Intro to the Dark and Middle Ages

Global History I

Examine this painting.

What is the artist

attempting to illustrate about

the Dark Ages/medieval

period?

Disruption of Trade Merchants’ businesses were destroyed by

barbarians Unsafe to trade No Trade = No Cultural Diffusion

Downfall of Cities People retreat to countryside to evade

invaders Lack of central government administration More people live in rural areas than urban

centers

Decline of Learning Germanic tribes were illiterate and had no

written language Illiteracy + Lack of Written Language = NO

VALUE ON EDUCATION

Loss of Common Language Germanic invaders did not speak Latin Various dialects form from mixing Latin and

Germanic languages By the 800s, French and Spanish had evolved

No Common Language = NO UNITY

Germanic-style Government Allegiance to family tribes as opposed to a

state No central authority; lack of an emperor No loyalty to a king; no “Hail Caesar”

The Franks & Christianity The leader of the Franks,

Clovis, converted to Christianity to appease his wife and to repay God for a victory (similar to ____________________)

Rome supports Clovis & aids his military campaign to unite all Franks

Clovis: 466 – 511

The Franks & Christianity The Church builds monasteries to convert

German Monastery a religious community of men

(monks) who have given up their possessions to devote themselves to a life of prayer & worship

The Franks & Christianity Importance of monks

Opened schools & maintained libraries Human printing press copied books; preserved

aspects of Roman intellect

Gregory I (Papacy 590 – 604) Pope Gregory the Great

increases the power of the papacy by Becoming involved in the

secular world Raising armies Giving charity to the poor

Gregory believed the people of Europe were his responsibility

Charlemagne (742 – 814)