Early Middle Ages and the Rise of Christianity

Brainstorm: With the collapse of the central Roman

government, what are the people of Europe going to lose?

Rise of the Church

• What organization can fill the vacuum left by the collapse of Rome?

• By the end of the 300’s AD, Christianity was the dominant religion of the Roman Empire.– As Rome fell apart,

the Church began to have more influence on people’s lives.

• Power of the Church increases.– Pope (Papacy)

• Bishop of Rome as head of Church

– Establish Papal States• Pope has political

power.– Monastic Movement

• Colonies?

Converting non-Christians• Monastic movement

– Monks & Nuns• Men and women who

separates themselves from ordinary society to dedicate their lives to God.

– Lived in Monasteries and Convents

• Why important?– Moral example– Social workers

» Schools, hospitals, etc.

– Taught skills.

– Missionaries• People sent out to carry a

religious message.

• By 1050AD most western Europeans had become Catholics.

After the Fall:Western Europe

Western Europe• When Rome falls, it is

the Western Roman Empire that collapses.– Review: Why not the

East?

• Some of the “barbarian tribes” settle in Europe.– Angles and Saxons– Visigoths– Vandals– Franks

• The largest and most powerful kingdom was the Franks. (est. 500AD)– Clovis

• First Germanic emperor to become Christian.

– Gains support of Roman Catholic Church.

Life in Early Middle Ages• At first, life in Western

Europe is chaotic and violent.– Wars between tribes.– Rapidly changing

leadership.– Cities and trade

dwindled.– Development and

exchange of arts and ideas ceased.

After the Fall:Eastern Europe

Eastern Roman Empire• The Roman Empire in

the east continued to exist– Capital was

Constantinople • Byzantium?

• Emperor Justinian (527 AD)– Ruled as an autocrat

• Complete authority• Seen as Christ’s co-ruler

on earth.– Established The Body of

Civil Law. • Reviewed and simplified

Romans laws.– Built Hagia Sophia in 532.– Wanted to retake the

entire Mediterranean (recreate Rome)

• By 552 AD, he had almost succeeded…

Life in the Eastern roman Empire

• Roman Empire “lives on” in the Byzantine Empire – Continued some

Roman traditions.• Government,

philosophy, etc.

– Embraced some Greek culture.

• Art, language, etc.

• Fill Rome’s economic role as a center of trade.– Especially along Silk

Road.

Death of Justinian• Justinian’s death in

565AD left the Eastern Roman Empire with some major problems…– Too much territory

to protect– An empty treasury– Decline in

population (plague)– Threats to the

borders• As a result, the

empire falls apart.– This smaller empire

is called the Byzantine Empire.

By 700AD…