How Did Christianity Influence The Development Of The Middle Ages

Charlemagne or Charles the Great, (747-814) was one of the most significant people during the Middle Ages, playing a key role in defining the shape and character of Medieval Europe. Considered the ‘Father of Europe’, Charlemagne reigned as King of the Franks (768-814) and became the first Holy Roman Emperor (800-814). He created a great empire as he dramatically expanded the Frankish Kingdom in a series of conquests that united most of Western Europe for the first time since the Roman Empire. He also introduced many governmental, cultural and economic reforms to further his great ‘Carolingian’ Empire. Additionally the Emperor fostered the Carolingian renaissance, a time of great cultural and intellectual revival and reinforced the Christian foothold on Europe.

The positive influence of Christianity is far reaching especially in the rich history and culture of Western Civilization despite a long standing ignorance or adamant denial of its contributions. The Bible itself is responsible for much of the language, literature, and fine arts we enjoy today as its artists and composers were heavily influenced by its writings. Paul Maier, in writing the forward to the book How Christianity Changed the World by Alvin J. Schmidt, says this about the profound impact Christianity has had on the development of Western Civilization:

Religion was far more important in almost every aspect of Medieval life than it is in most modern societies. The majority of people in Europe followed the Christian religion under authorizing of the Roman Catholic Church. The Church in the Medieval Era possessed great wealth, political power and influence over art, architecture, community life and education. It's religious acknowledgments gave shape to the calendar and its spiritual rituals marked important moments in an individual's life (such as baptism, acceptance, marriage, forgiveness, holy orders and the last rites). Its teachings depend upon dominant beliefs about ethics, the meaning of life, and the afterlife and Churches where ultimately the only connection that the peasants and nobles shared.

Charlemagne was a well known great king during the middle ages. He was a good leader in war and peace, conquering and uniting, much of Europe. He encouraged education, culture, and art.

Charlemagne sponsored a revival of learning that is referred to as the Carolingian Renaissance. Because Charlemagne relied on the church to provide many important services to his administration, he ensured that the level of education that clergymen received was adequate. He saw to it that schools were established at monasteries, by bishops at cathedrals and in parishes throughout the kingdom. The Carolingians under Charlemagne had strong ties with the church, which had an affect on Charlemagne’s rule.

Charlemagne was also a huge supporter for education for the empire and to improve culture. He had the idea that a Christian king should be responsible for the church.

Charlemagne not only help in spreading of Christianity throughout Europe but he made sure that the Churches were running well and spreading the word of god effectively. Christianity “give full to religious and ideological factors as motivating forces for Charlemagne aristocracy” (95 Story). Charlemagne had a story mental focused towards his goal was because he felt that god was supporting him and that he was spreading the word of god. If some churches were noting doing well in his Kingdom, then he would help the churches a lot and made sure that they were in order. When certain churches were facing hardships then he would send help such as sending wealth or protection from other people who are harming them in anyway. He had a kind heart towards the church because he was a very religious person and felt that it was an important part to his

Charlemagne had to govern a vast system and needed an organized structure in order to govern easier. The relative stability that was there when the roman empire was gone, all was gone. They had to figure out how to create systems. Charlemagne was very religious, and that was a binding. Charlemagne wanted to rule a Christian kingdom. Most of the priests were illiterate, needed to educate so the message came out right. AT this point all different tribes had different ways of religion. The priestly class needed to be educated. He built school, and brought many people from around the world.

Charlemagne, the greatest king of the dark ages, shaped the standards of Europe and influenced the people for thousands of years, solidifying the idea that the dark ages weren’t so dark. After the death of his father, Frankish king Pippin III, in 768, the realm was divided into two sections. Charlemagne and his brother, Carloman, both received the sections, and a feud started almost immediately. When Carloman died in 771, Charlemagne took control of both sections in hopes of reuniting the Frankish realm. He was king to the Franks from 768-814, and he was also the first emperor of the Holy Roman Empire from 800-814 (Frassetto). Because of his generosity, attractive personality, and need for knowledge, Charlemagne was a very respectable leader. During his reign, he was able to conquer and gain control over almost all of the mainland of Europe. Though it took over 50 battles to do so, he was able to unite a large portion of the continent. Charlemagne made trading much easier by putting Europe on a common silver currency. Because of this king’s love and interest in learning, he encouraged an education for everyone. Charlemagne also had a very religious presence in society and aided in the spread of Christianity over Europe. Pope Leo III even pronounced him as the first emperor of Europe since the fall of the Rome because of his many achievements with religion (Whipps). After Charlemagne’s death in 814, Europe slowly began to fall apart again, but at the time, he

Roman has influenced western civilization in many ways, but one way that really stood out to me was Christianity. It was through ancient Rome that Christianity spread throughout all the western world. The spread of the Roman empire was so large that Christianity was able to spread. Once the Roman Emperor Constantine made Christianity the official state religion of Rome, the religion was able to flourish even more. When the Roman Empire collapsed, Christianity had not spread far beyond the Mediterranean area.

