During the Medieval period in Europe, several key events helped establish political and religious systems: 1) Germanic tribes migrated into the weakened Roman Empire and established kingdoms like the Merovingian dynasty in Gaul. Clovis converted to Christianity and had thousands baptized. 2) The Carolingian dynasty rose to power, with Pepin the Short gaining the title of King with papal approval. His son Charlemagne was crowned Roman Emperor, increasing papal authority. 3) When Charlemagne's empire fragmented after his death, the lack of strong central rule led to the rise of feudalism and manorialism across Europe. Manors formed the basic social unit and the Roman

1. Medieval Europe

2. European Kingdoms
• German tribes migrated into Roman Empire
• As the Roman Empire weakened, the German
tribes increased in power.
• These German tribes became the foundation
of Medieval Europe

3. Merovingian House
• Clovis was the leader
• Cried out to God during a battle for victory
and promised to be baptized if he won
• He ordered 3000 of his soldiers to be baptized
• It was divided between his four sons when he
died

7. • This house lost influence due to careless and
immoral living
• The Mayor of the palace became the real
power in the kingdom (leading palace official)

8. Carolingian House
• Pepin II was mayor of
the palace
• Charles Martel was his
son and he expanded
the kingdom
• Pepin the Short was
Charles’ son and he
received permission
from the pope to take
the title of King.

10. • When Pepin the Short died, his sons Carloman
and Charles ruled together
• Carloman died and Charles was the sole ruler
• Had title of Charlemagne which means
“Charles the Great”

12. • Pope placed a crown on Charlemagne’s head
and proclaimed him Roman emperor
• Later popes would point to this event and
claim authority over kings

13. Coronation of Charlemagne

14. Pepin II
Mayor of the Palace
Charles
Martel
The Hammer
Pepin the
Short
Received title of King
Carloman
died
Charles
Charlemagne

15. Under Charlemagne
• Education was important
– His court was a place of learning and scholarship
– Monasteries became centers of Western
knowledge

16. Feudalism
• When Charlemagne died, Europe was divided
among his sons.
• It resulted in a division of Europe and a lack of
strong leadership
• This all led to the rise of feudalism
• Feudalism: A system whereby European land
was subdivided from king to nobles and then
to serfs in exchange for loyalty and allegiance

18. Feudalism Pyramid

19. Life on a manor
• The estate on which most people lived was
called the manor
• Few could read and so had to listen to priests
• Often what was taught in word and picture
was very different from what is found in the
Bible

20. Papal Power
• Gradually the Roman Church became a
powerful member of medieval society
• Leo I was the first pope
• They continued to gradually gain more power
• Pope Innocent III claimed to have supreme
authority over all

21. Pope Innocent III

22. Problems with the Roman Church
1. Pastors were forbidden to marry and this
went against the Creation Mandate
2. Believed the bread and wine changed into
the body and blood of Christ during mass
3. Heresy was punishable by torture or death
Heresy: (false teaching)

23. The Sacraments of the Roman Church
1. Baptism (to remove original sin)
2. Confirmation (to receive the Holy Spirit)
3. Confession (to receive forgiveness from a priest)
4. Communion (primary sacrament to receive
redemption from sin)
5. Matrimony (controlled by the church)
6. Holy Orders
7. Last Rites (anointing of sick prepares one for
death)

24. Christianity in Medieval Europe
• Many people were baptized into a form of
Christianity that imitated their pagan worship
• Medieval Christianity was very different from
biblical Christianity
• People were ignorant of the Bible’s most basic
teachings
• The Bible was accepted as God’s word

25. Ch. 5 Sec. 1
Discussion Question
• How did papal power increased in Europe, and
what were the consequences?