Charlemagne's empire reached its greatest extent during his reign in the late 8th and early 9th centuries. He conquered much of Western Europe and promoted learning and education. After his death, his empire broke apart and faced invasions from outside forces like the Vikings. This instability led to the rise of feudalism across Europe as powerful nobles provided local protection in exchange for loyalty from peasants. The feudal system structured much of medieval European society over subsequent centuries.

1. The Making of Medieval
Europe
Chapter 8
Part 2

2. EMPIRE OF CHARLEMAGNE

3. Conquests
• Frankish empire at
its greatest
– Most land under 1
ruler since Roman
Empire
• Laid foundations for
modern day Europe
• Defeated Saxons

4. Coronation of Charlemagne
• Proclaimed “Roman Emperor”
– Wanted to restore the glory of the
Roman Empire
– Crowned by the pope
• Did Charlemagne know or not?
• Both benefitted from this coronation
– Pope got protection
– Charlemagne got title of Holy Roman
Emperor

5. • Charlemagne loved learning and promoted
education
• Aachen = center of learning with best scholars in
Europe
– Alcuin- most distinguished scholar
• From York, England
• * What other ruler was taught by best scholar in
the land?

6. Who had controlled learning
before?
What Does This Foreshadow?

7. Learning in the Church
• Charlemagne encouraged clergy to study Bible
more
• Renewed interest in Bible and classical texts
• * Preservation of them
• Monasteries = print houses, libraries
– Study, copy, preserve ancient texts
– Carolingian miniscule was developed out of need for
smaller more compact print
• Shortage of material to write on

8. 4th to 9th century AD
Writing
8th to 12th century AD
Carolingian Miniscule

9. Scriptorium- a
room devoted
to the hand-
lettered
copying of
manuscripts

11. Breakup of Charlemagne
Empire
• Trouble within
– Charlemagne sons split
empire into 3 areas
– What countries come
from each area?
• Charlemagne
descendants = weak
leaders
– Louis the Stammerer
– Charles the Fat
– Louis the Child
– Charles the Simple

12. Invasions from Outside
• 9th- 10th centuries foreign
invaders
– Muslims - North Africa
– Magyars- South Eastern
Europe (Hungarians)
– Vikings (Norsemen)-
North Europe
• Norway, Sweden,
Denmark
– Attacked and destroyed
villages and churches
– Set them on fire
– Motivated people to start
building from stone

13. Early Medieval Castle

14. Reasons for Viking Invasions
1. Little arable land in
Scandinavian Countries
– Primogeniture custom- land
handed down to first born son
(younger sons without land)
2. Greed
3. Charlemagne subdued all
Viking’s enemies, leaving
them free to attack Europe

15. Feudalism
• 9th to 13th centuries (800s- 1200s)
• Powerful nobles replaced weak ineffective kings
– Noble - peasants protection
– Peasants worked noble
– Provided relative order in this chaotic time
– King granted land to nobles in exchange for military
service (fief)
• Noble DID NOT own the land, just kept it as payment
for his services

16. Relationship
s
• Feudalism based on =
relation between lord and vassal
– Homage = ceremony by which becomes vassal in
front of many witnesses
• Speak Oath
• Clasp hands
• Kiss
– Lord give stick or some dirt symbolizes giving him
the land (investiture)

18. Obligations
Lord Vassal
• Gives land to vassal • Military service to lord
• Gives protection to vassal • Financial “aid” on special
• Gives justice to vassal occasions (knighthoods,
marriages)
• Gives advice to lord
• Pay ransom if lord is
captured
• Could be vassal to more
than one lord (complicates
life)

19. Life of Nobility
Home
Dark and Courthouse
gloomy & Jail
Damp and
Treasury
cold
Seat of
Armory
Government
Court

20. Castles
• Primary function = defense
• Lord’s responsibility to protect inhabitants of
his land
– Peasants fled to castle when danger came near
• 10th century castle (Disney Castle)
– High stone walls
– Moats
– Towering battlements
– Drawbridges

21. Disney Castles modeled after Medieval
castles

22. Knighthood
• Early Middle Ages- open to anyone who
can afford it
– Later- reserved for Nobility
• Training start at age 7 (Academics & Skills)
• Mid teens- Squire (personal servant to knight)
– Care for armor, horse & weapons
• Age 21- eligible for knighthood
– On battle field or in ceremony

23. Code of Chivalry
• Knight promised to live by strict code of behavior
– Brave in battle
– Skillful with weapons
– Honest and generous
– Loyal to lord
– Never attack unarmed knight
– Churched added spiritual responsibility to code of
chivalry (protect church & venerate priesthood)
• Peace of God = forbade pillaging of church property
• Protection to non combatant people

24. •What is a skill that you
used to have a long time
ago but now you don’t
have it anymore?

25. Jousts & Tournaments
• Knights to use their skills
during peacetime
– Tournaments = pretend war
• Joust – individual
• Melee – group competition
• Satisfied desire for excitement and entertainment
– What other people had entertainment where showed
off fighting skills?

26. The Manor
• Self contained faming community
– Ruled by lords
– Worked by peasants
• Trade, towns, and money decreased
• Most people lived on large estates in
countryside
– Self sufficient met all daily needs of those who lived
there
• Imported salt, iron and tar

27. Every manor had:
• Priest • Laborers:
• Skilled workers – Make their own
– Craftsman clothes
– Furniture maker – Grow their own crops
– Shoe maker – Make their own
houses
– Tool maker
– Build their own roads
– Clothe maker
and bridges

28. Description of a Manor
1. Village in center (near stream or crossroads)
2. Peasants live in clusters of huts
3. Lord’s House (Castle or Wooden House)
– Up on a hill or defensible area
4. Church and Priest’s House
– Tall steeple (to direct eyes towards heaven)
– Courthouse
– Town meetings
– Social gatherings
– Streams, woodlands and fields for providing food

29. Farming the Fields
• Early, two field system; later, three field system
– Increased productivity of land

30. Typical Medieval Charlemagne’s Throne
kitchen- notice
the HUGE
fireplace
Typical arrangement
for eating in the
Great Hall

32. People
• Class structure:
– Clergy- spiritual needs
– Nobility- protection and justice
– Peasants- produce food
– * Freemen = peasants with specialized skills
• Blacksmith
• Miller
• Carpenter
• Did not have to work the lord’s land
• Could leave and move elsewhere

33. Serf
• Had use of land from Lord
– Could grow food and provide for his family
• Tied to the land
– could not leave without permission of lord
• Had to work on lord’s portion of the land (demesne)
– Plow, sow, and harvest
– Gather hay & care for lord’s cattle
– Build fences, clear woodlands, etc. (week work)
– Most peasants never left the manor land
• Not further than 25 miles away from home

34. Daily Life
Famines Feudal
Poverty & Strenuous
& Poor Wars &
Misery Labor
Diet Invasion