Download Mar06 - HANDOUT - 02 Charlemagne

Name:_____________________________________________ Date:_____________
Themes: Political Systems
Focus Question #2: HOW COULD CHARLEMAGNE BRING STABILITY BACK TO
EUROPE?
Introduction: On the eve of an invasion, Pope Gregory the Great described the situation
in Europe after the decline of the Western Roman Empire, around A.D. 600 he wrote,
“Where is the senate? Where are the people? The bones are all dissolved, the flesh is
consumed, all the pomp (magnificence) and dignities of this world is gone. The whole
mass [of the old Roman Empire] is boiled away. [Trade has slowed, towns emptied and
learning virtually has ceased. Europe has truly entered a period of instability and chaos]”
1. How did the pope describe the period after the fall of Rome?
Document #1: The Empire of Charlemagne
One of the strongest German tribes in Western Europe was the Franks. They
occupied much of what is now France. Since 496, the Franks had been Christian. The
leader of the Christian Church in Rome, the pope, encouraged the Franks to conquer nonChristian tribes.
The greatest Frankish king was Charlemagne, who ruled from 771 to 814. (His
name means “Charles the Great.”) What made him great? For starters, he was the
grandson of Charles Martel who was famous for defeating the Muslims at the battle of
Tours in 732, saving Europe from Muslim domination. He stood over six feet tall, and
was a fearsome warrior. He loved battle and was a successful conqueror.
Charlemagne fought other German tribes to gain power over them. Most of the
tribes had converted to Christianity. He eventually ruled over an area that included what
are now France, East and West Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. He also controlled
northern Italy and northeastern Spain.
The Pope, Leo III, was grateful to Charlemagne for increasing the number of
Christians in Europe. When a local uprising (rebellion) forced the pope to flee from
Rome in 799, Charlemagne marched to Rome and defeated the pope's enemies. He then
put the church leader back into office. In appreciation, Leo III crowned Charlemagne
Holy Roman Emperor, in 800. This honor meant that Charlemagne was considered to be
the Christian successor (one who follows) to the emperors of Rome. Although he
embraced many Latin traditions he often maintained some Frankish traditions. For
example the way he dressed.
One of Charlemagne's great contributions to civilization in Europe was his
encouragement of learning. Although he spoke Latin and understood Greek, he could not
read or write. (Few people of that time had these skills.) To further education in his
kingdom, he set up a school in Aachen for his family and other children of ability. The
school attracted scholars from many lands and became a model for other schools. He
hoped to make Aachen a second Rome. The school promoted Latin learning and made
copies of the Bible and Latin works of history and science, which lasted as textbooks in
Europe for 700 years.
In order to control his empire, he hired powerful officials called missi dominci.
Charlemagne instructed the missi dominci, “let the missi make a diligent investigation
when ever any man claims that an injustice has been done to him by anyone…an they
shall administer the law fully and justly in the case of the holy churches of God and of the
poor…of widows and all people.”
Conclusion: Charlemagne's empire did not last long after his death. His son was not a
good ruler. Charlemagne's grandsons could not rule the lands together. They went to war
against one another. In the mid.800's, a formal agreement, called the Treaty of Verdun,
divided Charlemagne's empire into three kingdoms. The western one eventually became
France. The eastern kingdom in time became Germany. The middle kingdom was fought
over for centuries and became part of several present-day countries, such as Austria and
Italy. Later, many German kings used the title of Holy Roman Emperor, but most of
those who held the title had little power.
1. Describe the characteristics that made Charles “great”.
2. How did the Charlemagne gain the admiration of the Pope?
3. Explain the role of the missi dominici.
4. Why did Charlemagne’s empire fall apart?
5. Which areas became part of Charlemagne’s empire?
6. What happened to Charlemagne’s empire after 843?