The Dark AgesIt’s always darkest before the dawn.

Middle Ages: Barbarians attack Europe, war all over, rulers unify under Roman Catholicism, feudalism starts. Setting a chain of events that will forever change the course of history.

FEUDALISM IS LOYALTY &

LAND.Feud- a designated

piece of land KingG

LordsG

KnightsG

serfs

EMPIRES BEGAN CRUSADE VS.

ISLAM

A PLAGUE SWEPT ACROSS

EUROPE

ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH CTRL

ALL.

A. In 496 A.D. The Western Roman Empire Falls.B. The Eastern Roman Empire or “Byzantine

Empire” still flourishes.

I. Road to the Middle Ages

C. Clovis spreads Catholicism/Christianity.D. People in the West look to the Catholic

Church for safety and guidance.

E. Elsewhere1) Coastal North Africa, the Arabian Peninsula, even Spain are under Muslim Control.2) Learning Flourishes in Muslim controlled Areas, Christianity feels threatened.

This can’t be good. If Islam

takes over what will I do?

A. Charlemagne becomes “Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire”, thanks to Pope Leo III.

B. Things are Looking Up:1) New Laws2) Education Rises3) Grants land to

Counts (nobles) 4) Feudalism …

II. A Light then, stability at the cost of liberty.

C. Feudalism1) Good Because it brought order and relative

peace.2) Bad because it kept everyone who was not a

noble poor, and caused fighting among nobles.

A. Filled the Power void in Western Roman Empire.

B. Led by the Pope who was seen as successor to Roman Emperors.

C. Controlled:1) Writing2) Science3) Thought/Philosophy

D. People did whatever the Church said because they wanted salvation, and feared excommunication.

III. “the Church” Roman Catholicism

E. Holy Roman Empire (HRE)1) European Kingdoms who were trying to keep

together the W. Roman Empire.2) Kings were crowned by the Pope.

3) Wanted to keep Islam away from Europe, so that Christianity could rule the world.

4) Religious Empire.

F. Hierarchy:

G. Religious Orders1) Definition: a group of

people who dedicate their lives to religion and follow common rules.

2) Wanted followers to:a. Live without propertyb. Serve as teachers, healers,

and friends to all living things.

H. Helping Education1) Established Schools at Cathedrals2) Students were Sons of Nobility.3) Schools became Universities as cities grew.4) Taught students in Latin, worked to preserve

Latin Language and Religious Text.

The Crusades… Coming Soon