Medieval Europe“The Middle Ages”

Why was this period referred to as “The Middle Ages”?

It was the period between two very important times…the Fall of the Roman Empire and the Renaissance.

In the middle – The Middle Ages

Many people thought that nothing important happened during this period. They were wrong!

The Early Middle Ages

• The Geography of Europe

• Europe After the Fall of Rome

• Feudalism and Manor Life

• Feudal Societies

Today we will study Europe after the Fall of Rome.

PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 234 IN YOUR TEXT

EUROPE AFTER THE FALL OF ROME

CHAPTER 9 LESSON 2 The students will describe the spread of

Christianity and the roles played by the early church and monasteries in a one- paragraph summary.

In your summary you might include the following…

*Who was the head of the church?*Which group of people traveled far

distances to spread Christianity?*Were they all sent by the church?*Which group of people lived apart from

communities, and where did they live?*What services did they provide that

helped spread Christianity?

TODAY’S FOCUS QUESTION: How did the church and monasteries

contribute to the spread of Christianity?

Europe After The Fall of Rome Europe was a dangerous place after

Rome fell..

CHAOS!

Without the Roman government, Europe had no central authority to keep order.

As a result, outlaws and bandits became common.

Violence was common. People looked for ways to bring order to their lives.

As the Roman Empire fell, various groups moved into former lands and formed their own states.

The rulers of these states, usually warlords, called themselves kings.

These kings often fought among themselves.

The creation of these kingdoms marked the beginning of the Middle Ages.

Christianity Spreads to Northern Christianity Spreads to Northern EuropeEurope

MissionariesMissionaries

The Pope sent missionaries into The Pope sent missionaries into northern Europe to spread northern Europe to spread ChristianityChristianity..

Missionaries are people who try to Missionaries are people who try to convert others to a particular convert others to a particular religion.religion.

MonksMonksMonks spread Christianity, butMonks spread Christianity, but unlike unlike

missionaries, they did not travel.missionaries, they did not travel.They spent their time in prayer, They spent their time in prayer,

work, and meditation.work, and meditation.

MonasteriesMonasteriesMonks lived apart from society inMonks lived apart from society in

monasteriesmonasteries..The monks had to follow rules that The monks had to follow rules that

told them how to dress and what to told them how to dress and what to eat.eat.

Monastery

• A place where monks or nuns live and work.

MonksMonks

In addition to giving aid to people in In addition to giving aid to people in their communities, monkstheir communities, monks

Ran schools and copied books for Ran schools and copied books for those who couldn’t read or write.those who couldn’t read or write.

Collected and saved ancient writing Collected and saved ancient writing from Greece and Romefrom Greece and Rome

Served as scribes and advisors to Served as scribes and advisors to local rulers.local rulers.

The Benedictine RuleThe Benedictine Rule

Look at page 236 in your text. Look at page 236 in your text.

There is a special day There is a special day named after a monk. See named after a monk. See if you can guess what it if you can guess what it

is.is.Hints:Hints:It involves pinching.It involves pinching.You are to wear green.You are to wear green.It is during the month of March.It is during the month of March.It is of Irish origin.It is of Irish origin.

Saint PatrickSaint Patrick

Saint Patrick was a monk who helped Saint Patrick was a monk who helped convert the Irish to Christianity.convert the Irish to Christianity.

According to legend, he won favor According to legend, he won favor with the Irish by driving all of the with the Irish by driving all of the snakes in Ireland into the sea.snakes in Ireland into the sea.

CharlemagneCharlemagne

A Christian king who conquered A Christian king who conquered much of the old Roman Empire and much of the old Roman Empire and spread Christianity.spread Christianity.

Built schools.Built schools.Look at page 237 in your text.Look at page 237 in your text.

Invaders Threaten EuropeInvaders Threaten Europe

Even while Charlemagne was building Even while Charlemagne was building his empire, new threat appeared in his empire, new threat appeared in Europe…Europe…

Muslim armies poured in from Muslim armies poured in from Africa and the Middle East.Africa and the Middle East.

Fierce warriors called the Fierce warriors called the Magyars invaded from Asia Magyars invaded from Asia

attacking fields and destroying attacking fields and destroying towns.towns.

From Scandinavia came the From Scandinavia came the most frightening invaders of all, most frightening invaders of all,

the Vikings.the Vikings.

Vikings looted towns and Vikings looted towns and monasteries.monasteries.

They took prisoners to sell into They took prisoners to sell into slaveryslavery..

The spread of Christianity The spread of Christianity helped restore order to helped restore order to Europe following the fall Europe following the fall of the western half of the of the western half of the

Roman Empire.Roman Empire.

Remember: Remember: CHAOS!!!CHAOS!!!

Religious men who lived Religious men who lived apart from society in apart from society in

isolated communities wereisolated communities werePriestsPriestsMonks Monks MonasteriesMonasteriesMinistersMinisters

One of the first missionaries One of the first missionaries to travel to northern Europe to travel to northern Europe and took it upon himself to and took it upon himself to

teach people about teach people about Christianity wasChristianity was

Saint BenedictSaint BenedictSaint PatrickSaint PatrickSaint PeterSaint PeterSaint PaulSaint Paul

Who was a brilliant Who was a brilliant warrior and strong king warrior and strong king who led the Franks in who led the Franks in

building a huge empire?building a huge empire?

Saint PatrickSaint PatrickSaint BenedictSaint BenedictCharlemagneCharlemagneWilliam the ConquerorWilliam the Conqueror

Monks live in communities Monks live in communities calledcalled

ChurchesChurchesCathedralsCathedralsMonasteriesMonasteriesCastles Castles

An Italian monk who created An Italian monk who created a set of rules that most a set of rules that most European monasteries European monasteries

followed wasfollowed wasSaint PeterSaint PeterSaint PaulSaint PaulSaint BenedictSaint BenedictSaint PatrickSaint Patrick

Another name for the Another name for the Middle Ages isMiddle Ages is

Medieval periodMedieval periodUnimportant periodUnimportant periodPost Rome periodPost Rome periodAncient historyAncient history

TODAY’S FOCUS TODAY’S FOCUS QUESTION:QUESTION:

How did the church and How did the church and monasteries contribute to the monasteries contribute to the spread of Christianity?spread of Christianity?

In your summary you might In your summary you might include the following…include the following…

*Who was the head of the church?*Who was the head of the church?*Which group of people traveled far *Which group of people traveled far

distances to spread Christianity?distances to spread Christianity?*Were they all sent by the church?*Were they all sent by the church?*Which group of people lived apart *Which group of people lived apart

from communities, and where did from communities, and where did they live?they live?

*What services did they provide *What services did they provide that helped spread Christianity?that helped spread Christianity?