
Taking place as a result of the gradual
decline of the Roman Empire

Primary unifying force in Western
Europe = Roman Catholic Church (THE
church)
How?
1) the Pope anointed Holy Roman Emperors
 2) missionaries carried Christianity to
Germanic Tribes
 3) Church served social, political and religious
needs of the people

1. Classical heritage of Rome – Roman culture
still important, even though in decline –
giving way to Germanic culture
2. Christian Beliefs – most of Western Europe,
including more Germanic Tribes
3. Customs of Germanic Tribes – ex: oral
tradition of song and language, no written
language, violence and warfare
1. Disruption of Trade – frequent invasions
caused trade to break down, causing a
decline in cities and a lack of money in
Western Europe
2. Downfall of Cities – cities were abandoned,
lack of leadership
3. Population Shifts – people left cities for rural
areas
4. Decline of Learning – invaders couldn’t read
or write, Roman culture in decline,
knowledge of Greek nearly disappeared, only
literate people = monks/priests
5. Loss of a Common Language – different
dialects of Latin gave rise to Romance
languages
1. Roman authority declined, while church
authority grew
2. Monasteries preserved Greco-Roman
cultural achievements – monks were the few
who could read and write = literate
3. Missionaries carried Christianity and Latin
alphabet to Germanic tribes.
4. Clovis converted the Franks to Christianity
5. Pope Leo III anointed Charlemagne as the
Holy Roman Emperor in 800 A.D.
6. Parish priests served religious and social
needs of the people
Background:
1. Invaders destroyed Roman ability to protect
people of Western Europe

2. people, in response to this lack of
protection, entered into feudal agreements
with land-holding lords who promised them
protection
Fief – piece of land
Lord – landowner, granted land to a vassal in
exchange for loyalty and military service
 Vassal – one who received land from a lord,
pledged loyalty and military service
 Serf – workers/peasants who were
tied/bound to the land – worked to maintain
the manor



Medieval Manor – lord’s estate, houses and
land
-had its own rigid class structure and selfsufficient economy
King
Nobles/
Church Officials
Knights
Serfs