• 12/18 Focus:– The Christian church helped to unify

western Europe after the collapse of the Roman Empire.

• Do Now:– Identify one effect that the fall of Rome and

invasions by Germanic tribes had on western Europe?

The Middle Ages

Germanic Kingdoms The Power of the Church

Impact of Germanic Impact of Germanic Invasions and Collapse of Invasions and Collapse of

RomeRome• Roman

Empire replaced by small kingdoms throughout western Europe

Germanic KingdomsGermanic Kingdoms

Rome• Loyalty to public

government and law

Germanic Tribes• Loyalty based on

family ties and personal loyalties

• Chiefs led bands of warriors who pledged loyalty to him

• Lived in small communities

The FranksThe Franks• Germanic tribe

that controlled Gaul – France

The FranksThe Franks• Clovis I – Frankish King– Converted to

Christianity in 496– Allied with the

Church • Church supported

military campaigns against other Germanic tribes

• Clovis converted other Germanic tribes to Christianity

• Church gains political power

Ivory carving of Clovis converting to Christianity. He is being baptized by a bishop

The Church in the Middle The Church in the Middle AgesAges

• Two major Christian Churches – Orthodox Christian

Church • Byzantine

– Catholic Church• Western Europe

The Church in the Middle The Church in the Middle AgesAges

• Catholic Church led by a pope based out of Rome – Papacy; Papal – Believed by

followers to be the spiritual representative of Jesus on Earth

The Church in the Middle The Church in the Middle AgesAges

• Catholic church provided order and security after the fall of Rome– Served the spiritual

needs of followers – Became a powerful

political force• Had authority over

powerful rulers

Nuns and MonksNuns and Monks• Devoted their life

to prayer and good works

• Lived in monasteries or convents – Religious

communities– Had to follow

strict rules • Benedictine rule

Nuns and Monks

• Took an oath of poverty

• Provided social support to communities– Helped the sick and

the poor– Educated children

• Preserved ancient writings by copying Greek and Roman texts

A Medieval MonkA Medieval Monk’’s Days DayA Medieval MonkA Medieval Monk’’s Days Day

Nuns and Monks

• Missionaries – Nuns, monks,

and priests who went out to spread Christian teachings

– Worked to convert Germanic tribes and Celts in Britain

– Example: St. Patrick setup the church in Ireland

Role of the Church in Everyday Life

• Church provided spiritual protection in exchange for land, protection and crops

• Christians attended village churches led by priests (clergy)

Economic Power of the Church• Church required

Christians to pay a tithe – Tax – Required to pay 10% of

income• Church became very

wealthy • Became the largest

landholder in Europe

Political Power of the Church

• Church had its own laws and courts– Canon Law

• Claimed authority over secular rulers– Secular= not having to

do with religion– Could excommunicate

rulers who did not obey the church

– Banned from the church

ClosureClosure

• Describe the impact of Clovis I conversion to Christianity on the Catholic Church?

• Identify how monks preserved Roman and Greek knowledge.