Charlemagne Unites the Germanic Kingdoms

Charlemagne Unites Germanic Kingdoms 

A. Recognizing Main Ideas As you read this section, take notes to answer questions 

about the unification of western Europe after the fall of the Roman Empire. 

Between 400 and 600, small Germanic kingdoms replaced Roman provinces. 

1. What role did the Church play in helping Clovis conquer other Germanic peoples? 

Clovis prayed before he went to the battle and he won. After he and his men were baptized and converted to Christianity.
2. What role did Pope Gregory the Great play in spreading the idea of a vast unified kingdom? 

Pope Gregory the Great expanded his power by having political control.

Clovis’s successors extended Frankish rule. 

3. What was important about Charles Martel’s victory at the Battle of Tours? 

It made him a Christian hero.

4. How did Pepin the Short strengthen the Frankish kingdom? 

He agreed to fight the Lombards.

Charlemagne reunited western Europe and spread Christianity throughout his lands. 

5. What was the importance of Charlemagne’s coronation as emperor? 

A pope had claimed the right to confer the title “Roman Emperor” on a European king.

6. How did Charlemagne govern his unified kingdom? 

He sent out royal agents.

B. Using Context Clues On the back of this paper, define Middle Ages, 

monastery, and secular. 

Middle Ages: Medieval period

Monastery: A Church religious community

Secular: Power involved in politics

TERMS & NAMES 

1. For each term or name, write a sentence explaining its significance.

• Middle Ages: Came after the gradual decline of the Roman empire

• Franks: Germanic people that held power

• monastery: Church religious communities

• secular: Power involved in politics

• Carolingian Dynasty: Ruled the Franks from 751 to 987

• Charlemagne: Built the greatest empire known since ancient Rome

USING YOUR NOTES

2. What was the most important event in the unification of the Germanic kingdoms? Why? Charlemange became king and he united the kingdom.

MAIN IDEAS

3. What were three roots of medieval culture in western Europe?

Religion, German tribes and  Rome

4. What are three ways that civilization in western Europe declined after the Roman

Empire fell?

Invasions, religion, and the various German tribes

5. What was the most important achievement of Pope Gregory I?

Pope Gregory the Great expanded his power by having political control.

6 Reasons the Dark Ages Weren't So Dark

1.) As you read, take notes and summarize the main points from each of the six sections. Each section should have a minimum of five bullet points in your summary.

Section 1:

• most written records had a roman bias
• no great leaders emerged, no scientific accomplishments were made, no great art was created
• Renaissance scholars called it "the Dark Ages"
• Early Middle Ages in ancient Rome
• Roman concrete was lost, literacy was not high

Section 2:

• Europe lacked a large kingdom, other political structure such as a single centralizing force
• Frankish Emperor Charlemagne 
• Medieval Church became most powerful institution within Europe
• Rise of monasticism
• St. Anthony of Egypt movement  would rise to its most influential point
• Kings, queens and other rulers got most of their power from the church
• Gregory the Great (pope)-monarchs could not monopolize power

Section 3:

• Christian monasteries encouraged literacy and learning
• Enlightenment in the 17th and 18th centuries
• Protestant Reformation in 16th century
• Clergy repressed intellectual progress in favor of religious piety
• Monk Benedict of Nursia (480-543) founded the great monastery of Montecassino
• becoming the model for most Western monasteries

Section 4:

• invention of the heavy plough
• more fertile clay soil deep in the earth
• the horse collar
• placed around a horse’s neck and shoulders to distribute weight and protect the animal when pulling a wagon or plough
• Horses powerful and effective rather than oxen
• Horse collar boosted agriculture and transportation
•  use of metal horseshoes
• Medieval Warm Period

Section 5:

• medieval Christian church suppressed natural scientists
• prohibited autopsies and dissections
• halting all scientific progress
• laid foundations for future advances
• Islamic world leaped ahead in mathematics and the sciences
• Persian astronomer and mathematician al-Khwarizmi (c. 780-c. 850), introduced  algebra
• first systematic solution of linear and quadratic equations
• algorithm

Section 6:

• Karl a son of Pepin the Short
• Karl assumed complete control 
• historic reign as Charlemagne (or Charles the Great) 
• Over 50 military campaigns 
• forces fought Muslims in Spain, Bavarians and Saxons in northern Germany and Lombards in Italy 
• expanded Frankish empire  
• Representative of the first Germanic tribe that practiced Catholicism
• Pope Leo III crowned Charlemagne “emperor of the Romans”
• strong centralized state
• standard handwriting script, known as Carolingian minuscule
• cases and spacing between words
• production of books and other documents
• Carolingian dynasty had dissolved

History channel Writing prompt

1.) Describe the internal factors that led to the collapse of the Roman empire.

