1. Intro to the Dark and Middle Ages
Global History I

2. Disruption of Trade Merchants’ businesses were destroyed by barbarians
Unsafe to trade
No Trade = No Cultural Diffusion

3. Downfall of Cities People retreat to countryside to evade invaders
Lack of central government administration
More people live in rural areas than urban centers

4. Decline of Learning
Germanic tribes were illiterate and had no written language
Illiteracy + Lack of Written Language = NO VALUE ON EDUCATION

5. Loss of Common Language
Germanic invaders did not speak Latin
Various dialects form from mixing Latin and Germanic languages
By the 800s, French and Spanish had evolved
No Common Language = NO UNITY

7. Germanic-style Government
Allegiance to family tribes as opposed to a state
No central authority; lack of an emperor
No loyalty to a king; no “Hail Caesar”

8. The Franks & Christianity
The leader of the Franks, Clovis, converted to Christianity to appease his wife and to repay God for a victory (similar to ____________________)
Rome supports Clovis & aids his military campaign to unite all Franks

9. The Franks & Christianity
The Church builds monasteries to convert German
Monastery a religious community of men (monks) who have given up their possessions to devote themselves to a life of prayer & worship

10. The Franks & Christianity
Importance of monks
Opened schools & maintained libraries
Human printing press  copied books; preserved aspects of Roman intellect

12. Gregory I Pope Gregory the Great increases the power of the papacy by
Becoming involved in the secular world
Raising armies
Giving charity to the poor
Gregory believed the people of Europe were his responsibility