The Early Middle Ages

The humanist culture that characterized the Greco-Roman past had disintegrated, and a new civilization was emerging in Latin Christendom, which covered western and central Europe (Perry 198).

This period was shaped by three influences---the Greco-Roman culture, Germanic customs, and the Principles of Christianity. The most dominant factor was the Christian church. The greatest change which occurred in the West in the Early Middle Ages was this Christianization of life.

The cross-influences of these three forces can be seen in the results of Germanic and Christian cooperation beginning in the late sixth century. As we read in McKay, et al., "The Christian missionaries who were slowly converting the Germans to Christianity . . . encouraged German rulers to set down their customs in written form" (McKay 219). It was to the benefit of the Christians to know those customs to better convert the Germans. The Christian leaders in this era recognized that they could not suddenly impose Christian values and principles wholesale on people to whom those values and principles were at times incomprehensible. They accepted that they would adapt to the prevailing cultural and ethnic customs and beliefs, which they successfully did.

The Germans had migrated westward to conquer Roman Gaul. Charlemagne, for example, was a Germanic Frank wh

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ivation of new lands" which "led to an increase in agricultural production" (Perry 221). This allowed for the expansion of nonagricultural pursuits. Commerce grew, which created towns once again where manors had existed. Inter-town relations were stronger than inter-manor relations: "The rebirth of town life made possible the rise of a new social class: the middle class, consisting of merchants and artisans" (Perry 221). The marketplace replaced the church and the manor as the heart of society. Political stability was provided by the spreading power of kings who consolidated territory once fragmented under lords, and weakened the power of the church, but increased its internal vitality: Finally, "Economic, political, and religious vitality was complemented by a cultural and intellectual awakening" (Perry 222). 2. The Song of Roland reflects the ideals of Charlemagne and the feudal age primarily in the heroic person of Roland himself. As loyal follower of Charlemagne, he goes to his death in defense of not only his leader but Christianity itself, at least as the book interprets the historical events. Roland personifies the heroic warrior who lives not only to kill the pagan enemy but to uphold the principles of Christianity, at l
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Approximate Word count = 1493
Approximate Pages = 6 (250 words per page)