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The unifying force of the Roman empire was soon replaced by the reign of King Clovis, one of many Germanic kings who ruled over Western Europe.
 * The Early Middle Ages **

**Western Europe in Decline ** At the pinnacle of Roman power, the bulk of Western Europe had been encompassed by said empire. Circulated throughout that area to the tribal population were classical concepts, the Latin tongue, and the Christian religion. This was carried on by the Germanic peoples who later took over Rome.

In the wake of Rome's fall, the political, social, and economic aspects of Western Europe had started deteriorating. From 500 until 1000, the region became politically disunited, ruralized, and isolated from several, more advanced, societies in the East. Invasions recurred often, commerce all but halted, towns were abandoned, and classical study more or less came to a stop; this earned the description of "the Dark Ages" for that time in European history.

Below this period's rough facade, a silver lining has been discovered. A new civilization was in development-a blend of Greco-Roman, Germanic, and Christian praxis. In later times, this transition between then and now -- approximately from 500 to 1500 -- would simply be denoted as the Middle Ages, and the period culture would be called medieval, a contraction of //medium ævum//, Latin for "middle age."

**The Rise of the Germanic Kingd****oms** The Goths, Saxons, Vandals, and Franks were all Germanic tribes that occupied sections of the Roman empire. Their culture was rather dissimilar from the Romans'. Predominantly farmers and herders, they didn't need cities or written laws. They instead resided in small villages regulated through tacit traditions. Tribal councils chose kings, to whom warriors pledged allegiance to for weapons and a share in the spoils of war. Western Europe was partitioned into small kingdoms by these Germanic tribes between 400 and 700.

**The Franks Extend Their Power** One such kingdom was that belonging to the Franks. In 486, the Frankish king, Clovis, annexed the once-Roman territory of Gaul, know known as France. Though his rule his rule was in accordance with Frankish practice, he kept Rome's legacy alive. Clovis bridged the gap betwee n ruler and subject when he proselyted to Christianity, the religion of the Gaulish people. This act not only strengthened his peoples' faith in him, but also secured the support of the pope, Bishop of Rome and leader of the Roman-Catholic Church.

A Muslim Empire Threatens Europe As Europe was being divided up by the Franks and other Germanic tribes, a new power manifested itself across the Mediterranean. The religion of Islam originated in Arabia in the 600s. There, a new civilization was born, continually enhanced by Muslims, or followers of Islam, causing it to begin snowballing into a prodigious empire.

Christian leaders were disquieted when Islamic armies stormed Christian lands from Palestine to North Africa to contemporary Spain. When France was entered by a Muslim army, Charles Martel called Frankish warriors to arms. In 732, Christian warriors emerged victorious from the battle of Tours, a sign, to them, of God's favor. The Muslim advance into Western Europe was halted, though their rule of present-day Spain continued. The proximity of this Muslim threat stayed a source of many European Christian leaders' apprehension for quite a long time; however, medieval Europeans would eventually barter with these Muslims, who were more learned in many areas of study.

**The Age of Charlemagne** In 768, Charles Martel's grandson was named king of the Franks. Western Europe was briefly united under his reign when he established a sprawling empire covering present-day France, Germany, and part of Italy. Named after his grandfather, he was also known by the name of Charlemagne, or Charles the Great. For most of the 46 years he ruled, he spent his energies campaigning against Lombards in Italy, Muslims in Spain, Avars and Slavs in the east, and Saxons in the north; these efforts brought the majority of the old western Roman empire together once again.

**A New Emperor of the Romans** In 799, Pope Leo III solicited Charlemagne's assistance in the quelling of the Roman nobles' insubordination. Leo's adversaries were apprehended by the envoys Charlemagne had sent. The pontiff thanked him on Christmas Day in the year 800, by enthroning Charlemagne as the Emperor of the Romans.

This coronation held the utmost of importance. Charlemagne, a Germanic king, had been thrust to power by Leo III, a Christian pope. This one act concurrently revived the hope for a unified Christian body, and sewed the seeds of strife between later popes and Germanic rulers.

The emperor of the eastern Roman empire was incensed at the pope. During this period of poverty in the western Roman empire, its sister had perpetually prospered. Arrogantly, the emperor of the east viewed himself as the solitary ruler of Rome. The rift between the eastern and western Christian worlds was ultimately deepened by Charlemagne's coronation.

Creating a Unified Christian Empire Charlemagne dreamed of unifying Christian Europe. He, along with the Church, cultivated Christianity among the people whose lands he had conquered, and was successful in the conversion of many Saxons and Slavs.

Following the example of other Germanic kings, Charlemagne alloted regions to the rule of local aristocrats. Representatives called missi dominici were sent to keep these rulers in check by monitoring roads, hear any complaints, and ensure justice was dealt. They were called on by Charlemagne to "administer the law fully and justly in the case of the holy churches of God and of the poor, of wards and of widows, and of the whole people."

A Revival of Learning Charlemagne saw education as another means to his end of unification. Though he was only able to read, but not write, he felt there was a necessity for veracious accounts and lucid reports written by officials. Charlemagne endeavored the revival of Latin study and promoted the birth of schools throughout his empire. He wished to bring upon his court at Aachen the past glory of Rome, bringing many noted European scholars to the nearby Palace School.

**Europe After Charlemagne** Louis I became successor to the throne after Charlemagne, his father, died. After Louis died, //his// sons battled for power. This was mitigated when, in 843, they drafted the Treaty of Verdun a divided the empire three ways.

**Charlemagne's Legacy** Despite his empire's division, Charlemagne left his mark on the world. Because of him, the traditions of the Germanic, Roman, and Christian peoples had further coalesced; northern Europe knew of Christian values; more effective governments had been establish. His example was looked to by many later medieval rulers when they needed guidance for their kingdoms.

**New Waves of Invasions** Charlemagne's successors were plagued by fresh battery of incursions. Triumph at Tours notwithstanding, Christian Europe was still threatened by Muslim forces. Sicily was taken over in the late 800s, becoming a Muslim cultural center. The brea kout of fighting in the Middle East in the 900s finally brought a stop to Muslim assaults.

A nomadic people known as the Magyars settled started populating pres ent-day Hungary in about 900. They continued moving west through eastern Europe and went on to pillage Germany, Italy, and parts of France only to repelled back into Hungary after about 50 years.

**Raiders From the North** The Viking invasion was the straw that broke Charlemagne's unified empire. In their homeland, Scandinavia -- an area including present-day Norway, Denmark, and Sweden -- the Vikings were an independent farming people ruled over by land-owning chieftains. They also happened to superb sailors. Without warning they pelted out of Scandinavia in the late 700s, pillaging and burning towns on the coasts and rivers of Europe.

Not only were the Vikings hostile marauders, but they were also traders and explorers who travelled the Mediterranean region and crossed the Atlantic Ocean. In circa 1000, they settled North America for a short time. Northern Europe and Mediterranean lands were joined by trade routes established by the Vikings. England, Ireland, northern France, and parts of Russia were other places the Vikings had migrated to and intermingled with the local peoples.