Middle Ages Vocabulary

1. Middle Ages Vocabulary • Vernacular- The change of the Latin language from region to region. • Monasteries- Religious communities that were the only centers of learning during the Middle Ages. • Charlemagne- Reunited Western Europe for the first time since Rome, spread Christianity, and became the first emperor of the Holy Roman Empire.

2. Warm up • What do you think is meant by the term “Dark Ages”?

3. The Middle Ages

4. Middle Ages • What does that mean? • Begin after the fall of the Roman Empire • From 500AD-1500AD • Basically Europe was in shambles

5. What happened to Rome? • The Western Roman Empire fell to a series of Germanic Invasions.

6. So, how does the downfall of such a major Empire affect Europe as a whole? What could happen?

7. These things happened to cause society to decline greatly: • Trade Disrupted: Pirates and Bandits broke up trade networks. Businesses collapse and cities stop acting as economic centers.

8. Downfall of Cities: Cities are also abandoned as centers of government. • Population shifts: Nobles & Peasants move to rural areas to avoid fighting and survive by growing their own food.

9. Education not important • The Germanic invaders could not read or write • Language • Latin changed from region to region and became vernacular • By 800s, French, Spanish, Italian, German and English are spoken instead

10. So what kinds of Kingdoms began to form? • Small Germanic kingdoms began to form but their borders changed constantly because of war! • The Roman Empire was broken up in many ways.

11. What stood “strong” throughout this turmoil? • The Church • So, how does the “success” of the church impact this region? • Christianity was spreading! Germanic invaders were converting • Missionaries were spreading the faith • Christianity becomes the only thing that unifies the people of Europe at this time!!!

12. So, how can the church help all these new people? • Monasteries were set up to help people • Monasteries were set up by Monks • Later, came Nuns who lived in convents • How else did these religious people help move Europe in the right direction? • Set up schools, maintained libraries, copied books • Most educated people in Europe • The only centers of learning

13. Who was Charlemagne? • Son of Pepin the Short • Came to power in 771 • Reunites Western Europe for first time since Roman Empire & spreads Christianity • Crowned Emperor of the “Holy Roman Empire” by Pope Leo III • Signals joining of Germanic power, church, and heritage of Rome

14. What was Charlemagne’s government like? • Limited role of nobility • Landlords called “counts” governed counties • Charlemagne regularly visited all parts of his Kingdom to make sure everything was proper • How did Charlemagne revive culture? • Surrounded himself with scholars and encouraged learning • Had monasteries open schools to train monks and priests

15. What happened after Charlemagne died? • Rulers were weak • Empire was divided into 3 Kingdoms • New waves of invaders attacked Europe • Political turmoil & warfare lead to a new system of governing…Feudalism

16. Reflection • Name 1 reason for the decline of European society after the fall of Rome? • What government system developed after Charlemagne’s death? • What significance did the Church hold during this time?