Changes

After the Roman empire fell in the A.D. 400s there was the possibility that all of the achievements of the classical civilizations, including much of their knowledge, would be lost.  Who would preserve the geometry discoveries of Euclid, or the philosophical advances of Plato and Aristotle?  Who would maintain copies of the Gospels to preserve the teachings of Jesus?  Who would safeguard history books?

After the Roman empire fell in the A.D. 400s there was the possibility that all of the achievements of the classical civilizations, including much of their knowledge, would be lost.  Who would preserve the geometry discoveries of Euclid, or the philosophical advances of Plato and Aristotle?  Who would maintain copies of the Gospels to preserve the teachings of Jesus?  Who would safeguard history books?

The period from the 5th to the 8th century is remembered by historians as a particularly bleak time, when havoc and barbarians "ruled".  This period, A.D. 400s through 700s, known as the "Dark Ages" in Western Europe.  Everything visible and cultural seemed to decline, and nothing outstanding seemed to emerge.  Rome was sacked (invaded and looted) three times during this period, for example.  Barbaric tribes terrorized everyone.  The culture and economy declined.  Roads and waterways fell into disrepair.  The western world was at risk of losing all its knowledge and advances.

The period from the 5th to the 8th century is remembered by historians as a particularly bleak time, when havoc and barbarians "ruled".  This period, A.D. 400s through 700s, is known as the "Dark Ages" in Western Europe.  Everything visible and cultural seemed to decline, and nothing outstanding seemed to emerge.  Rome was sacked (invaded and looted) three times during this period, for example.  Barbaric tribes terrorized everyone.  The culture and economy declined.  Roads and waterways fell into disrepair.  The western world was at risk of losing all its knowledge and advances.

===Monasteries===

===Monasteries===

Historians credit Christian monasteries for preserving culture and knowledge during these "dark" times.  The monasteries were communities of Christian monks, usually male, who had committed the rest of their lives to God.  They often moved apart so that they could be by themselves and pray many times a day.  While not praying, the monks would read and write and teach, and they preserved the knowledge and history that might otherwise have been lost.

Historians credit Christian monasteries for preserving culture and knowledge during these "dark" times.  The monasteries were communities of Christian monks, usually male, who had committed the rest of their lives to God.  They often moved apart so that they could be by themselves and pray many times a day.  While not praying, the monks would read and write and teach, and they preserved the knowledge and history that might otherwise have been lost.

The most famous of these "orders" or communities was one established by St. Benedict in Italy in about A.D. 520.  His "Rule of St. Benedict" is a strict set of disciplinary guidelines that require giving away all of one's possessions and vowing obedience to the "abbot", a monk elected to supervise the others.  The Rule also includes other requirements, such a vow of stability (a promise not to move somewhere else), and it stresses the importance of prayer and manual labor ("ora et labora").  St. Benedict had a sister, St. Scholastica, who established a similar rule for devout, unmarried women (nuns) to live by.

The most famous of these "orders" or communities was one established by St. Benedict in Italy in about A.D. 520.  His "Rule of St. Benedict" is a strict set of disciplinary guidelines that require giving away all of one's possessions and vowing obedience to the "abbot", a monk elected to supervise the others.  The Rule also includes other requirements, such a vow of stability (a promise not to move somewhere else), and the Rule stresses the importance of prayer and manual labor ("ora et labora").  St. Benedict had a sister, St. Scholastica, who established a similar rule for devout, unmarried women (nuns) to live by.

Abiding by strict rules of discipline and living separate from society, monks had no distractions.  So they established schools and libraries, and transcribed or copied great works that needed to be preserved and duplicated (the printing press was not invented until about A.D. 1440).  Venerable Bede, an English monk, wrote a history of England in A.D. 731 that is considered a masterpiece.

Abiding by strict rules of discipline and living separate from society, monks had no distractions.  So they established schools and libraries, and transcribed or copied great works that needed to be preserved and duplicated (the printing press was not invented until about A.D. 1440).  Venerable Bede, an English monk, wrote a history of England in A.D. 731 that is considered a masterpiece.

Monasteries continue to exist to this day.  There is a Benedictine monastery only fifteen minutes away from our classroom in Morristown, New Jersey, known as "Delbarton".  These monks still abide by the same Rule that St. Benedict established in A.D. 520, though monks today do not have to copy long books anymore!

Monasteries continue to exist to this day.  There is a Benedictine monastery known as "Delbarton" in Morristown, New Jersey, only about fifteen minutes away from our classroom.  These monks still abide by the same Rule that St. Benedict established in A.D. 520, though monks today do not have to copy long books anymore!

===Britain, King Arthur and the Anglo-Saxons===

===Britain, King Arthur and the Anglo-Saxons===

As the Roman empire was collapsing in the A.D. 400s, it withdrew from Britain.  In the view of some, the legend of King Arthur dates to this time, when a hero named Ambrosius Aurelianus emerged for the British people.  But no one knows how much truth there is in the legend of King Arthur, Camelot, the Knights of the Round Table, Lancelot and Guinevere, who was Arthur's wife (a romantic couple like the one at right).

As the Roman empire was collapsing in the A.D. 400s, it withdrew from Britain.  In the view of some, the legend of King Arthur dates to this time, when a hero named Ambrosius Aurelianus emerged for the British people.  But no one knows how much truth there is in the legend of King Arthur, Camelot, the Knights of the Round Table, Lancelot and Guinevere, who was Arthur's wife (a romantic couple like the one below right).

[[Image:From King Arthur times.jpg|400px|right]]

[[Image:From King Arthur times.jpg|400px|right]]

Who were the British people at that time?  The "Anglo-Saxons", who were Germanic tribes that conquered England and ruled it in a chaotic manner until the Norman conquest of A.D. 1066 brought order and prosperity to the entire island.  The "Anglo-Saxons" were actually a mixture of three different Germanic peoples:  the Angles, the Saxons and the Jutes.  The "Picts" were another group of people who emerged in Scotland at this time. During this period, much of England was captured by the Vikings from Scandanavia, with eventually only Wessex left. However, the greatest Anglo-Saxon ruler Alfred the Great, recaptured the rest of England from Viking occupation in the A.D. 800s.

Who were the British people at that time?  The "Anglo-Saxons", who were Germanic tribes that conquered England and ruled it in a chaotic manner until the Norman conquest of A.D. 1066 brought order and prosperity to the entire island.  The "Anglo-Saxons" were actually a mixture of three different Germanic peoples:  the Angles, the Saxons and the Jutes.  The "Picts" were another group of people who emerged in Scotland at this time. During this period, much of England was captured by the Vikings from Scandanavia, with eventually only Wessex left. However, the greatest Anglo-Saxon ruler Alfred the Great, recaptured the rest of England from Viking occupation in the A.D. 800s.

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 attempted to reestablish the Roman empire by conquering the same territory; 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 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 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 primary religion in the West.  

The capital of the Carolingian empire was not Rome, but Aachen in what is now Germany.  Charlemagne's son Louis "the Pious" then held this empire together from 814-840, but when he died his three sons fought with each other.  They split the empire three ways in the Treaty of Verdun in 843.  Western Europe was just too vast and diverse for a single ruler, and a new system was needed.  That new system was feudalism.

The capital of the Carolingian empire was not Rome, but Aachen in what is now Germany.  Charlemagne's son Louis "the Pious" then held this empire together from 814-840, but when he died his three sons fought with each other.  They split the empire three ways in the Treaty of Verdun in 843.  Western Europe was just too vast and diverse for a single ruler, and a new system was needed.  That new system was feudalism.