Europe 500- 1000

Question 1

What happened to the Roman Empire in Europe during the 400s-500s?

Answer 1

The Roman Empire in Europe was overrun by barbarians, and the Christian Church based in Rome was all that remained of classical imperial Roman law, order, and civilization.

Question 2

Who became Christian in 496?

Answer 2

Clovis, king of the Franks, became (Latin/Catholic) Christian.

Question 3

What significant event occurred in 800?

Answer 3

Charlemagne was made Emperor of the Romans.

Question 4

What was ‘The Great Schism’?

Answer 4

The split between Western European (Catholic) and Eastern European (Orthodox) Churches in 1054.

Question 5

What did Pope Urban II call for in 1095?

Answer 5

The First Crusade.

Question 6

What was the state of Christianity in medieval Europe?

Answer 6

There was one denomination of Christianity, referred to as ‘Christianity’ until the Protestant Reformation, today known as ‘Catholicism.’

Question 7

What were the barbarian invasions?

Answer 7

From the 4th century CE onward, various groups of Germanic and Asiatic invaders broke through the Roman frontiers in Europe, leading to the end of the old Roman order.

Question 8

Who was St. Augustine?

Answer 8

A North African Latin/Catholic Christian philosopher influential in Christian Europe, known for his works ‘Confessions’ and ‘City of God.’

Question 9

What is the simplified summary of ‘City of God’?

Answer 9

City of God (the Church) vs. the City of Man (Rome).

Question 10

What is the hierarchy of the Church?

Answer 10

Popes, Cardinals, Archbishops, Bishops, Priests, Monks and Nuns, Laypeople.

Question 11

What are sacraments?

Answer 11

Rites performed for religious purposes, usually to gain salvation in the next life, often performed by priests.

Question 12

What is monasticism?

Answer 12

Devotion of one’s life to imitation of a spiritual exemplar, e.g., Jesus and His Apostles.

Question 13

What are the two types of monasticism?

Answer 13

Hermitic (individual) and cenobitic (communal) monasticism.

Question 14

Who are St. Benedict and St. Scholastica?

Answer 14

Widely regarded as founders of European monasticism, with Benedict for men and Scholastica for women.

Question 15

What is the Rule of St. Benedict?

Answer 15

Regulations for monasteries and monastic life.

Question 16

What is Arian Christianity?

Answer 16

A form of Christianity named for Arius that stresses monotheism and undermines the trinitarian position.

Question 17

What was the significance of Clovis and the Franks?

Answer 17

Clovis adopted Roman Catholic Christianity around 496, gaining legitimacy and military protection from the Church.

Question 18

What was the Merovingian Dynasty?

Answer 18

Clovis’s dynasty that ruled most of western Europe from 476-750 CE, characterized by violent tribal warlords.

Question 19

Who was Charles Martel?

Answer 19

A mayor of the palace who rose to power under the Merovingians and is known for the Battle of Poitiers/Tours in 732.

Question 20

What was the relationship between the Carolingians and the Church?

Answer 20

The Carolingians needed the Church to legitimize their rule, while the Church needed their military might.

Question 21

Who was St. Boniface?

Answer 21

A Benedictine monk and missionary who converted pagan German tribes to Christianity.

Question 22

What were the Saxon Wars?

Answer 22

A series of conflicts from 772-804 where the Franks sought to force Saxons to embrace Christianity.

Question 23

What did Charlemagne achieve?

Answer 23

He was a successful warrior king who built a small empire and was made ‘emperor of Romans’ in 800 CE.

Question 24

What happened after Charlemagne’s death?

Answer 24

His sons split the empire in 842 with the Strasbourg Oaths and formally in 843 with the Treaty of Verdun.