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Charles' son had the humorous name "Pepin the Short."  Despite the name, he was also a brilliant leader of the Franks.  Pepin conquered territory around Rome and then gave it as a gift to the pope.  The pope returned the favor with the "Donation of Pepin," laying the foundation for the Papal States, which were territories under the control of the pope.  Charles Martel and Pepin's family were the Carolingian dynasty that ruled the Franks from 751 all the way to 987.

Charles' son had the humorous name "Pepin the Short."  Despite the name, he was also a brilliant leader of the Franks.  Pepin conquered territory around Rome and then gave it as a gift to the pope.  The pope returned the favor with the "Donation of Pepin," laying the foundation for the Papal States, which were territories under the control of the pope.  Charles Martel and Pepin's family were the Carolingian dynasty that ruled the Franks from 751 all the way to 987.

Pepin’s son (and Charles Martel's grandson) was Charlemagne (A.D. 742-814), who became the most famous member of the family.  The name "Charlemagne" (pronounced SHAR-luh-MAIN) is from the Latin "Carolus Magnum," which means "Charles the Great."  He conquered the territory once held by the Roman empire in his attempt to reestablish it; he educated children in palace schools; and he created the "missi dominici" (king's officials) to watch over his empire.  His revival of education became known as the Carolingian Renaissance, a brief period of progress or light in what is otherwise criticized as the Dark Ages.   

Pepin's son (and Charles Martel's grandson) was Charlemagne (A.D. 742-814), who became the most famous member of the family.  The name "Charlemagne" (pronounced SHAR-luh-MAIN) is from the Latin "Carolus Magnum," which means "Charles the Great."  He conquered the territory once held by the Roman empire in his attempt to reestablish it; he educated children in palace schools; and he created the "missi dominici" (king's officials) to watch over his empire.  His revival of education became known as the Carolingian Renaissance, a brief period of progress or light in what is otherwise criticized as the Dark Ages.   

Charlemagne was a well-educated Christian known to be highly intelligent and a promoter of arts and learning.  He served king of the Franks from A.D. 768 until his death in 814.  The Franks were offended by a practice of another Germanic tribe, the Saxons, whereby they would leave their dead out on funeral pyres to be consumed by animals.  This seemed contrary to the Christian faith in the resurrection, and for 35 years Charlemagne attempted to forcibly convert the Saxons to Christianity.  But the Saxons would revert to paganism after every conversion, until Charlemagne made paganism a crime against the state.  Critics say that Charlemagne treated non-Christians badly, and cite an example of how Charlemagne ordered 4,500 Saxons to be beheaded after they destroyed one of his armies.

Charlemagne was a well-educated Christian known to be highly intelligent and a promoter of arts and learning.  He served king of the Franks from A.D. 768 until his death in 814.  The Franks were offended by a practice of another Germanic tribe, the Saxons, whereby they would leave their dead out on funeral pyres to be consumed by animals.  This seemed contrary to the Christian faith in the resurrection, and for 35 years Charlemagne attempted to forcibly convert the Saxons to Christianity.  But the Saxons would revert to paganism after every conversion, until Charlemagne made paganism a crime against the state.  Critics say that Charlemagne treated non-Christians badly, and cite an example of how Charlemagne ordered 4,500 Saxons to be beheaded after they destroyed one of his armies.

The feudal system had elements of free enterprise that remain beneficial to us today.  Everyone in the feudal system had an incentive to work hard, and the ability to buy, sell and inherit property created substantial rewards.  There was no centralized government or national regulations, so each lord was free to become as strong and powerful as he could.  All sources of wealth at that time consisted of land (unlike today, where stocks, cash, offshore oil wells, copyrights, patents and other forms of property are a big part of the overall wealth, and unlike Jesus's time, when much wealth consisted of ownership of sheep, cattle and other animals).  Feudalism converted much useless land and forests into productive farmland.

The feudal system had elements of free enterprise that remain beneficial to us today.  Everyone in the feudal system had an incentive to work hard, and the ability to buy, sell and inherit property created substantial rewards.  There was no centralized government or national regulations, so each lord was free to become as strong and powerful as he could.  All sources of wealth at that time consisted of land (unlike today, where stocks, cash, offshore oil wells, copyrights, patents and other forms of property are a big part of the overall wealth, and unlike Jesus's time, when much wealth consisted of ownership of sheep, cattle and other animals).  Feudalism converted much useless land and forests into productive farmland.

"Chivalry" developed as a code of behavior for everyone, and it required loyalty to one's lord and to God.  Christianity was honored, as were women, who under the code of chivalry were to be considered the equivalent of the Virgin Mary.  When an enemy was conquered, they were to be treated fairly and with good sportsmanship.  Tournaments of jousting knights were held to entertain spectators and improve combat skills.  On the humorous side, it became popular to use battering rams and catapults in warfare.  This was a free enterprise approach to the military, whereby each lord developed his own army.  The system developed very good soldiers, and they kept their skills sharp by engaging in frequent battles with rival manors or estates.  Through competition and free enterprise, the warriors became fighters superior to the foreign invaders, and the invasions stopped.

"Chivalry" developed as a code of behavior for everyone, and it required loyalty to one's lord and to God.  Christianity was honored, as were women, who under the code of chivalry were to be considered the equivalent of the Virgin Mary.  When an enemy was conquered, they were to be treated fairly and with good sportsmanship.  Tournaments of jousting knights were held to entertain spectators and improve combat skills.  On the humorous side, it became popular to use battering rams and catapults in warfare.  This was a free enterprise approach to the military, whereby each lord developed his own army.  The system developed very good soldiers, and they kept their skills sharp by engaging in frequent battles with rival manors or estates.  Through competition and free enterprise, the warriors became fighters superior to the foreign invaders, and the invasions stopped.

Later, beginning in 1099 and continuing until the 1300s, the wealth and highly trained soldiers made possible the Crusades to recapture Jerusalem (which had fallen under Muslim control).  

 

|When a boy does help you, as in carrying something or opening a door, thank him.

|Stand up when a girl or woman enters the room.

|Do not attempt to embarrass a boy, as in trying to beat him in arm-wrestling or bragging that you did better on a test.

|Be appreciative when girls bake cookies for the entire class.

|Offer to purchase tickets or meals for girls, and develop a work ethic to provide money for that

|Dress modestly, not provocatively or suggestively.

'''Impact of Feudalism Today''':  Our law of real property (land) is based on the feudal system.  Homes today are usually owned as a "fee" or "fee simple," which is the concept developed by the feudal system to represent a grant of land to someone.  Also, the roots of our free enterprise economic system of private property are in feudalism.

'''Impact of Feudalism Today''':  Our law of real property (land) is based on the feudal system.  Homes today are usually owned as a "fee" or "fee simple," which is the concept developed by the feudal system to represent a grant of land to someone.  Also, the roots of our free enterprise economic system of private property are in feudalism.