1. Christianity in Western Europe
Preview
Main Idea / Reading Focus
New Kingdoms in Europe
Christian European Society
Monks and Monasteries
Map: Missionaries and Monasteries in Europe
Visual Study Guide / Quick Facts
Video: The Impact of Christianity as a World Religion

2. Christianity in Western Europe
Main Idea
The spread of Christianity, largely through the work of missionaries and monks, helped unify western Europe after the collapse of the Roman Empire.
Reading Focus
What new kingdoms arose in Europe, and how did they become Christian?
What characteristics defined Christian European society?
What roles did monks and monasteries play in European religion and society?

3. Christianity Slowly Spread
New Kingdoms in Europe
The fall of Rome had different results. In the east, the Byzantine Empire flourished. In the west, no single empire arose from Rome’s ashes. Germanic groups established many small kingdoms.
Angles, Saxons among Germanic peoples establishing kingdoms in Europe
400s, migrated to Britain and seven small, independent kingdoms established
Angles, Saxons
Anglo-Saxon kingdoms were not Christian at first
Late 500s, group of monks led by Augustine of Canterbury arrived in kingdom of Kent
Anglo-Saxon England
Augustine converted many people of Kent
Named Archbishop of Canterbury
Christianity slowly spread through rest of England
Christianity Slowly Spread

4. Anglo-Saxon Kingdoms Threat to Independence Alfred the Great
Remained independent for several centuries
Threat arose that forced them to band together
Danes invaded northern England, began to march south
Alfred the Great
Anglo-Saxons united under Alfred the Great, king of Wessex
Under Alfred, Anglo-Saxon forces pushed Danes back to north
Later Alfred recognized as ruler of all England
Accomplishments
As king, Alfred reorganized army, issued own code of laws
Also improved his court’s financial system
Greatest achievement, establishing system of schools for adults, children

5. The Franks
400s, another Germanic kingdom established in former Roman province of Gaul—modern France—by Franks
Led by king named Clovis, Franks defeated neighbors to build powerful kingdom
Major Power
Clovis vowed to become Christian if troops won
496, Clovis, 3,000 Franks baptized in massive public ceremony
Franks became major power in western Europe
800s, height of Frankish power, led by Charlemagne

6. How did the Anglo-Saxons and Franks become Christians?
Summarize
How did the Anglo-Saxons and Franks become Christians?
Answer(s): Monks brought Christianity to Kent, and it slowly spread throughout England. Clovis was king of the Franks. He vowed to become a Christian if his troops won.

7. Christian European Society
When Rome fell in late 400s, Christianity mostly confined to southern Europe
By about 600, Christianity had spread northward into other parts of continent
Conversion of Anglo-Saxons, Franks helped make western Europe into largely Christian society
Following fall of Rome, Christianity appealed to many Europeans
Period known as Middle Ages, or medieval times
Many people’s lives filled with doubt, suffering hardship
Christianity offered comfort, promise of happy afterlife, sense of community

8. Spreading Christianity
Appeal of Christianity led many Europeans to want to share beliefs with others
Some became missionaries, people who travel to spread their religion
In addition to Augustine of Canterbury, many others went to new lands to spread Christian beliefs
Missionaries
Among most famous, Patrick
Went to Ireland in 400s; faced opposition, hostility, but continued to preach
At time of death around 460, nearly all Ireland was Christian
Through missionary work, Christian society, Christendom, linked most western Europe
Patrick

9. Strengthening the Papacy
Pope’s Influence
Early in Middle Ages, most popes had little authority
Most saw pope as just another bishop
Gregory the Great
Lack of authority ended with Gregory the Great
Worked to change views of papacy, increase influence
Supreme Patriarch
Gregory thought, as successor to Peter, pope should be supreme patriarch of church
Undertook reforms to strengthen papacy, canon law
Gregory’s Reforms
Encouraged missionary work and monasticism, voluntary separation from society
Encouraged people to care for poor, less fortunate

10. Sharing Beliefs Interpretations of Faith Written Explanations
As Christianity spread through diverse populations, people interpreted faith in different ways
Debates arose over questions like humanity, divinity of Jesus
Written Explanations
To prevent, resolve conflicts, influential theologians wrote explanations to set forth church’s official positions
Most influential of medieval theologians, Augustine of Hippo
Used Ideas of Plato
Augustine’s writings helped shape Christian doctrine for centuries
City of God: people should pay less attention to material world than to God’s plan for world; attempted to convince Romans God had not abandoned them

11. How did Christianity change in the early Middle Ages?
Infer
How did Christianity change in the early Middle Ages?
Answer(s): Christianity spread throughout Europe, the pope became one of the most influential figures in Europe, and different interpretations arose.

12. Monks and Monasteries
Gregory the Great increased emphasis on monasticism
Believed monks played important role in church
Monasticism gained popularity in the early Middle Ages.
Not new, first Christian monks in Egypt in the 200s
Lived alone as hermits, or in small groups
During Middle Ages, new form of monasticism developed
Monasticism
Groups of monks lived in monasteries, abided by strict code of rules
Two monastic forms common in Europe in early Middle Ages: Benedictine, Celtic
Monasteries
Both forms had similar rules about communal life, but the organization and details of life in their monasteries were quite different.

13. Monks and Monasteries
The most common form of monasticism in most of Europe during the Middle Ages was Benedictine monasticism.
Benedict of Nursia lived in Italy early 500s
Son of Roman noble, abandoned city to become hermit
Inspired others to live as he did
529, persuaded Benedict to establish monastery with himself as first abbot
In time other monasteries adopted Benedict’s teachings as guidelines
Benedictine Order; vows of poverty, obedience
Benedictines
Benedict’s rule, collection of guidelines for monks, called Benedictine Rule
Based on daily schedule; combination of prayer, labor
Organization of Benedictine Order
Each monastery a distinct entity
No central authority
Each run by abbot chosen by monks, or local noble
Benedictine Rule

14. Benedictine Monks
Benedictine monasticism made tremendous contributions to Europe
Monks ran schools that trained some of finest minds of Middle Ages
Copied ancient manuscripts, helped preserve knowledge of Greece, Rome
Monasteries became centers of wealth, power
Kings, nobles donated money, gifts in exchange for prayers said on their behalf
As they became wealthier, monasteries drawn into local politics
Many monks acted as advisers, aides to local, national rulers in Europe

15. Scholars, Missionaries
Celtic Monasteries
Other branch of monasticism developed in Ireland
Celtic monks more ascetic, or severe, than Benedictines
Fasted and spent days in solitary contemplation
Built monasteries on small islands to separate monks, rest of society; believed isolation helped focus on faith
Led by abbots with more authority than Benedictine counterparts
Since Ireland had no large cities, people looked to abbots of local monasteries for spiritual guidance
Abbots’ Authority
Lindisfarne Gospels among greatest artistic achievements of Middle Ages
Monks were scholars, ran schools; preserved ancient knowledge
Others active missionaries in British Isles; built monasteries in Europe
Scholars, Missionaries

17. What contributions did monks make to Europe?
Make Generalizations
What contributions did monks make to Europe?
Answer(s): ran schools, preserved the knowledge of Greece and Rome, served as advisers and aides to European rulers

19. Video The Impact of Christianity as a World Religion
Click above to play the video.