The Early Middle Ages: Setting the Scene

The Early Middle Ages: 600 A.C. Waves of invaders swept across Europe. Trade slowed to a trickle, towns emptied, and learning virtually ceased. It was relatively a 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, called medieval civilization…

Geography of Western Europe

Geography of Western Europe: 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, but Rome was 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 1.000, this region was a frontier land, but it still had great untapped potential, such as 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 Germanic Kingdoms

The 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 also 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 (400-700): Strongest kingdom to emerge. In 486, Clovis, their king, conquered the former Roman province of Gaul. He ruled this new land according to the Frankish custom but did preserve much of the Roman legacy. He converted to Christianity and gained 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, these 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, medievals would learn much from them, whose learning in many areas exceeded their own.

The Age of Charlemagne

The Age of Charlemagne: 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 also loved battle and spent much of his reign fighting Muslims. His conquests reunited much of the old Roman empire.

1. A Christian Emperor.
2. Government.
3. Revival of Learning.

After Charlemagne

After Charlemagne: Died in 814. His legacy: 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.