HISTORY 101: Introduction to the Middle Ages & Charlemagne the Great

"in between periods" (in between the classical and modern world--500-1350); distinctive European culture; decline (after Rome falls)

Also called Charles the Great; stops decline of Europe (briefly); King of the Franks; Family History: Charles Martel & Pepin the Short

Germanic Tribe; established around Paris, France (about the 500s)

Grandfather of Charlemagne (Charles the Great); Charles "The Hammer"; Name: "Mayor of the Palace"; was NOT the king; was ordered by the Franks to defeat Arabs (defeated Arabs at the Battle of Tours--732 in France)

Son of Charles Martel; mayor of the Palace; was made legal king of France; supported person who made him king by recognizing the Papal states; gave the Pope the territories which added to the Papal States

Pope

Son of Pepin the Short; became king in 768 and restored order in Europe; established the Holy Roman Empire (December 25, 800)..Pope Leo III crowned Charlemagne king of the Romans "emperor"

For about a thousand years

Provides political order & stops cultural decline (temporarily); established a school at Aachen headed by a monk (Alcuin of York)

Set up a school that all monks attended & set up writing standards that are still conventions today; had a important job: collect things that have been lost & tried to teach Charlemagne how to read/write

-uniform spelling-Carolingian style of well-formed lowercase letters-capitals to begin a sentence and lowercase to continue-space b/w words-standard punctuation-division into sentences and paragraphs

Emperor after Charlemagne (Death: 814); not very good; death: 840 (divides empire)