The Early Middle Ages in Europe

(The Dark Ages!)

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?

• As Rome fell apart, the Church began to have more influence on people’s lives.– (Power of the Church

increases.)– Over time, the Bishop

of Rome began to assert themselves as the head of the church.

• Pope (Papacy)• Gregory the Great

(500’s AD)– Establish Papal States

• Pope has political power.

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

– 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

• Most powerful kingdom = 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)– 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…

Changes in Byzantine Christianity• By 800s AD, the Byzantine Empire had

developed a distinctly different culture from Western Europe.– Greek influences.

• Major differences in their practice of Christianity.– Emperor was head of state and

church.• Patriarch

– Believed God had commanded their state to preserve the true Christian faith.

– Byzantine Iconoclasms• Bans on religious images and icons.• Artistically enriched churches,

ceremonies, and decorations.• Question: How will these beliefs

relate to the authority of the Pope?• Byzantines did not accept sole

authority of the Pope.– East-West Schism (1054AD)

• Byzantine Church and Catholic Church formally separate

– Eastern Orthodox Church

Western Europe

“Carolingian” Empire• If you recall…

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

• Clovis?

• Charlemagne leads from 768 to 814AD.– Expands the Frankish

Kingdom• “Carolingian Empire”

– Period of relative stability during the Dark Ages.

• Forced conversions to Christianity.

Carolingian Renaissance• Carolingian

Renaissance– Intellectual revival

started by Charlemagne.• Renewed interest in

Greek and Roman works.

• Primarily in monasteries.

– Carolingian Monks copied Roman and Greek works!

» Sometimes the only copies we have left!

Roman Emperor Charlemagne• In 800AD, the Pope

granted Charlemagne the title of Roman emperor!– People were still fond of

the idea of a Roman Empire.

– Symbolized the joining of Romans, Christians, and Germans.

• Other symbolic titles?– Shows that the Church

was the real power in Europe.

• Establishes precedent of a Holy Roman Empire– Not literally a Roman

Empire, just spiritually.

A Darker Dark Age?• Charlemagne died in 814 A.D.

– What happens to an empire when a strong leader dies?

• As a result, the Carolingian Empire was divided into three parts – one to each grandson

• Fought each-other for control of empire!

• Also invaded by…– Vikings!– Magyars

• (Asia)

– Arabic Empire!Arabic Empire!

Magyars!

Vikings!