Role of Charlemagne in Early Medieval History

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HUM 2235 9/08/14 Fiero Ch. 11 What role did Charlemagne play in early medieval history? What is meant by the “Charlingian Renaissance”? - Charlemagne became Christian leader over the Roman Empire and was know as the “mediator between God and ordinary morals”(pg. 10). He greatly influenced the first (Charlingian) Renaissance which promoted art and education. The Christian Emperor “sponsored a revival of learning and literacy” (pg 10); he also (for the time) modernized the Roman script into what is known as minuscule. How did Viking invasions affect early medieval life in Western Europe? (think cause and effect) -The Normans brought Feudalism and Fealty into Western Europe, they contributed to the basis for tax collection. Also, with feudalism came fiefs or property in return for battle work. Along with structure, the Vikings also brought art and construction such as the Song of Roland and the Bayeux Tapestry. Describe feudalism as a political and military contract. Which social classes did it engage? - Feudalism involves social interactions between nobility, clerics, and peasants. It is a contract based on fealty, the loyalty between a warrior and a chieftain. It grants a fief ( or property) in return for (usually 40) fighting days a year. It promised protection from the Viking invasions, overall it provided local government and security. Describe the Bayeux Tapestry. What does it record? How? -The Bayeux Tapestry is a Norman embroidery that tells a “record of the conquest of England by William of Normandy” (pg. 17). It contains an epic story that culminates up to the Battle of Hastings. There are seventy-nine scenes, most of which contain battles, zoomorphic figures, and Latin captions to help identify characters, places, and events. What are the principle themes of the troubadour poets? -Poems that were devoted to

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