After the fall of the
Western Roman Empire in 476 A.D. political chaos followed. Cultural advancements achieved under Rome deteriorated and economic life was reduced to subsistence level. Barbaric tribes were largely disunited and there was no central government. It was only in the year 800 A.D. that the hope for a
more united Europe seemed to beacon.
Charles the Great or
Charle magne was crowned the first emperor of the Holy Roman Empire. Charlemagne was crowned by the pope on Christmas day in the year 800 A.D. His reign encouraged intellectual and cultural growth. He protected and defended the rights of peasants from serfdom and he instituted laws.
