Abstract
An outline of the early medieval period, which saw the rise of new kingdoms in Western Europe. The paper discusses the rise and development of the Carolingian Empire. It also provides special attention to the economic and social structure that came from the collapsed Roman Empire and the Barbarian kingdoms.

From the Paper
"In the pre-Christian era, the German tribes migrated from the northern Europe to the Roman Empire and occupied the northern lands. There were clashes between the German tribes and the Romans who considered them intruders into their lands and called them "barbarians". The collapse of the Roman Empire enabled the German tribes to explore the Western Roman Empire. There were three basic factions of these German tribes-Germanic Lombards who settled in northern and central Italy, Anglo-Saxons in Britain, And Franks in Gaul (France). The Frankish kingdoms later became one of the new western European civilizations."

Tags:roman, western, middle, ages, empire, social, economic, barbarian

Abstract
This paper examines how the Carolingian Empire, which united most of Western Europe under one ruler in the late eighth century AD, was based on the domination of the Franks, including some of the greatest European kings who ever ruled. It focuses on the rule of Charlemagne and how his reign is considered the apogee of the empire for several reasons. It looks at how he conquered much of Europe, promoted the spread of Christianity and generally improved his people's way of life.

From the Paper
"Like Clovis I, Charlemagne was a devout Christian and a firm believer in education and therefore was a great supporter of both the clergy and faculty. "Charlemagne practised the Christian religion with great devotion and piety, for he had been brought up in this faith since earliest childhood" (Einhard, 104). He built a great Cathedral, called Holy Mother of God in Aachen and donated a great deal of money and relics to monasteries, churches and other religious institutions. He often personally chose which person would be appointed to a given position within the church, based on how wise and virtuous the candidates were. Not only did he further and improve religion in his own realm, by conquering other territories he spread Christianity's influence."

Tags:church, charles, christianity

Abstract
This paper discusses the development and implementation of Charlemagne's plans to further education and spread Christian learning throughout his kingdom and all of Europe. Specifically, this paper details the importance of the involvement of Alcuin of York, who was the instrumental architect of Charlemagne's legacy of learning and knowledge, which came to be known as the Carolingian Renaissance.

From the Paper
"Under the rule of Charles the Great, or Charlemagne, from 768 814 A.D., the Frankish Empire expanded in many aspects. Of all the Empire's augmentations under Charlemagne, in political, military and religious aspects, the increase in emphasis and quality of learning through the Carolingian Renaissance and the re establishment of the Palace School at Aachen had as much if not more impact on the future culture and history of Western Europe. However, Charlemagne can only partially be credited with the development of such educational ideas. The major force behind the organization of the educational institution at Aachen was Alcuin of York. Under Charlemagne's plans, "(Alcuin) established and expanded schools, libraries, and scriptoria in monasteries all over France. The impact of his work can be seen in the great increase of literary and documentary materials surviving from the Carolingian period. It can be seen in the number of classical texts whose manuscripts are in the Carolingian hand" (Cantor 230). The overall effects of Alcuin under Charles the Great can be seen today in that, "around 8,000 manuscripts survive from the late eighth and ninth centuries, and many more are known to have been produced" (Peters 118)."

Tags:aachen, alcuin, carolingian, charlemagne, education, renaissance

Abstract
This paper examines the nature of succession and the physical role of annointing in the coronation ceremony. It looks at the conferment of the sacred character and subsequent 'making' of the king and the numerous political, social and theological benefits. Also examined is the relationship of annointing and Carolingian propaganda as well as strategies of royal protection and succession disputes.

From the Paper
"Inauguration rituals in early medieval Europe represented the fundamental rites by which kings were made. No Carolingian or Merovingian king simply succeeded to his kingdom as a matter of route and it is to this end that the process of anointment has been interpreted as a highly significant aspect of Carolingian kingship. Indeed the increasing regularity and apparent quasi-institutionalization of royal anointments from the mid-eighth century onwards suggests an importance in itself. Pippin's anointment at Soissons in 751 preceded the anointments of his young sons in 754, the anointing of Charlemagne's sons in 781 and 800 and ultimately set in motion a wave of such inauguration rituals for much of the ninth century. Early medieval rule was to an extent, defined by ritual and symbolic emblems."

Tags:burgundian, franks, coronation, king, pope

From the Paper
"The early Middle Ages marked the time of early barbarian kingdoms rebelling against traditional Roman law because they no longer recognized the emperor in Constantinople as their sovereign. Therefore, they established vast empires in Western Europe; a prime example of such a kingdom was that of the Carolingians. Charles the Great, or Charlemagne, is considered to be the most successful Carolingian ruler despite the relatively rapid collapse of his empire caused by three dominant factors: external pressures, dynastic competition, and the rise of the aristocracy. Although the Carolingian empire eventually crumbled as a result of the above occurrences, it tremendously impacted Western European society with its numerous political, military, cultural, and economic contributions throughout the time it reigned."

Tags:charlemagne, contributions, dynastic, dynasty, rule, society

Abstract
This paper explores the relationship between the Carolingians - chiefly Charlemagne - and the papacy; because of its importance, the relationship between Charlemagne and Pope Leo is particularly scrutinized. As becomes evident, the relationship between these two notable figures was a profoundly asymmetrical one: Charlemagne protected the pope in the wake of attacks upon his being by his many enemies, and Pope Leo became little more than a grateful retainer of the king whose life would otherwise be in mortal danger without the French king's warm support. Interestingly, the paper notes that a case can be advanced that Charlemagne's efforts to protect Pope Leo were rooted in the earlier scolding he received from Pope Stephen because of the latter's disgust with the union of Charlemagne to the Lombard princess, Desiderata.

