Charlemagne & Christianity
What empire did Charlemagne create in Western Europe?
France, Germany, and Italy
What group was at the bottom of the feudal pyramid?
Peasants and serfs
What was the Church’s most powerful tool for control in medieval Europe?
Control over the sacraments
What system increased the amount of farmland used each year?
The three-field system
Who created rules that guided life in monasteries?
Benedict
What religion did Charlemagne help spread?
Christianity
What did vassals provide in exchange for land?
Military protection
How did Christianity bring people together in medieval Europe?
Shared faith united them
What invention led to a food surplus and more available land?
Horse-powered plow
What did monks do in addition to prayer?
Provided health care and education
What are two of Charlemagne’s accomplishments that shaped Europe?
He spread Christianity and encouraged the creation of schools
What phrase best describes feudalism in practice?
Frequent warfare among landowners
What political result came from Christianity’s influence?
New states formed
What happened because of food surpluses?
More people became merchants and craftworkers
How did monasteries change by the 1200s?
They moved into towns and became farming and learning centers
What age is named after Charlemagne?
The Age of Charlemagne
What are two ways feudalism brought order to Europe?
Strict social ranks and defense from invaders
What did the Church influence in daily life?
Education, laws, holidays, and traditions
How were craft guilds financed?
Members paid fees
What did Francis and Clare of Assisi believe in?
Simplicity and devotion
Why did the pope send missionaries to northern Europe?
To convert pagans to Christianity
What best describes a medieval manor?
A self-sufficient economic unit
What language united many Christian Europeans?
Latin
How did rivers help advance ideas in the Middle Ages?
They allowed easier trade and travel
What are two key roles monasteries played in preserving knowledge?
Preserving books and offering education