intro to the dark and middle ages global history i
TRANSCRIPT
Examine this painting.
What is the artist
attempting to illustrate about
the Dark Ages/medieval
period?
Disruption of Trade Merchants’ businesses were destroyed by
barbarians Unsafe to trade No Trade = No Cultural Diffusion
Downfall of Cities People retreat to countryside to evade
invaders Lack of central government administration More people live in rural areas than urban
centers
Decline of Learning Germanic tribes were illiterate and had no
written language Illiteracy + Lack of Written Language = NO
VALUE ON EDUCATION
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
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”
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
Clovis: 466 – 511
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
The Franks & Christianity Importance of monks
Opened schools & maintained libraries Human printing press copied books; preserved
aspects of Roman intellect
Gregory I (Papacy 590 – 604) 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