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.