Early Middle Ages

• Geschiedenis
• Middelbare school
• havo, vwo
• Leerjaar 1

Early Middle Ages (500-1000 AD)

Content:

- Early Kingdoms: Franks, Frisians

- Charlemagne and his Carolingian culture

- The manorial system and feudalism

- Christianity & monks in early Middle Ages. 

How did the Roman Empire fall?
(Hint: check your book!)

Word Duty

Franks - most powerful of the Germanic tribes

Warrior culture - culture in which fights and battles are ways to achieve honour and power

Lord - medieval word for rulers, such as kings

Vassals - follower of a lord with special rights

Hall - room to accomodate a large group. It was used to make important decisions

Hereditary: going from father to son(s).

Frisians - people who lived in the northern and western parts of the Netherlands and along the river delta in the middle of the Netherlands.

Charlemagne - also known as Charles the Great, was king of the Franks. He united most of Western Europe into one empire.

Saxons - Germanic tribe, they invaded England

Barrows - large mounds used as graves

KEY WORDS

What do you know about
the Middle Ages?

The Middle Ages

• The time after the Roman Empire (Antiquity) and before the Early Modern Times.

• 500 AD - 1500 AD
  Early Middle Ages : 500-1000
  Late Middle Ages : 1000-1500
  
  
• Often seen as a bridge period  between Antiquity and modern times. 
  

Troubled times in
Early Middle Ages (500-800)

• After the fall of the (Western) Roman Empire a lot of wars occured in Europe
  
• Travelling was very dangerous so people lived in tiny villages or with wealthy lords.

• Great cities, like Rome, no longer existed.
  Europe went back to an agricultural society.
  

Germanic Tribes

- After the Roman Empire fell, they were rulers of their own local region, no longer ruled by Rome.

- The Franks had a warrior culture.

- Two Germanic Tribes were the Franks and the Frisians.

- Germanic society had a system of lords and vassals.

Frankish Empire

Area of the Frisians
(Does it look familliar?) 

Lords & Vassals

A system with mutual benefits
-> The lord gave his vassals protection, shelter, income and gifts. 
-> The vassals gave their lords respect, fought for him and gave advice when needed. 

Charlemagne

- Frankish empire was at its largest during his reign.

- Leader of the Carolingian culture

- He made sure his empire would develop laws, science and education.

Frankish Empire

Charlemagne was a great warrior and war leader. 
He conquered a large territory by 771 AD. He even took down the sturdy Frisians in the north. 

Charlemagne was coronated as emperor in 800 AD

Christianity in the Early Middle Ages

- Christianity was still present since the Roman Ages. 
- In Northern-Europe most people believed in other Gods than just one superior God. 
- Missionaries spread Christianity through Europe

800 AD: Charlemagne coronated as emperor of the Holy Roman Empire by the Pope, leader of the church

Why would the Pope crown Charlemagne as a Holy Emperor?

Why would Charlemagne want the rest of his empire to be christian as well?

Converting heathens

In the Early Middle Ages some 
hermits decided to travel across
Europe to convert people to 
christianity. 
--> they had a holy mission to 
convince more people of their 
religion --> missionaries

Feudalism and the Manorial system