The Early Middle Ages: Rise of Medieval Europe and Charlemagne
The Early Middle Ages (600–1000 C.E.)
Setting the Scene: Europe After Rome
Waves of invaders swept across Europe starting around 600 C.E. Trade slowed to a trickle, towns emptied, and learning virtually ceased. Europe was a relatively backward region, largely cut off from advanced civilizations in the Middle East, China, and India. Slowly, though, a new European civilization would emerge that blended Greco-Roman, Germanic, and Christian traditions. This era is known as medieval civilization.
Western Europe’s Geography and Resources
Rome had linked its distant European territories with miles of roads and had spread classical ideas, the Latin language, and Christianity to the tribal peoples of Western Europe. However, Rome was primarily a Mediterranean power. The Germanic peoples who ended Roman rule in the West shifted the focus of European history to the north.
- Location: Europe was (and is) relatively small. It lies on the western end of Eurasia, the giant landmass that stretches from present-day Portugal all the way to China.
- Resources: From about 500 to 1000, this region was a frontier land, but it still had great untapped potential. It possessed rich earth that was better for raising crops than the dry soils of the Mediterranean. Also, underground lay mineral resources, and nearby seas provided fish to eat and served as transportation routes.
The Rise of Germanic Kingdoms
The Germanic tribes who migrated across Europe were farmers and herders. Their culture differed greatly from that of the Romans, since they had no cities or written laws. They lived in small communities and elected kings to lead them in war. Warrior nobles swore loyalty to the king in exchange for weapons and loot.
The Franks and Clovis’s Conversion
The Franks (400–700) established the strongest kingdom to emerge. In 486, Clovis, their king, conquered the former Roman province of Gaul. He ruled this new land according to Frankish custom but did preserve much of the Roman legacy. He converted to Christianity, gaining a powerful ally in the Christian Church of Rome.
Europe and the Muslim World
The religion of Islam appeared in Arabia in 622. From there, they created a new, huge civilization. To European Christians, the Muslim presence was a source of anxiety, since they viewed their world with hostility. In time, though, medieval Europeans would learn much from them, as Muslim learning in many areas exceeded their own.
The Age of Charlemagne (Charles the Great)
Around 800, Western Europe had a moment of unity when a man named Charlemagne (known also as Charles the Great) built an empire reaching across France, Germany, and part of Italy. He towered over most people of his time. He loved battle and spent much of his reign fighting Muslims. His conquests reunited much of the old Roman empire.
Key aspects of Charlemagne’s reign included:
- A Christian Emperor
- Effective Government
- Revival of Learning
Charlemagne’s Legacy and New Invasions
Charlemagne died in 814.
- His Legacy: He extended Christian civilization into northern Europe and furthered the blending of Roman, German, and Christian traditions.
- A New Wave of Invasions: Muslim forces conquered Sicily in the late 800s. The Vikings snapped the last threads of unity and burned communities along the coasts and rivers of Europe. They also settled in England, Ireland, and parts of Russia and France.