Europe after the Fall of Rome

Without the Roman government there was no order. Bandits and outlaws were everywhere People looked for comfort and order in their lives. Where do you think people found comfort? People found comfort in the Catholic Church

Christianity Spreads to Northern Europe. Different groups moved into former Roman land These rulers called themselves Kings Spain and Italy were already Christian. Christianity began to spread to Northern Europe.

After the fall of the Roman Empire, barbarian tribes set up kingdoms throughout Europe. This was the beginning of the Middle Ages, a time period from The Middle Ages is also called Medieval Times.

Many of the kingdoms in the North were not Christian. Christianity was only strong in places that were once part of the old Roman Empire, like Italy and Spain.

The Pope, who lived in Rome, was the leader of Christianity. He wanted to spread Christianity to all of the kingdoms in Europe. HOW DID THE POPE SPREAD CHRISTIANITY? Missionaries and Monks spread Christianity to Northern Europe.

Missionaries are people who travel around to spread their religion. Missionaries traveled throughout Europe spreading Christianity to Britain, France, Germany, Ireland, etc.

Saint Patrick is a famous missionary who converted the people of Ireland to Christianity.

Saint Patrick 400s

Monks & Monasteries Monks: Monks were religious men who lived apart from society in their own religious communities called monasteries. Monastery- a place where monks live. They wanted to get away from all of the sin in the world and devote their lives to God.

Monks and Monasteries The Holy Rule of St. Benedict

St. Benedict built the first monastery in 529 in Italy. He wrote a book called “The Rule” for monks to live by. Had to take vows of chastity, poverty, and obedience.

Restored Monastery Monte Casino, Italy Monte Cassino is a rocky hill about eighty miles (130 km) south of Rome, Italy, a mile to the west of the town of Cassino (the Roman Cassinum having been on the hill) and 520 m (1700 ft) altitude. It is noted as the site where St. Benedict of Norcia established his first monastery, the source of the Benedictine Order, around 529.RomeItalyCassinoCassinumSt. BenedictNorciamonasteryBenedictine529

Dress of the Monks

Duties of a monk were to work, study, and pray. The monastery had to be self sufficient so the monks had to make everything that they would need. (farmed, cooked, sewed) Bells told them when to work, sleep, pray, and eat.

A Center of Learning Monks hand copied ancient religious books and Greek and Roman writings. The monks made illuminated manuscripts in which the first letter of the page was large, colorful, and highly decorated. They also drew colorful pictures in the margins.

Many of the books used for education in medieval Europe were reproduced by monks. They diligently copied entire texts in a monastery room called a scriptorium, which was designed for this purpose.

Illuminated Manuscripts

Illuminated Manuscripts

IF THEY DIDN’T LEAVE THE MONASTERY, HOW DID THEY SPREAD CHRISTIANITY? They provided health care to the people who lived in the area. They also gave food to the poor and ran schools.

In the 1200s, Francis of Assisi founded a new order of monks called Friars. They traveled around to care for the sick and poor. The friars tried to teach people how to live good Christian lives. They didn’t own anything, begged for food. Did not live in monasteries. Francis of Assisi was named a Saint by the Catholic Church for his devotion to God.

St. Francis of Assisi

Dear Mom, I am visiting John at the monastery and he told me that he wanted to become a monk so that he could devote his life to God.