Chronological Matters (6th-10th century)

Question 1

5th Century

Answer 1

Saint Augustine; large scale movements of Goths (mostly converts to Arian Christianity) and other barbarian tribes throughout the Western Roman empire; Saint Patrick in Ireland

Question 2

6th Century

Answer 2

Conversion of the Franks to Catholic Christianity under Merovingian Clovis; Council of Orange (529); Benedict of Nursa; Emperor Justinian’s (temporary) re-conquest of Italy, North Africa, and Spain; Lombards in Italy; Columba founds Iona; Gregory I (“the Great”) sends the missionary Augustine to England; Columbanus founds monasteries in Europe

Question 3

7th Century

Answer 3

Mohamed and Muslim rise and conquests in eastern Mediterranean; Synod of Whitby (664) confirms northern England for Roman traditions; Maximus Confessor and Council of Constantinople 681 (sixth ecumenical) against monothelitism; Carolingians become dominant power among the “mayors of the palace” of the Franks; Northumbrian Willibrord begins evangelization of Friesland (Belgium and Holland)

Question 4

8th Century

Answer 4

Missionary journeys of Northumbrian Boniface/Winfryth in Europe; Iconoclastic controversy, with Council of Nicea (787, Seventh Ecumenical Council) upholding the veneration of icons; Charles Martel defeats the
Muslim advance into Gaul at the battle of Poitiers; Pepin III anointed King of Franks by Boniface; Charlemagne’s ascension and expansion of Frankish empire; the Venerable Bede in England

Question 5

9th Century

Answer 5

Charlemagne crowned Holy Roman Emperor by Pope Leo III in Rome (800); Viking raids throughout Europe, with eventual settlements in England, NW Gaul (Normandy), and Sicily/southern Italy; breakup of Carolingian empire; Cyril and Methodius apostles to the Slavs; theological controversies involving predestination (Gottshalk) and the Lord’s Supper (Radbertus and Rantramus); John Scotus Erigena

Question 6

10th Century

Answer 6

Foundation of Cluny (910); conversion of Kiev/Russia for Eastern Orthodox; continuing raiding and plundering by Vikings, Saracens (Muslims), and Hungarian Magyars throughout Europe, hence the “Dark Ages”