Unit: Medieval Europe
Lesson Title:
Europe after the Fall of Rome
( See textbook pages 234 – 236)
As the western Roman Empire fell, Europe became divided
into many small states ruled by kings (kingdoms).
The creation of these kingdoms marked the beginning
of the Middle Ages (medieval period ) in Europe,
lasting from about 500 to 1500.
At the beginning of the Middle Ages, many of the
kingdoms of northern Europe were not Christian.
As time passed, missionaries and monks would
slowly spread Christianity into northern Europe.
Over the years the popes—leaders of the Roman (western)
Catholic Church--sent missionaries to teach people in the
northern kingdoms about Christianity.
Missionaries are people who try to convert others to a
particular religion. The Christian missionaries were
very successful in northern Europe.
Missionaries were first sent to Britain and then to what is
now France and Germany.
Eventually most people in these places became
Christian.
Saint Columban and Saint Patrick were missionaries
that spread Christianity in Great Britain and beyond.
Christian Monks also helped spread
Christianity in medieval Europe.
In class reading activity
Read “Monks”and “The Benedictine Rule” (page 236).
Answer these questions:
1. How were medieval monks and missionaries different?
2. Copy this outline of a monastery. Inside, list two rules
that monks had to follow. Outside, list three
contributions monks made to society.
Monastic Life
Can you imagine what it was like to be a medieval monk
in northern Europe?
Right Side Notebook Activity
Draw a sensory figure of a monk that would explain
what his life was like in early medieval Europe.
I see…
I smell…
I hear…
I feel…
I touch…