Many internal factors led to the collapse of Rome. Such as the empire loosing its grip on Europe and government corruption. Many citizens lost trust in the Roman leadership. The throne was sometimes auctioned off to the highest bidder. Being the emperor nearly was a death sentence. Bodyguards to the emperor assassinated some of them at will to higher someone else. Another factor is the weakening of Roman legions. Emperors higher mercenaries to fight which had little loyalty to the empire. 

2.) Explain the combination of external factors that contributed to Rome's loss of power. 

Many external factors contributed to Rome's loss of power.Such as the empire loosing its grip on Europe and being invaded by different tribes. Tribes like the Goths and "barbarians." Roman rulers captured the Goths and starved them which forced them to sell their children into slavery. In exchange they would be given dog food to eat. When the Goths finally revolted they ended up killing the Roman emperor. 

3.) Describe the impact of Christianity on Roman rule.

Christianity was legalized in Rome by The Edict of Milan in 313. People feared that this would destroy Roman values and traditions. Many citizens and people that held power thought it would take power and attention away from the emperor. The religion replaced the polytheistic roman religion. People like the pope soon took authority in political affairs. Which resulted in complicating the government system.

quizlet

https://quizlet.com/_8bqmm1?x=1qqt&i=2htju7

The Fall of the Roman Empire*

GUIDED READING The Fall of the 

Roman Empire 

Section 4 

A. Analyzing Causes and Recognizing Effects As you read about the decline and 

fall of the Roman Empire, take notes to answer the questions. 

1. What were the causes of each condition that led to the fall of the Roman Empire? 

a. Disruption of trade 

• Hostile tribes on boundaries of empire
• Pirates of the Mediterranean Sea

b. Gold and silver drain 

• Reached limit of expansion
• Started mining coins with less value

c. Inflation 

• Value of money dropped
• Prices went up

d. Decline of loyalty and discipline in military 

• Soldiers gave their loyalty to commanders instead of Rome
• Commanders fought for the throne
• Began recruiting merchandaries

e. Citizen indifference and loss of patriotism 

• Average citizens loyalty to Rome weakened
• Conditions in later centuries made Citizens loose patriotism
• Indifferent to empires fate

2. What steps did Diocletian take to restore order and reform the empire? 

• He split the empire into East and West
• Co-ruled with another ruler but was the one with more power

3. What did Constantine do to reform the empire? 

• He moved the capital and built walls around it
• Ended persecution of Christians

4. What caused the final collapse of the Western Roman Empire? 

• The last Ruler had no control 

B. Analyzing Causes and Recognizing Effects On the back of this paper, explain how 

mercenaries and Attila contributed to the decline and fall of the Roman Empire. 

• Attila led many attacks with the Huns
• Mercenaries were not not loyal to the empire

TERMS & NAMES 

1. For each term or name, write a sentence explaining its significance.

• inflation- Money had less values and prices went up.

• mercenary- A forgein soldier paid to fight for Rome

• Diocletian- Split the empire into two.

• Constantinople- Named after Constantine and was the capital of the empire

• Attila- Led the Huns in many attacks against the empire

MAIN IDEAS

3. What were the main internal causes of the empire’s decline? (use the chart in the readings to detail the causes).

Invasion by Germanic tribes and by the Huns.

4. How did Diocletian succeed in preserving the empire?

He had two sections with two rulers.

5. Why did so many Germanic tribes begin invading the Roman Empire?

They were becoming weaker.

The rise of Christianity*

GUIDED READING The Rise of Christianity 

Section 3 

A. Analyzing Causes and Recognizing Effects As you read about the rise of 

Christianity, fill in the charts below. 

How did each of the following people influence the development of Christianity as a new religion? 

1. Jesus of Nazareth 

• Began public ministry at age 30
• He preached, taught, did good works, and performed miracles
• Emphasized God's relationship to each human being
• Preached the world of heaven
• Spoke from the Gospel

2. The Jews 

• Jewish customs were incorporated
• 10 commandments
• Monotheistic religion
• Jewish authority didn’t believe Jesus was the Messiah
• Some of Jesus’ first followers

3. Pontius Pilate

• Arrested Jesus
• Sentenced him to be crucified
• Accused Jesus of defying the authority of Rome

4. Peter 

• traveled to Rome from Jerusalem an became the first bishop 

How did each of the following help to promote the spread of Christianity? 