Charlemagne changed the way people lived in his kingdom. The reforms he brought are used in everyday life; and although some of these ideas did not stick at the time, they were later reintroduced and widely accepted. He began recording significant events, and this is how we know so much about our past. He ensured Christianity be the main religion in Europe, and united scattered countries and impoverished territories. He also encouraged equality through education and the distribution of power. Charlemagne is model leader, and his achievements should be recognized as they influence society even

In Charlemagne’s palace school at Aachen, one finds the ideals and aims of the Carolingian renaissance most definitively. Palace schools were not unheard of in the Frankish kingdom. The Merovingians established a school to train young nobles to fight, and how to conduct themselves at court. At the time, however, no academic knowledge was being imparted. The only schools that taught academics were at monasteries and cathedrals. Charlemagne altered the palace school into a center of learning and knowledge (Carolingian Schools 1). He hired scholars to teach, and appointed Alcuin to oversee the school. Charlemagne required Alcuin himself to instruct the royal family in reading and writing. In addition to the palace school, Charlemagne made many decrees concerning the education of his people (1). His “Charter of Modern Thought” required that the monasteries be concerned with “the study of letters” (2). In yet another decree Charlemagne ordered that teachers “who are both willing and able to learn” be hired and “let them apply themselves to this work with a zeal equal to the earnestness with which we recommend it to them” (2). Knox argues again on this point saying “Charles' court at Aix-la- Chapelle was a beacon for men of learning, and the king funded their activities. It was from these, and others, there originated a burst of activity that would have a strong influence on medieval intellectual life” (Knox 14). Charlemagne provided not only for the sons of

Although the reign of the Carolingian dynasty occupied only a brief part of the entirety of the medieval era, the Carolingian Empire that was established during that period made both a historical and cultural impact on medieval society that would resonate for years to come. Until the empire fell in 888, the Carolingian House of the Franks initially brought stability and progress to most of Europe, as well as pioneering a cultural and intellectual renaissance that influenced the remainder of the Middle Ages. Although there were various Carolingian rulers who aided these advances, it is fair to say that Carolingian developments reached their peak during the reign of Charlemagne, a leader and reformer of the church who fully appreciated the importance of learning and education. Throughout his reign, he established himself, as a ruler, and his empire as an example that subsequent Kings of the Middle Ages would aim to obtain and uphold. In addition, Charlemagne created a cultural legacy that allowed the empire to prosper and formed links between the medieval world and the ancient world. With this in mind, this essay will principally explore the positive aspects of the Carolingian legacy and the ways in which they were fundamental to the development of medieval society, focusing on the most significant successes during the reign of Charlemagne. It will also briefly touch upon the role of other Carolingian leaders as well as the societal impact of the eventual dissolution of the

The Carolingian Renaissance was a period of history brought on by Charlemagne. The respect that Charlemagne had for scholars and knowledge in general was huge, despite the fact that he could not read or write. Also, in spite of his illiteracy, he studied many subjects, from languages to astronomy. At the time when Charlemagne took power, most of his subjects were illiterate and couldn’t speak standard Latin. The only people who seemed to be the exception were the clergy. This was apparently unacceptable to Charlemagne. In order to better promote this knowledge revival that he so craved, he gathered many of the greatest scholars of his time in his court. There may have been around one hundred and twenty scholars at his court during this time period. This fellowship of many great thinkers brought on what was later called Carolingian Renaissance. It was during this time that there was a resurgence in literature, a need for learning, and revival of culture. The scholars and monks of this time collected many classic texts and had them translated into Latin.

Christianity was the “guide to living” for many people in Medieval times. It explained how life came about, what your purpose was, and gave explanations for various situations that you may be faced with during your time on earth. What came with the ideas of Christianity? You must never test the word of god, women are inherently evil, and that supernatural forces reign in the world you live in (discussion).