LG 1: Explain how Roman Catholicism and Eastern Orthodoxy were unifying social and political forces in

Western Europe and Byzantine Europe and identify the impact of ideas contained in Justinian’s Code of Laws.

• Western Rome fell to barbarian invaders in 476 A.D.

• Europe was left with no central government & no system of defense

• Invading groups set up kingdoms throughout the west

• These kingdoms were often at war with one another

• Trade was disrupted, cities abandoned,people moved to the countryside for farming

• Franks = largest Germanic kingdom

• Led by Clovis

• Grew up Pagan in France, married a Catholic (Clotilde)

• Converted to Catholicism after unexpectedly winning his battle

• Gained power, expanded the Frankish empire, & spread Catholicism throughout Western Europe over a 30 year period

The Catholic Church survived the fall of Rome

The church was the only thing remaining that provided order and security to the people in the west

Christianity served as a cultural unifier◦ Shared beliefs, ideas, goals = a community

Gothic architecture & grand cathedrals◦ Flying buttresses, stained glass

Nobleman who united the Frankish kingdoms

732 AD – The Crusades

◦ Charles Martel & the Catholic Franks defeated the Moors (Muslims) at the Battle of Tours

Unexpected victory

◦ This prevented the Moors from invading Europe

◦ IF THIS HAD NOT HAPPENED…

Western Europe might have become part

of the Islamic Empire

• After Charles Martel’s death, his son Pepin took over – appointed King by the pope, then his grandson Charlemagne took power

• Charlemagne: the Holy Roman Emperor

• Most important leader of the Franks

–Ruled 768-814 A.D.

–Time of education, religion, and power

–Unified Christian land in Europe into one single empire: The Holy Roman Empire

–signified that Western Europe was now totally separate from the Byzantine

http://www.history.com/top

ics/charlemagne/videos/th

e-reign-of-charlemagne

The Holy Roman Empire collapsed due to new threats of invasion (Slavs, Magyars, Muslims, Vikings)

led to the system of feudalism, a system of military service in exchange for land◦ We’ll learn about feudalism tomorrow!

LG 1: Explain how Roman Catholicism and Eastern Orthodoxy were unifying social and political forces in

Western Europe and Byzantine Europe and identify the impact of ideas contained in Justinian’s Code of Laws.

After the fall of Rome, the eastern empire continued for another 1,000 years◦ Eastern half= Byzantine Empire

◦ Much more stable than the west, which collapsed

Emperor Constantine moved the capital city to Byzantium and renamed it Constantinople

Constantinople: cosmopolitan city with LOTS of trade; surrounded by water on 3 sides◦ Song link

1 million+ citizens!

One of the greatest Byzantine Emperors Wife – Theodora

Rebuilt the empire after a revolt

Built the Hagia Sophia – grand church

Reconquered parts of North Africa, Italy, and Spain

Created a systematic body of laws – Justinian’s Code ◦ Became the basis for

many law codes in the western world today

Empire organized through a bureaucracy

Officials were trained in Hellenistic classics (remember Greek influence)

Regulated trade, taxes, and prices of goods

Western Empire – spoke Latin

Byzantine Empire – spoke Greek

Western Europe –◦ Continued

to practice Catholicism

Byzantine Empire –◦ Began

Eastern Orthodox Church