L31_ch09-Early Middle Ages

Timeline: 5th - 9th C

Topic: The “Dark Age” & the Roman Catholic Church
FQ: How did the Roman Catholic Church provide leadership in the 'Dark Age'?

Main Idea: The Roman Catholic Church is born and raised during the Early Middle (Dark) Ages. In ~450
years, it faces many crisis. Religion and politics will shape future doctrine of the Church. Church 'fathers'
must be political and religious leaders to fill a void brought about by the collapse of the Roman Empire.

PO: SWBAT...
● Explain how the Church acquired a political role after the collapse of Rome.
● Describe how the Church established order as a religious institution.
● Evaluate the validity, from the Roman Catholic perspective, of the supremacy of the Roman Bishop.
● Identify strengths and weaknesses of the young Church during the Early Middle Ages.

Do Now: Word Puzzle

I. The Church is Born in the 'Dark Age'.

A. Monasticism
1. Christian 'orders' of monks are created. Stability in the non-urban areas is being achieved
by the construction and operation of monasteries (St. Benedict, 6th C. Abbot- Benedictine
Rules).
2. Monasteries are a place of refuge and a new future for many who flock to the monastic
order.
3. The Monastery
a. Basilica: A church whose shape resembles a 'cross'.1
b. Cloister: Often located at or near the center (probably the most secluded spot) of
the monastery. It is here that the monk would spend time contemplating and tending
to gardens.
c. Reliquary: Storage area for securing and displaying relics.2
d. Treasury: Storage room for objects of ritualistic importance. These objects fell
within certain categories. A few of these were:
● Primary Church Service Objects => Chalice
● Secondary Church Service Objects => Altar Crosses
● Tertiary Church Service Objects => Censors (for burning incense)
● Reliquaries => Designs included Altar, Bust, and Vessel reliquaries.
These objects were often fashioned from precious gold and Silver. These
objects, under certain circumstances, were melted down. For example,
when...:
o Funds were needed by the monastery.
o Funds were needed by the monarch.
o Seized by invading armies.
o Design changes brought about by changes in the liturgy.
Any disruption in the supply of precious metals would not bode well for a
monastery. Supplies of gold and silver kept the monastery from recycling its
liturgical items. Hence, many monastic objects never survived to this day because of
the unpredictable precious metal supply.
B. The Church's Influence Grows
1. Increasing Secular Power
a. Gregory I espouses the concept of ‘Christendom’ 3 based on the Petrine Doctrine.4
b. The remaining Church presence, in shrinking cities and towns, begin to fill the
secular power void by funding & providing services.
2. Scholarship: Literacy remains alive within the protective walls of a monastery and local
churches.
a. Reading and copying scripture
b. Copying classical texts.
3. Conversion of 'Barbarians'
a. Clovis, the Frank, unifies the Franks and converts to Roman Catholicism (from
Arianism) in the 5th C. The diffusion of Roman Catholicism and native religious
 beliefs produced a brand of Christianity known as Arian Christianity- which the
(Roman Catholic) Church labels as a Heresy.
b. By the end of the 10th C., the Northmen (Vikings) are converting as well.
4. Politics & Religion in Post Roman (Western) Europe
The matter of Charlemagne & Pope Adrian I5
C. The Church Suffered during the ‘Dark Ages’.
1. Sacking of Monasteries
2. Growing Illiteracy among Clergymen
3. Corrupt Church Officials
4. Scandal-ridden Papal Selection Process
5. The Great Schism6
6. Church officials elevate secular feudal responsibilities (e.g. as vassals) over their religious
responsibilities (e.g. tending to the religious needs of their parishioners).

II. Summary Activity:TBA

1
Basilicas were structures within which meetings & gatherings occurred during the Roman period. They could often be found in the
Forum. As the pagan era gave way to the Christian, an effort to disassociate the structure (which would now be used for gatherings
of the faithful) from its pagan origins called focus to the distinctive shape. The structure had a cross-like shape that became
increasingly pronounced as the architectural design evolved in the Christian era. By the 5th C. basilicas and the 'cross' shape were a
marriage of form and faith. Myths developed that strengthened Christian origins of the basilica design (eg. involving the spice Basil).
2
To be a relic, the object must be closely associated with a significant religious figure from the past. An example would be The
Shroud of Turin. This object is believed to be Jesus' burial cloth.
3
Christendom is a territorial conception of the Christian community. It is a secular expression of the authority that Church leaders
can exercise over land inhabited by the faithful. The implication here is that the head of the Church (Pope) can exercise authority like
a king over his kingdom.
4
This doctrine, developed and strengthened from as early as the 2nd century, is formerly presented by Leo I (4th C.). It becomes
the justification for the supremacy of the Bishop of Rome (the future Pope) over all other clergymen in Christendom. The title of
Pope isn't routinely used until after the 6th C.
5
http://www.encyclopedia.com/html/section/Charlema_AchievementsofHisReign.asp Also, a source of definitions for certain terms
appearing in this lesson. Borrowed and edited by Mr. V for classroom use (Feb. 2004).
6
The Great Schism => Schism means to divide or split. In 787, 7th ecumenical council, convened by Byzantine Empress Irene, is
called to refute iconoclasm. The council declared that images ought to be venerated (but not worshiped) and ordered them restored
in churches. Practically the only Western delegates were the papal legates, but popes have confirmed the conciliar canons. It is the
last council accepted by both the Roman Catholic Church and the Orthodox Eastern Church as ecumenical. In 1054, the Pope of the
Roman Catholic (Western) Church excommunicates the Patriarch of the Eastern (Greek) Orthodox Church and vice-versa. The last
ecumenical council attended and supported by both churches was the 7th ecumenical council in 787. That council refuted
Iconoclasm. The split remains up to this day.
This should not be confused with The Great Schism of the 14th - 15th C. That rift was entirely within the Western Church
when two popes were elected by cardinals. Multiple popes aggravated loyalties and revealed Europe’s fragmented religious and
political condition. The Council of Constance (1414 - 1418) settled the dispute by electing a new pope and accepting the resignation
of the two competing popes.

Curriculum Linkage (PDF file)

Unit Two: Expanding Zones of Exchange & Encounter (500 - 1200 CE)
Section F 5, 6
Materials/Sources: Refer to the course calendar for additional materials, assignments and pertinent due dates.
● Perspectives on the Past
● Slide Presentation
● <http://www.bartleby.com/67/407.html> Borrowed and edited by Mr. V for classroom use (Feb. 2004).
● Information on Monasteries and their role in Medieval society was predominantly derived from notes taken at a teachers'
symposium sponsored by the Metropolitan Museum of Art, 21 May 2001. The focus was Medieval Art: The Cloisters
Collection.