5. Pax Romana 

• Made the teaching of Christianity safe
• Exchange/spread of the religion

6. Paul 

• Said he had a vision of Jesus while traveling
• Spent the rest of his life spreading and interpreting Jesus’ teachings 
• Stressed the idea that Jesus was God’s only son who died for our sins

7. Constantine 

• Roman emperor
• Prayed for divine help during a battle
• Said he saw an image of the cross
• Crosses were put on his soldiers shields
• Ended Christian persecution

8. Theodosius 

• In 380 he made it the empire's official religion

B. Clarifying On the back of this paper, explain how these terms relate to 

Christianity. 

Apostle- Jesus’ first followers

Bishop- who was also a priest, supervised several local churches

Pope- father or head of the Christian Church

TERMS & NAMES 

1. For each term or name, write a sentence explaining its significance.
• Jesus- Believed to be the only son of God sent to save us from our sins

 • apostle- Jesus' first followers

• Paul- Preached that Jesus is Gods only so. sent to save us

• Diaspora- The dispersal of Jews from their homeland

• Constantine- Stopped the persecution of Christians

• bishop- Supervised local churches

• Peter- Became first bishop in Rome

• pope- Head of the Christian Church

USING YOUR READING GUIDE

2.Which event do you feel was most significant in the spread of Christianity? Why?

When Constantine stopped the persecution of Christians in the empire because it allowed it to spread freely.

MAIN IDEAS

3. What did Jesus emphasize in his early teachings?

God's personal relationship to each human being.
4. Why did the early Christians face persecution from the Romans?

They were going against Roman government and religion.
5. What was the importance of the Nicene Creed?

It is used in Christian Liturgy

The Roman Empire*

CHAPTER 

GUIDED READING The Roman Empire 

Section 2 

A. Clarifying As you read about the creation of the Roman Empire, make notes in the 

diagram to describe Roman government, society, economy, and culture. 

1. Economy 

• Gap between rich and poor grew
• Rich landowners lived in estates
• Many slaves were forced to work on these estates
• Forced to sell their land and became homeless

2. Form of government 

• Republic grew more unstable
• Military generals began trying to gain power for themselves
• Tried to recruit soldiers by promising the landless land

3. Values 

• Loyalty to the republic
• Citizen soldiers were replaced by those loyal to the republic
• Loyalty, strength and discipline

4. Social structure 

• Enslaved people = ⅓ of Rome's population
• Former soldiers became small farmers
• 90 percent of people engaged in farming

5. Religion 

• Worshiped powerful spirits or divine forces (numina)
• Gods and Goddesses
• Thought everything was controlled by them
• Had names
• Honored through rituals
• Government and religion was linked
• Christianity was started

6. Entertainment 

• 150 holidays with celebrations
• games, races, mock battles, and gladiator contests

B. Synthesizing Explain how the following terms and names relate to Julius Caesar. 

1. Civil war- Caesar defeated many enemies

2. Triumvirate- Julius Caesar ruled as a triumvirate (a group of three rulers)

3. Gaul- Julius Caesar appointed himself Governor of Gaul

4. Absolute rule- Caesar governed as an absolute ruler

5. Marcus Brutus and Gaius Cassius- These two ruled a triumvirate with Julius Caesar then plotted his death

C. Determining Main Ideas On the back of this paper, explain the importance of 

Augustus and the Pax Romana in the history of the Roman Empire. 

Augustus- Octavian became the unchallenged ruler of Rome. He took the title Augustus.

Pax Romana- known as the Roman peace period.

TERMS & NAMES

1.For each term or name, write a sentence explaining its significance. 

• civil war- War broke out over Tiberius and Gaius

• Julius Caesar- Was declared dictator for life

• triumvirate- Three men ruled Rome like this

• Augustus- Octavian took this title and became the unchallenged ruler of Rome.

• Pax Romana- Roman peace period

USING YOUR READING GUIDE

2.Which category of the Roman Empire do you feel was most significant? Why?

Religion because the government was based off of the religion and they were linked.

MAIN IDEAS

3.What factors contributed to the fall of the Roman Republic?

Civil War, generals seizing power for themselves, greed, wealth

4.What were the main reasons for the Romans’ success in controlling such a large empire?

They had strong leaders and an organized system.

5.What measures did the government take to distract and control the masses of Rome?

They had free events such as games and races.