Dark Ages: Fall from Rome’s Glory

Explain what happened after the fall of Explain what happened after the fall of the Roman Empire?the Roman Empire?

BackgroundBackground• Dark Ages also called : Medieval Europe or Middle Ages

Covers about 500 AD -1500 AD (1000 years)• Most of our influences in this country are European.

• Dark Ages also called : Medieval Europe or Middle Ages Covers about 500 AD -1500 AD (1000 years)

• Most of our influences in this country are European.

Europe’s GeographyEurope’s Geography• Only 1/3 of the land is good for farming.• South - warm, rainy - excellent farming.• Center - heavily forested - lots of natural resources.• North - very cold, mainly use the ocean for food and

resources.

• Only 1/3 of the land is good for farming.• South - warm, rainy - excellent farming.• Center - heavily forested - lots of natural resources.• North - very cold, mainly use the ocean for food and

resources.

• Imagine all of the schools, colleges, libraries and computers in the world were destroyed.

• Now imagine all the teachers and doctors quit because nobody was paying them.

• What would the world be like?

• Imagine all of the schools, colleges, libraries and computers in the world were destroyed.

• Now imagine all the teachers and doctors quit because nobody was paying them.

• What would the world be like?

Imagine ThisImagine This

Lost EmpireLost Empire• When Rome fell, many libraries were burned and

knowledge was lost.• The Roman army could no longer protect the people.• Barbarian and Roman culture combined into something

new.

• When Rome fell, many libraries were burned and knowledge was lost.

• The Roman army could no longer protect the people.• Barbarian and Roman culture combined into something

new.

SurvivalSurvival• With Rome gone, people

were just trying to survive.• People lived in small

villages, mostly as farmers (agriculture!)

• Art, law, medicine, and reading weren’t important.

• This made the loss of knowledge even worse.

• With Rome gone, people were just trying to survive.

• People lived in small villages, mostly as farmers (agriculture!)

• Art, law, medicine, and reading weren’t important.

• This made the loss of knowledge even worse.

People longed for the old days under Rome. They united together

under leaders who could protect them.

Leaders like…

People longed for the old days under Rome. They united together

under leaders who could protect them.

Leaders like…

• Became king of France in 771.• United Europe by forcing people to become

Christians.• Focused heavily on education.• Was later crowned Holy Roman Emperor.

• Became king of France in 771.• United Europe by forcing people to become

Christians.• Focused heavily on education.• Was later crowned Holy Roman Emperor.

CharlemagneCharlemagne

ChristianityChristianity• Due to Charlemagne’s purge and more holy methods

like showing the love of Christ…• Christianity spread through barbarian kingdoms.• The Church was the only stable connection to Roman

times.• Leaders used the Church as the backbone to rebuild the

European Empire.• But…

• Due to Charlemagne’s purge and more holy methods like showing the love of Christ…

• Christianity spread through barbarian kingdoms.• The Church was the only stable connection to Roman

times.• Leaders used the Church as the backbone to rebuild the

European Empire.• But…

With a strong leader, education, and a

common religion, it looked like the glory days of Empire was going to come back.

With a strong leader, education, and a

common religion, it looked like the glory days of Empire was going to come back.

Make a chart showing the DA and Rome equivalents of each thing here. Leader, check, edu, check…

VikingsVikings• Between 700 and 800 AD Viking invaders raided

monasteries and weakened European unity.• Trade and learning slowed down.• The glory days of Rome were not coming back and once

again people had to focus on survival.

• Between 700 and 800 AD Viking invaders raided monasteries and weakened European unity.

• Trade and learning slowed down.• The glory days of Rome were not coming back and once

again people had to focus on survival.

The EndThe End