The document summarizes the political and social changes in Europe during the Dark Ages and early Middle Ages. When the Western Roman Empire fell in the 5th century, Germanic tribes like the Visigoths and Ostrogoths invaded and took control of the former Roman territories, disrupting trade, government, and education. Latin culture and language declined as new Germanic dialects emerged. Figures like Charles Martel helped establish new kingdoms like the Franks and defended against invaders like the Muslims. Charlemagne later united much of Western Europe under the Holy Roman Empire in 800 AD, though this unity was disrupted by later Viking invasions, leading people to turn to feudal systems for protection.

1. The Dark Ages

2. Lost Empire
• When Rome fell, knowledge went
with it.
• Libraries were burned and there
was little interest in literature or
arts
• The army was lost too leaving the
people with no protection.

3. New Germanic Kingdoms
• Germanic invaders overrun
western Roman Empire in 400s
• Fighting disrupts trade and
government
–people abandon cities
• This marks the beginning of the Middle
Ages, 500 AD to 1500 AD (approx)

4. New Germanic Kingdoms
• As cities are abandoned and the level
of learning declines, knowledge of the
Latin language and culture is almost
completely lost.
• Introduction of the Germanic dialects
changes Latin into new languages.
• As a result, Europe loses its common
language

5. New Germanic Kingdoms
•Germanic peoples began
moving into Roman territory by
the third century.
•The Visigoths occupied Spain and
Italy.
•The Ostrogoths took control of
Italy in the fifth century.

6. New Germanic Kingdoms
•By 500 AD the
Western Roman
Empire was
under complete
control of
Germanic
kings.

9. New Germanic Kingdoms
Two powerful Germanic tribes were
the Angles from Denmark and the
Saxons from Northern Germany.
They moved into Britain in the 5th
century and became known as the
Anglo-Saxons.

10. Charles Martel
• 686 – 741 AD
• Nickname:
– “Charles the Hammer”
• Early Ruler of the
Frankish kingdom
• Father to Pepin
(the short)
• Grandfather to Charlemagne

11. Charles Martel
• Best known for:
• Defeating the Muslims
at the Battle of Tours
in 732 AD
–Earned the nickname
“the Hammer”
• Considered a founding figure of the
Middle Ages

12. Charles Martel
• The Battle of
Tours: 732 AD

13. CLOVIS
and the Franks

14. Clovis
•Dec. 25th, 496 AD,
he converts to
Christianity
•By 511 AD he
established the
Frankish kingdom.
•Helped by the
church

15. Charlemagne
(Charles the Great)

16. Charlemagne
• On December 25th, 800 AD
he was crowned emperor
of the Romans by the
pope.
• Founder of the Holy
Roman Empire.
• United much of Western
Europe into a Christian
kingdom
• Considered one of
history’s greatest kings

17. Charlemagne
• “Father of Europe”
• Considered one of
history’s greatest
kings.

18. The Vikings

19. VIKINGS!
• Vikings invade western Europe
around 800 AD
• They come from Scandinavia:
– Denmark, Norway,
Sweden

20. VIKINGS!
• Viking long ships sail in shallow
water, allowing raids inland.
• The arrival of Viking raiders
destroyed the unity that
Charlemagne established.

21. The Vikings

22. The Vikings

23. And so…
• People turned to feudalism for
protection.
• Landowners hired knights to
protect the peasants who
agreed to work for the
landowners.
• This further divided Europe.