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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" 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" 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 was a promoter of arts and learning.  He served as 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 very good to Christians and he was crowned "Holy Roman Emperor" by Pope Leo III in A.D. 800, supposedly by the pope placing a crown on him by surprise from behind during Christmas mass in Rome (a "coronation").  This established the precedent for the new practice that pope decided who would be king, a practice continued by Charlemagne's son.  The power of the Catholic Church thereby grew even stronger.  This moment in A.D. 800, the crowning of Charlemagne in Rome, is considered to be the birth of the "Holy Roman Empire," which is not to be confused with the ancient "Roman Empire."

Charlemagne was very good to Christians and he was crowned "Holy Roman Emperor" by Pope Leo III in A.D. 800, supposedly by the pope placing a crown on him by surprise from behind during Christmas mass in Rome (a "coronation").  This established the precedent for the new practice that pope decided who would be king, a practice continued by Charlemagne's son.  The power of the Catholic Church thereby grew even stronger.  '''This moment in A.D. 800, the crowning of Charlemagne in Rome, is considered to be the birth of the "Holy Roman Empire," which is not to be confused with the ancient "Roman Empire."'''

Charlemagne had great prestige that many future kings in the Middle Ages attempted unsuccessfully to duplicate.  His empire, also known also known as the Carolingian empire, covered modern-day France, Germany to the River Elbe, much of Italy and part of Spain.  One of the most lasting effects of his rule was the establishment of Christianity as the main religion in the West.  

Charlemagne had great prestige that many future kings in the Middle Ages attempted unsuccessfully to duplicate.  His empire, also known also known as the Carolingian empire, covered modern-day France, Germany to the River Elbe, much of Italy and part of Spain.  One of the most lasting effects of his rule was the establishment of Christianity as the main religion in the West.  

===Feudalism in Western Europe===

===Feudalism in Western Europe===

The new system of government and economics for Western Europe was feudalism, also known as manorialism.  The feudal system arose in the 8th century in the Frankish kingdom (now France) as a way to protect against foreign invasions, especially invasions by Vikings ("Danes") from Scandinavia.  The Normans (descendants of Scandinavians and Franks from Normandy, France) brought feudalism to southern Italy and Sicily.  The Norman conquest of Britain in 1066 brought the feudal system to England, Scotland and Ireland.  Viking invasions lasted until the 10th century, by which time many Vikings had accepted Christianity and settled into civilizations of their own in northern Europe.  The end of the Viking raids enabled trade to increase in Western Europe.

'''The new system of government and economics for Western Europe was feudalism, also known as manorialism'''.  The feudal system arose in the 8th century in the Frankish kingdom (now France) as a way to protect against foreign invasions, especially invasions by Vikings ("Danes") from Scandinavia.  The Normans (descendants of Scandinavians and Franks from Normandy, France) brought feudalism to southern Italy and Sicily.  The Norman conquest of Britain in 1066 brought the feudal system to England, Scotland and Ireland.  Viking invasions lasted until the 10th century, by which time many Vikings had accepted Christianity and settled into civilizations of their own in northern Europe.  The end of the Viking raids enabled trade to increase in Western Europe.

The basic feudal system consisted of a "noble" or "lord" who possessed land (called a "fief") given by the king.  The lords lived in castles surrounded by moats, and rented their land out to "vassals."  Vassals were also considered nobles, but with less power.  They provided military service to the lords in exchange for protection and land, which they in turn rented out to the "peasants" or "serfs" to farm.  The system had some similarities to the plantation system used in the south in America before the Civil War, except the peasants and vassals were not always bound to their lord in Western Europe and thus were not slaves.  Instead, the peasants were sometimes bound to their land rather than to their "lord", and when one lord sold all the land to another lord, the peasants did not move.  Warfare amongst the various different estates was common under feudalism, due to the lack of any kind of centralized government, and peasants were required to fight for their lords against foreign invaders.  They were also required to provide their lord with a share of their crops while not fighting an invasion.   

'''The basic feudal system consisted of a "noble" or "lord" who owned land (called a "fief") given by the king'''.  The lords lived in castles surrounded by moats, and rented their land out to "vassals."  Vassals were also considered nobles, but with less power.  They provided military service to the lords in exchange for protection and land, which they in turn rented out to the "peasants" or "serfs" to farm.  The system had some similarities to the plantation system used in the south in America before the Civil War, except the peasants and vassals were not always bound to their lord in Western Europe and thus were not slaves.  Instead, the peasants were sometimes bound to their land rather than to their "lord", and when one lord sold all the land to another lord, the peasants did not move.  Warfare among the various different estates was common under feudalism, due to the lack of any kind of centralized government, and peasants were required to fight for their lords against foreign invaders.  They were also required to provide their lord with a share of their crops.   

Initially, most peasants were free men, but eventually became more and more dependent on the lords, especially as serfdom increased.  Serfs were bound to the land by custom and heredity and were not particularly free.  The peasants did not have the iron plow until about A.D. 1000, and it was hard work to till the soil with the primitive wooden plows.  After inventing the iron plow, food production soared.

Initially, most peasants were free men, but eventually became more and more dependent on the lords, especially as serfdom increased.  Serfs were bound to the land by custom and heredity and were not particularly free.  The peasants did not have the iron plow until about A.D. 1000, and it was hard work to till the soil with the primitive wooden plows.  After inventing the iron plow, food production soared.

