Middle Ages Notes #1500-1000 AD

I. End of the Roman Empire (476 AD)A. Barbarian Invasions and the collapse of the Roman Government .

I. End of the Roman Empire (476 AD)B. Results in the Dark Ages or Medieval Period (500 -1000 AD)

1. Violence, slaughter, insecurity2. Collapse of trade3. Decline and destruction of towns4. Loss of literacy and common language 5. Decline of education

II. Decentralization of AuthorityA. Power remains with local lords

1. Feudalism (political organization)a. Kings depend on nobles for military serviceb. Lords (nobles) control the manor (economy)c. Self-sufficiency of the manor

1. Everything produced on the individual manor

II. Decentralization of AuthorityA. Power remains with local lords

2. Society held together by feudal and manorial obligations; local, rather than state loyalties.

III. Medieval SocietyA. Classical heritage of Rome.B. Christian beliefs C. Customs of Germanic tribes (Northern Europe, England, Germany=Christmas tree, Netherlands)

IV. The Roman Catholic ChurchA. The Roman Catholic Church grew in importance after Roman authority declined after 476 AD.

1. It became the unifying force in Western Europe. B. During the Middle Ages, the Pope anointed the Holy Roman Emperors, missionaries carried Christianity to the Church served the social, political and religious needs of the people.

V. Influence of the Roman Catholic ChurchA. Roman (Secular) authority declined, while church

authority grew.1. Monasteries preserved Greco-Roman cultural achievements. (Monks copied the books, no print)2. Missionaries carried Christianity and the Latin alphabet to Germanic tribes.3. Parish priests served the religious and social needs of the people

V. Influence of the Roman Catholic Church

V. Influence of the Roman Catholic ChurchB. The Bishop of Rome (Pope) became the strongest political leader in Europe.

1. Claimed spiritual authority over all Christians because the Apostle Peter was the first Bishop.

2. Catholic Church taught that all were sinners and must participate in the sacraments, Baptism, confirmation, matrimony, anointing the sick.

3. The Pope anointed Charlemagne Holy Roman Emperor in 800 A.D.

V. Influence of the Roman Catholic ChurchB. The Bishop of Rome (Pope) became the strongest political

leader in Europe.