1. Europe after the Fall of Rome
Chapter 9, Section 2

2. Christianity Spreads to Northern Europe
When the Roman Empire fell, it broke apart into “states”.
Each “state” had it’s own king.
By the early 500s, Europe was divided into many small kingdoms.
This began the Middle Ages, or medieval period, which lasted from 500 to 1500 AD.

3. Missionaries
Missionary – someone who tries to convert (change) people to their religion. The pope sent missionaries from Rome to northern Europe to spread Christianity. Some missionaries became saints (after they died) because they were so holy.

4. St. Patrick – AD 400s
The pope sent missionaries to Britain, France, and Germany.
St. Patrick wasn’t sent by the pope.
He had been kidnapped and taken to Ireland, but he escaped.
Later, he came back to Ireland to teach them about Christianity.

5. Monks
A monk is a religious man who lives with other monks in an isolated (separate) community called a monastery.
Monasteries were very strict and monks had to follow a lot of rules to help them be godly.
These rules included what they wore, ate and how they acted.

6. Benedict – early 500s
Benedict was an Italian monk who created the Benedictine Rule.
His followers were called Benedictine monks.
Under his rules, monks weren’t allowed to own any property, for example.

7. What Monks Did Provided health care and help to the poor and needy.
Ran schools and copied books to help people learn to read and write.
Collected and saved ancient Greek and Roman writing.
Served as scribes (secretaries) and advisors to rulers.
Spread Christianity to new areas because they built monasteries in remote areas that missionaries didn’t travel to.

8. The Franks Build an Empire
480s – Clovis conquered France.
Late 700s – Charlemagne, a brilliant warrior and strong king, led the Franks to build an empire.
His empire included parts of Germany, France, Austria, Italy and Spain.
He was a Christian and built schools all over Europe.

9. Invaders Threaten Europe
Muslim armies came from the south into France and Italy.
Magyars came into Europe from the east.
Vikings, the most frightening invaders, came from the north (Scandinavia).

10. Vikings Raided Britain, Ireland, and other parts of western Europe.
Looted (robbed) towns and monasteries.
Kidnapped people to sell into slavery.
Could sail their ships up rivers, which meant they could reach inland cities too.