4.1 Kingdoms of the Early Middle Ages.

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AGE 3. The Time of Monks and Knights

4.1 Kingdoms of the Early Middle Ages

AGE 3: the Time of Monks and Knights

500 - 1000

After the fall of the Roman Empire, a period of decline started. 

Historians now know that the Early Middle Ages (500-1000 CE) are worthy of study. Two religions flourished and spread across Europe and other parts of the world: Christianity and Islam. People from this time made beautiful jewellery, travelled the world and developed the written culture we are familiar with today.

This and more took place during the Early Middle Ages. 

Typical Aspects:

1. Feudal system and serfdom

2. Spreading of Christianity throughout Europe

3. Rise and expansion of Islam

4. Change from urban agrarian society to self-sufficient agrarian communities in Western Europe

EARLY MIDDLE AGES

 / DARK AGES

What is this lesson about?

In the fifth century, the Western Roman Empire was taken over by Germanic tribes, including the Franks, Visigoths, Ostrogoths, Vandals and Saxons. They started shaping countries as we know them today.

What are the main questions of this lesson?

1. What was the Germanic warrior culture?
In Germanic warrior culture, battles and booty were the way to achieve honour and power.

2. Why were the Franks successful in maintaining a large kingdom?

The Frankish King Clovis converted to Christianity and forced his people to convert too. Because of this, the Catholic Church supported the Franks in maintaining their kingdom.

Word Duty

Franks: most powerful of the Germanic tribes.

Frisians: people that lived in the northern and western part of Europa and along the river delta of the modern-day Netherlands.

hereditary: something that you inherit based on bloodline, such as land or a title.

lord: medieval word for rulers, such as king.

vassal: follower of a lord with special rights.

warrior culture: culture in which fighting and booty are the way to achieve honour and power.

KEY WORDS

TIMELINE of this CHAPTER

B. New Germanic leaders

• Between 400 and 600 AD, Germanic kingdoms replaced Roman provinces.
• The strongest was the kingdom of the Franks
• The first Frankish king was Clovis.

C. Warrior culture

• The Romans had liked reading, science and education.
• The Franks liked fighting and honour.
• This is called a "warrior culture".

D. Lord and vassals

• The Franks could not read or write.
• The leader was called a "lord"
• the followers were called "vassals".
• vassals were loyal to their lord.

D. Lord and vassals

• The Frankish kingdom was hereditary.
  
• Clovis was converted to Christianity
• Now he had support from the Catholic Church.
• The Frankish empire became the most powerful empire in Europe.

F. Franks and Frisians

• Around 800 AD the Franks conquered the Frisians.

To practise this lesson:

Go to Eduhint, lesson 4.1 and do questions:

1, 2, 3, 4, 5a, 6, 8a + b, 9, 12