Middle Ages
The Middle Ages lasted 1,000 years between
500 AD to 1500 AD
The Middle Ages 500 AD to 1500 AD
Charlemagne
![]()
|
Your browser does not support viewing this document. Click here to download the document.
|
Charlemagne ruled from 768 until 814 AD. He became King of the Franks in 771. He was crowned Holy Roman Emperor in 800. He ruled until 814 AD when he died.
Charlemagne was a skilled military strategist. He spent three decades fighting battles against the Saxons.
Charlemagne gave land and money to the Christian church and protected the popes.
Charlemagne was athletic. He enjoyed swimming, hunting and horseback riding.
Charlemagne was buried at the cathedral in Aachen. He spent lots of time in Aachen when he was alive and he loved the therapeutic warm springs in that area.
Charlemagne had a positive impact during his time of rule. He helped spread Christianity and unite the West. He gave money and land to the Christian church and protected popes. Charlemagne promoted education. He brought in scholars from all over the world to his castle in Aachen to teach him, and he set up schools all over his kingdom, to help unite the different tribes. Charlemagne made all the writings the same and promoted a cultural revival known as the Carolingian Renaissance. He helped unite all Germanic peoples into one kingdom. He fought the Saxons for thirty years and forced them to convert to Christianity. He conquered the Lombards, the Avars and Bavaria.
Charlemagne was a skilled military strategist. He spent three decades fighting battles against the Saxons.
Charlemagne gave land and money to the Christian church and protected the popes.
Charlemagne was athletic. He enjoyed swimming, hunting and horseback riding.
Charlemagne was buried at the cathedral in Aachen. He spent lots of time in Aachen when he was alive and he loved the therapeutic warm springs in that area.
Charlemagne had a positive impact during his time of rule. He helped spread Christianity and unite the West. He gave money and land to the Christian church and protected popes. Charlemagne promoted education. He brought in scholars from all over the world to his castle in Aachen to teach him, and he set up schools all over his kingdom, to help unite the different tribes. Charlemagne made all the writings the same and promoted a cultural revival known as the Carolingian Renaissance. He helped unite all Germanic peoples into one kingdom. He fought the Saxons for thirty years and forced them to convert to Christianity. He conquered the Lombards, the Avars and Bavaria.
Medieval Castles
Medieval castles offered lots of protection against enemies. Castles were built surrounded by walls that were as high as forty feet and up to twenty feet thick. Castle towers provided protection and allowed the archers to shoot down on incoming attackers. The towers also provided a good place for lookouts to see incoming attacks. Castles had moats that surrounded the castle and were usually filled with water. The moat provided the first line of defense. A draw bridge at the front entrance of the castle would be raised to prevent people from getting into the castle during an attack. Gatehouses also provided protection. Gatehouse had living areas for soldiers and also had portcullises, which were heavy grilled gates built out of thick wood and iron, that could be lowered to block or trap attacking soldiers.
Vikings
Viking attacks helped lead to the development of the Feudal System. The government and kings could not protect people from the Viking attacks so local nobles took over. A lord or noble gave land to a loyal follower known as a vassal in exchange for loyalty. In times of trouble or Viking attacks, the vassal agreed to supply knights and warriors to help protect the land and the lord or noble became more powerful because the people relied on them for protection. This is the basis for feudalism.