The Early Middle Ages and Beyond

European civilizations in the Early Middle Ages (750-1000) stemmed from the fall of the Roman Empire. The establishment of the Germanic states (which was a result of Roman disintegration) brought together the three main components of a new European civilization. The combination of the German tribes, the classical tradition, and Christianity aided in creating a western empire with its own European identity. The Carolingian empire, ruled by Charles the Great (Charlemagne), was the first sign …

…of the eventual kingdom of France, the eastern lands became Germany, and the territories of the Middle Kingdom would continue to be fought over for centuries to come. New forms of political institutions allowed lords to exercise legal, administrative, and military power. Invasions by Muslims, Magyars, and Vikings came at a time of weak central government in Europe. These changes set the stage for a giant leap in Europe by 1000 A.D (Spielvogel, 220). Word Count: 2,140