Making of Medieval Europe

Chapter 8Part 1

Rome fell to Germanic Barbarian attacks

With Fall of Roman Empire: Stability and order Aqueducts, amphitheaters, roads in disrepair Productivity and trade declined

Social classes Clergy Nobility Peasants

Early Middle Ages

In the midst of chaos, the church represented

stability and safety Order and political leadership Authority, power and prestige Preserve classical culture (writings & arts) Provided inns and hospitals in time of war Help poor, sick and needy Leading role in education (only place of literacy) Good farmers

Growth of Medieval Church

Earthly institution

It has Biblical truths mixed with human traditions Began to give more importance to traditions rather

than Biblical truth Concerned with keeping unity NOT inner peace

through a relationship with Jesus Christ Wanted more and more people under their control

People began to look at “the church” for salvation NOT God

Roman Catholic Church

Grows in power:

Large and wealthy city All other patriarchates are in East

Antioch- (center for Paul’s missionary journeys) Alexandria (center of learning) Constantinople (Center of Byzantine empire) Jerusalem (beginning of Christian church)

Leo I (bishop of Rome) Convinces Attila the Hun NOT to attack Rome

People are overjoyed and make him “papa” (pope)

Church in Rome

“Petrine” Theory

Rome used this theory to further advance their power Based on 2 FALSE assumptions:

1. Christ appointed Peter as pope over church No Biblical evidence

2. Peter served as bishop of Rome and gave his authority to followers No biblical evidence of Peters importance over other apostles

Peter = substitute for Jesus If this is true, then by Petrine theory ALL POPES of Rome are

substitute for Jesus ( How much power does that give them?)

Warriors of the Church

Church organized like an army Clergy = servants of the church

Joined for many reasons: Ambition Wealth Luxury Power Get away from personal/family problems

Organized into different branches of service: secular and regular

Secular (“world”)• Conducted religious services• Administered sacraments• Took care of business and property

of church• Many times mixed personal business

with church business

Regular (renounced world)• Sacrificed personal ambitions• Life of social service• Retired to life of solitude and study• Lived in monastic communities• Followed strict regulations

Benedictine Rule Strict regulations on lives of monks Manual labor, prayers, study Poverty, chastity, obedience

Missionaries (later made into saints) Patrick- Ireland Boniface- Germans

Gregory I First great pope Expanded power of church blinded by superstition and ignorance

Officially embraced: Mass Penance Purgatory (temporary place of punishment of souls on their

way to heaven)

New Western Empire

Clovis of the Franks

Powerful Germanic People = Franks 481 AD- Clovis becomes boss

Takes over most of present day France Converts to Christianity (encouraged

by his wife) Requires his soldiers to convert too Believe God granted him military victory Began alliance with Roman Catholic

church Benefits for both sides

Merovingian House

Clovis dies, leaves land to his sons. Their descendants = Merovingian House Frankish kings became “do nothing kings” drunkenness,

immorality and family strife Real power behind the throne was held by MAYOR Of the

PALACE Administer palace, military, finances, and government

affairs (Kings just a puppet figure) Pepin II mayor of one of great kings in France

Son- Charles Martel stopped Muslim invasion at Battle of Tours 732 AD

Pepin the Short (son of Charles Martel)

Mayor of palace & asked pope, “Shouldn't’t I be king since I am in charge anyways?” Pope says yes, and comes to France and crowns Pepin king

This is the start of the Carolingian House, end of Merovingian house

Pope wants Pepin’s help Protection against the Lombards in Italy

Germanic people who invaded Italy and threatened Rome Pepin defeats Lombards and gives lands to Pope (become

Papal states

Birth of the Carolingian House

Pepin was the first king to be anointed with

“holy oil” by the pope This introduced the idea in western thought that

kings have the “divine right” to rule