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NAME    DATE    CLASS 

Medieval Europe

Geography and History Activity

Lesson 1 The Early Middle Ages

Location: How Christianity United EuropeEurope’s development during the Middle Ages was due in great part to geography. Most land in Europe lies within several hundred miles from the sea. Closeness to the sea encouraged trade between Europe and other places. Yet, within Europe, wide rivers and tall mountains separated regions, allowing isolated groups to develop distinct cultures. As a result, it was difficult for a single ruler to take control of all of Europe. Europe was a continent of many small kingdoms. 

Within Europe, Christianity helped unite the divided European kingdoms. Powerful leaders like Frankish King Clovis converted to Christianity. A Christian priest named Patrick brought Christianity to Ireland. Missionaries helped spread Christian beliefs to England. By A.D. 1050, most people in Western Europe were Catholic Christians. As a result, the Church influenced every aspect of life. People attended mass daily. Priests, monks, and nuns provided aid to the poor. They provided medical care to the sick. They also recorded  births and conducted weddings and funerals. In cities like Canterbury, England, people built massive churches to show their faith. The Church’s influence over the people was not enough. Church leaders also wanted Europe’s rulers to enforce the faith and establish a unified Christian empire.

Rome

Carthage

Cyrene

Ephesus

Belgrade

Sinope

Philippi

Jerusalem

Cordoba

Marseilles

Rome

Carthage

Cyrene

Ephesus

Belgrade

ConstantinopleSinope

Philippi

Damascus

Antioch

Jerusalem

Cordoba

Marseilles

M e d i t e r r a n e a n S e a

Black Sea

NorthSea

Caspian Sea

Baltic Sea

AT L AN T I CO CE AN

0Lambert Azimuthal Equal-Area projection

500 km

500 miles0

N

SE

W KEYPredominately Christian by A.D. 325Predominately Christian by A.D. 600Christian community established by A.D. 325

DOPW (Discovering our Past - World)

RESGChapter 19Map Title: no name given in specFile Name: C19_L1_wsgh_01A.aiMap Size: 39p6 x 26p0

Date/Proof: March 7, 2011 - First Proof April 20, 2011 - Second Proof

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panies.

NAME    DATE    CLASS 

Medieval Europe

Geography and History Activity Cont.

Directions Use the information from the passage and map to answer the following questions.

Understanding the Concept1. Locating In what region was Christianity most common in 

a.d. 325? In what directions did it expand to the greatest degree by a.d. 600?

2. Identifying What largely Christian areas in a.d. 600 had no Christian presence in a.d. 325?

3. Identifying According to the passage, who brought Christianity to Ireland and England?

Applying the Concept4. Making Generalizations Based on the information in the map, what generalization can you make about the spread of Christianity from a.d. 325 to a.d. 600?

5. Making Inferences Why do you think the Christian cities in Western Europe, such as Cordoba, Marseilles, and Rome, were important? 

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panies.

NAME    DATE    CLASS 

Medieval Europe

Geography and History Activity Cont.

6. Analyzing How did the spread of Christianity help unite Western Europe?

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