From the Paper
"This paper will explore the relationship between the Carolingians - chiefly Charlemagne - and the papacy; because of its importance, the relationship between Charlemagne and Pope Leo will be particularly scrutinized. As will become evident, the relationship between these two notable figures was a profoundly asymmetrical one: Charlemagne protected the pope in the wake of attacks upon his being by his many enemies, and Pope Leo became little more than a grateful retainer of the king whose life would otherwise be in mortal danger without the French king's warm..."

Tags:charlemagne, pope, leo

Abstract
This paper looks at the greatness of the Emperor Charlemagne and examines ways in which the Carolingian empire was governed. The writer discusses that one of the reasons that the Emperor Charlemagne was so beloved by the Carolingian people he ruled, was that he showed compassion towards the peoples he conquered, seldom manifest during the era. The writer also notes that Emperor Charlemagne demonstrated an administrative balance between the needs of the governing state and the demands of the powerful Christian church. Using references to works on medieval literature, the writer discusses how Emperor Charlemagne was said to embody the perfect balance between Christian and secular demands in ruling an empire.

From the Paper
"However, despite the general respect for Charlemagne, controversies were still rife during this era. The ninth century eventually became a pivotal epoch in terms of the influence of religion upon government and the development of Medieval Christendom, only tenuously resolved by Charlemagne. The collapse of Charlemagne's Empire, the onset of the Viking invasions proved politically divisive in terms of governance and there were also were the many doctrinal controversies inherent to Christianity of the period to further tear apart Christians. The Archbishop of Rheims, Hincmar took a very strong stand against the absolutist stance of papal monarchy or kingly rule--like Charlemagne, he attempted to strike a balance between the two authorial needs of Rome and kings."

Tags:emperor, Christian, Medieval, church

Abstract
The accession of Charlemagne signalled the commencement of a "new epoch" in Western European military activity. Offensive campaigns were undertaken, larger and more ambitious than anything seen under Pepin and Charles Martel that re-established the Carolingian hold on the military and political organization of Western Europe. This paper assesses the preparation of military campaigns in regard to the recruiting, mobilization, equipping and feeding of vast numbers of men and examines how [and with what success] the issues of geography and availability were dealt with. It uses the capitularies as evidence, looks at the role of 'missi' and addresses the argument of feudalism in the medieval state.

From the Paper
"Military organization in the 8th and 9th centuries incorporated a number of different logistical and strategic problems each with the potential to disrupt even the most carefully laid plans. Preparation of military campaigns concerned the recruiting, mobilization, equipping and feeding of a vast number of men which in turn was dictated by geography, availability and of course, the nature of the opposed forces. To this effect it is important to understand what exactly is meant by military organization. For the sake of this argument, military organization in Carolingian Europe was the planning, activating and carrying-out of predominantly offensive strategies with the objective of gaining or consolidating Frankish territory."

Tags:barcelona, franks, frisians, gascons, lombards, marches, marte, merovingian, missi, feudalism

Abstract
The following paper develops the argument that feudalism was not a constructive response to instability, but rather an oppressive and highly unstable system which developed opportunistically at a time of great instability. This paper contends that feudalism was the climate of insecurity created by the dramatic Viking invasions of the ninth century that allowed imperial officials and local leaders to convert themselves into petty rulers of small castellanies.

From the Paper
In the long run, feudalism probably contributed greatly to the overall amount of instability and violence in early medieval Europe. Emerging from within a society which was admittedly already extremely violent, it gave aggressive lords the opportunity to seize land and labor, institutionalizing a new mode of domination over the peasantry, manorialism. To the degree that peasants passively accepted the manorial system, rural society would have acquired a more stable character. However, because feudalism fostered a culture of violence between lords which was only finally overcome with the reconsolidation of royal power in the early modern centuries, European society probably became less stable than ever until feudalism was gone. In the meantime, the only institution which functioned as a force for stability was the Church.

Tags:society, disintegration, empire, warrior, class, distinct, armed, mounted, men

Abstract
This paper examines how art and architecture during the middle ages changed the world in many aspects and how we have adapted many of these styles to many of the modern structures. The paper looks at the history of the architecture and art styles and some of the artists that contributed to the art the from early Christian art to Gothic art. Photographs and pictures are also included.

Outline:
Introduction
Early Christian Art
Artists
Architecture
Byzantine Art
Artists
Architecture
Carolingian Art
Romanesque Art
Artists
Architecture
Gothic Art
Artists
Architecture
Conclusion

From the Paper
"The Carolingian art was during the reign of Charlemagne, who ruled the franks in the year 768. The term Carolingian refers to the reigns of Charlemagne, and his pressing successors, although in stipulations of art the exacting characteristics of Carolingian art did not last long after his empire was divided by three grandsons in the year 843. The painting Art Past and Present (Upper Settle River, New Jersey), during this period were in the concentration of revitalizing both the political harmony and the cultural ideas of the Roman Empire. Many of the works of art illustrate the inspiration of Roman models in unstructured techniques. The Carolingian emperors built large scale architectural projects in stone and supported active centers for manuscript illustration, ivory carving, and metalwork. "

Tags:Byzantine, Christian, Carolingian, Romanesque, Gothic