity grew quickly by AD 200 around 10 percent of the people in the Roman empire were Christians.