1. Topic 1: The Early Middle Ages
Lesson 1

2. Political and Religious Divisions
Post-Roman Empire:
Political and Religious Divisions
Two Christian civilizations develop out of the splitting of Roman Empire.
East (will practice Greek Orthodoxy)
Byzantine Empire
West (will practice Roman Catholicism)
Feudal kingdoms
Civilizations expand and spread north largely because of: 1) religious missionaries and 2) inability to convert one another.
Religions are culturally, and later religiously, separate

3. Justinian (Reigns 527-565) Most significant Byzantine ruler
1) Military gains and huge expansion to rebuild original Roman Empire
Gains in North Africa and Italy
2) Systemizes Roman legal code
Influences future law codes in Europe
Reduces legal confusion; united and organized the new empire
3) Projects to renovate Constantinople
Hagia Sophia – engineering and architectural achievements (dome)
4) Makes Greek language official

5. The Empire Declines
Withstood attacks from Persians, Slavs, Vikings, Huns, Arabs, & Turks
600’s-700’s Arab armies conquer Egypt and Syria and besiege Constantinople
The empire survives, but is severely weakened
From Major Power to Minor Power

7. Review: Causes of the Middle Ages
Fall of Rome was caused by Germanic Tribes invading
Invasions led to:
Disruption of trade: merchant trade collapsed and Europe’s economic centers were destroyed. Money also became scarce.
Downfall of cities: cities were abandoned as centers of administration
Europe became rural: Roman cities left without strong leadership

8. Causes Cont.
Decline of learning: Germanic invaders could not read or write. Learning became less important as people moved to rural areas
Loss of a common language: Latin changed as Germanic people mixed with Roman population
Loss of established government: Germanic tribes did not have written laws nor an orderly government for ruling purposes

9. Effects: How did the Middle Ages change Europe
New Germanic Kingdoms emerge (Holy Roman Empire)
Rise of the feudal system in Europe
Power of the Christian church grows rapidly and so does the popes power
Europe became rural
No major emphasis on learning
New languages replace Latin
Early signs of modern European countries start to appear (England and France)

10. Germanic Kingdoms 400-700 AD Tribes vying for control of Europe:
Goths
Vandals
Saxons
Franks
Farmers and herders
No cities or written laws
Tribal counsels and warrior class rule

11. Advance of Islam Islam begin around 622 AD in the Arabian Peninsula
Began to spread throughout North Africa, Palestine, and Spain.
Created fear among the Christian Kingdoms of Europe

12. Charles Martel Led the fight against Muslim armies in France
Victorious at the Battle of Tours (732)

13. A Unified Christian Europe
Martel’s grandson, Charlemagne, allies with the Pope.
Declared Emperor of Rome
Works to spread Christianity and convert pagan peoples in his realm

14. Charlemagne continued…
Rules through Provincial leaders & missi dominci
Creates centers of learning and revives the Latin language

15. Invaders Charlemagne’s death in 814 leads to a fight over the kingdom.
Treaty of Verdun: splits the kingdom in 2
Muslims, Magyars, and Vikings simultaneously conquer and plunder what remains of the Byzantine Empire and the kingdoms of Europe.