The peasants worked on these estates or "manors" in order to obtain a "benefice" (privilege) to keep some of the food they grew for their own families, and also to benefit from the protection from foreign invasion.  So the deal was this:  the lord allowed the peasant to farm land on the lord's estate (the "manor") in exchange for the peasant giving the lord some of the food and fighting in wars as needed.  In the words of a popular business expression today, this was a "win-win" situation for both, though obviously the lord benefits more.  Critics say that women were discriminated against with respect to ownership of property, because they did not have the opportunity to serve in the army to acquire land and only sons, not daughters, inherited fiefs.

The peasants worked on these estates or "manors" in order to obtain a "benefice" (privilege) to keep some of the food they grew for their own families, and also to benefit from the protection against foreign invasion.  '''So the deal was this:  the lord allowed the peasant to farm land on the lord's estate (the "manor") in exchange for the peasant giving the lord some of the food and fighting in wars as needed'''.  In the words of a popular business expression today, this was a "win-win" situation for both, though obviously the lord benefits more.  Critics say that women were discriminated against with respect to ownership of property, because they did not have the opportunity to serve in the army to acquire land and only sons, not daughters, inherited fiefs.

The feudal system was quite flexible, and a successful way to run an economy.  Lords, vassals, and peasants often had contractual agreements with each other, which led to the development of charters stating lists of rights and privileges.  A lord could himself be a vassal to another lord, and thus multiple layers could develop.  In this respects the system was like a version of multilevel systems of marketing used today (like Amway):  everyone earns a share of workers he recruits to work for him, and those workers in turn have an incentive to recruit more workers.  Modern corporations likewise have multiple layers of employees and compensation systems, though not tied to land as on the feudal estates.

The feudal system was quite flexible, and was a successful way to run an economy.  Lords, vassals, and peasants often had contractual agreements with each other, which led to the development of charters stating lists of rights and privileges.  A lord could himself be a vassal to another lord, and thus multiple layers could develop.  In this respect the system was like a version of multilevel systems of marketing used today (like Amway):  everyone earns a share of workers he recruits to work for him, and those workers in turn have an incentive to recruit more workers.  Modern corporations likewise have multiple layers of employees and compensation systems, though not tied to land as on the feudal estates.

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. 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, 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.

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).  

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

"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 military side, there 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 military side, there 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.

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

|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.

|Stand up when a girl or woman enters the room, or open doors for them.

|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.

|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.

|-

|-

|Speak in a respectful manner in front of a girl.

|Speak in a respectful manner in front of a girl.

|Avoid [[gossip]].

|Avoid [[gossip]].

|-

|-

|Compliment girls appropriately.

|Compliment girls appropriately.

|Put your superior social skills to good use by welcoming others.

|Put your superior social skills to good use by welcoming others.

|-

|-

|Open doors for girls.

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

|Be respectful of your parents' wishes.

|Be respectful of your parents' wishes.

|-

|-

|Watch out for the safety of girls.

|Watch out for the safety of girls.

Feudalism had much that many people miss today.  For example, people worked close to home, and there was no commuting or traveling to a job.  No one was "laid off" by a big company then and left without work.  Communities were strong and people defended each other against foreign enemies.  Families stayed close together.  Perhaps the roots of homeschooling are in feudalism!

Feudalism had much that many people miss today.  For example, people worked close to home, and there was no commuting or traveling to a job.  No one was "laid off" by a big company then and left without work.  Communities were strong and people defended each other against foreign enemies.  Families stayed close together.  Perhaps the roots of homeschooling are in feudalism!

Communism, which did not develop until the 20th century, is the exact opposite of chivalry:  under communism, everyone is treated the same or "equally": boys and girls, men and women, young and old.

Communism, which did not develop until the 20th century, is the exact opposite of chivalry:  under communism, everyone is treated the same or "equally": boys and girls, men and women, young and old.

The centralized system of Japan had weakened and declined just as it had in Western Europe.  The reasons were different, however.  The Japanese culture always stressed self-discipline and military skills, and when combined with introduction of writing in the 5th century and Buddhism in the 6th century, there was little need for a centralized government.  In addition, the central government that did exist, which was known as the Heian court, lost credibility through its own extravagance and waste.

The centralized system of Japan had weakened and declined just as it had in Western Europe.  The reasons were different, however.  The Japanese culture always stressed self-discipline and military skills, and when combined with introduction of writing in the 5th century and Buddhism in the 6th century, there was little need for a centralized government.  In addition, the central government that did exist, which was known as the Heian court, lost credibility through its own extravagance and waste.

Aristocratic clans had dominated Japan until A.D. 500, when the Yamato clan gradually gained prominence as the leading clan and named themselves "emperor".  But the real power remained controlled by those of noble birth, and then (like now) the "emperor" was just a figurehead.  Shinto was the dominant religion, though it has since merged somewhat with Buddhism.

Many aristocratic clans had dominated Japan until A.D. 500, when one Yamato clan gradually gained greater prominence as the leading clan and then named themselves "emperor".  But the real power remained controlled by those of noble birth, and then (like now) the "emperor" was just a figurehead.  Shinto was the dominant religion, though it has since merged somewhat with Buddhism.

Feudalism then developed in Japan as families began to acquire control over land and establish independent estates, just as the lords did in Western Europe.  The peasants were bound to both the land and their master in Japan.  Like medieval Europe, fortresses were constructed to protect the large estates and moats were even used to surround the fortress, for added protection.  An example of a family that built a large, independent estate was the Fujiwara.

Feudalism then developed in Japan as families began to acquire control over land and establish independent estates, just as the lords did in Western Europe.  The peasants were bound to both the land and their master in Japan.  Like medieval Europe, fortresses were constructed to protect the large estates and moats were even used to surround the fortress, for added protection.  An example of a family that built a large, independent estate was the Fujiwara.