1.  Political Developments  The Rise of Christianity  Education and Culture  Social History

2. Political Developments 3rd c. Roman Empire encountering difficulties 284-305 Reign of Diocletian 306-37 Reign of Constantine Constantinople

3. Political Developments 3rd c. Start of barbarian invasions of Roman Empire 410 Visigoths sack Rome 455 Vandals sack Rome 475-76 Reign of Romulus Augustulus as last western Roman emperor

4. MerovingiansCarolingians Charlemagne (r. 768-814) Capetians Holy Roman Empire Feudal System Political Developments

5. Rise of Christianity 303 Last great persecution of Christians under Diocletian 306-37 Reign of Constantine 379-95 Reign of Theodosius I Church Fathers: St Ambrose (c. 339-97), St Jerome (c. 342-420), St Augustine of Hippo (354-430) 590-604 Pontificate of Gregory I (the Great)

6. Pope Archbishops Patriarchs of Jerusalem, Constantinople, Antioch and Alexandria Bishops Priests Deacons Subdeacons, Lectors, Acolytes, Doorkeepers, Exorcists, etc. Secular clergy (saeculum) Rise of Christianity

7. Holy Rule of St Benedict of Nursia (c. 450-543) Regular clergy (regula) Involvement of church in individual’s life Rise of Christianity

8. Other issues: Relations of church and state Corrupt nature of papacy in 10th c., with attempts by German emperors to sort this out Simony Clerical marriage

9. Rise of Christianity Other issues: Monastic reform movement in 10th c. led by Cluny Millennial expectations

10. Education and Culture Mostly under church auspices Latin and non-Latin works Various genres of writing Various forms of art, incl. manuscript illuminations, architectural decoration

11. Charlemagne (r. 768-814) Louis the Pious (r. 814-40) Alcuin of York (c. 735-804) The Venerable Bede (672/73-735) Ecclesiastical History of the English People Education and Culture

12. manorial/seignorial system 9th-11th c. peasants becoming serfs in exchange for protection Social History

13. 10th-11th c. Growth of towns End 11th c. Towns obtaining privileges from lords in exchange for rents Women: position in mediaeval society? Social History