European Middle Ages Notes

Early Middle Ages: 500 – 1000

High Middle Ages: 1000 – 1250

Late Middle Ages: 1250 – 1500

The Catholic Church and Monasticism

the church controlled about 1/3 of the land in Western Europe.

v decreed only 40 days a year for combat.

v curb heresies à crusades; Inquisition

v tithe à 1/10 tax on your assets given to
the church

v power vacuum collapse of Rome.

v monasticism:

§ Benedictine Rule of poverty, chastity, and obedience.

§ schools for rich.

§ inns, hospitals, refuge

§ libraries & scriptoria to copy books
and illuminate manuscripts.

§ missionaries [St. Patrick, St. Boniface]

Rise of the Franks

The Clovis Merovingians

– first leader to unify the Franks.

– In 496, Clovis became Christian and imposed order on France

Hammer Time

• Charles Martel (“the Hammer”)

– 732 defeated Muslims

– Battle of Tours

– stopped advance West.

Carolingian Dynasty

• Pépin le Bref

• Pipin married Berthe au Grand Pied (Bertha Big Foot).

– Their son was Charlemagne (Charles the Great).

Charles the Great ("Charlemagne") 768‑814.

• Pope Leo III crowned Charles Imperator Romanorum (“Emperor of the Romans”) on Christmas Day, 800.

Pushed education and religion

• illiterate and immoral in his personal life.

• Charles wanted an educated clergy and populace.

• repaired churches,

• Pushed all of Europe to Catholicism

• Enforced tithing

• Defeated Lombards in Italy in 777.

• conquered Saxons in Germany and Christianized them.

• Charlemagne’s empire crumbled after his death.

• power lapsed into the hands of the landowners

• These landowners had their own armies and resources.