The Church’s Oldest Daughter

Decline and Recovery of Christianity

• Barbarian invasions and fall of Rome caused a set back for Christianity• Over Medieval period, Christianity would

recover, and come back even stronger• Three factors attribute to Church’s

success• Barbarians absorbed Greco-Roman culture• Missionary Activities• Conversion of Queens

Alaric, featured in The God of War II

The Franks

• Pagan • Settled in Gaul in fourth century• Confederation of tribes• In fifth century, became focused on taking

Gaul from Rome

Frankish Pagan Religion

• Worshipped spirits in nature• Attributed their power to these spirits• Would need sign from Christian God of

greater strength to make them convert

The Merovingian Dynasty

• United in fifth century by Merovech• Upon Merovech’s death, his son Childeric

took over• Childeric was a womanizer, and became

unpopular amongst his subjects• Childeric’s son, Clovis succeeded him

Childeric’s interest in French women was his downfall. Let that be a lesson to would-be Generals

Clovis Takes on Rome

• 486, strikes Roman Capital of Gaul, Soissons• Hunts down and kills Roman leadership• Expands boarders of Gaul• Willing to negotiate with Christians

“Romans! Your Days are Numbered.”

The Frank’s Conversion

• Clovis marries a Christian, Clotilda• Hesitant to convert, wants to see sign from

Christian God of his power• Sign comes in winter of 496-497• Against Barbarian tribe, Alemanni• Clovis comes within an inch of his life• After victory, Clovis and his men convert

and are baptized

The Birth of France

• Clovis has two more obstacles• Pagan Visgoths• His old partner, Sigobert• After establishing himself as sole ruler

of the Franks, make Paris new capital

Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris

The Rise of Islam

Muhammad

• Lived 570-632• Claimed to have received Revelation

from Archangel Gabriel• Recited the word of God• Holy Book - Koran

Spread of Islam

• For 100 years, Islam armies were unstoppable• Decline of Roman Empire made favourable

conditions• Strong leadership• Advanced weaponry

Charles “The Hammer” Martel

• Lived from 688-741• Frankish King• Came to power in 717

Battle of Tours

• Muslim armies led by Abd al-Rajman• Frankish armies had the high ground• Charles sent soldiers to attack Muslim

camp during the fighting• Decisive victory for French• Muslim advances halted, and forced to

backtrack• European Christendom Saved

Ireland: A Land of Scholars and Saints

Ireland before Christianity

• Worshipped gods of nature• Brutal sacrifices and rituals• Social hierarchy• Traded with Europe and the Mediterranean

St. Patrick

• Born in fifth century Britannia (Wales)• Kidnapped at age 16 by Irish slave traders• Escapes and returns• Has a vision in which God tells him to convert

the Celts• Enters priesthood• Bishop of Ireland

Catholicism and the Celts

• Pope Celestine I authorized Evangelization of Ireland in 431• Initially sends a bishop named Palladius• Other missionaries blend traditional Gaelic

with Latin Catholicism• Monasticism grows

Irish Monasteries

• Monks preserved, and translated, written records of antiquity• Important, because education and literacy

declining throughout Europe• The bible is preserved

The Monks Save Civilization

• Evangelize the rest of Europe• Columba brings Catholicism to Scotland• Augustine Evangelizes England• Columanus spreads the faith to mainland Europe• Bring a new form of Christianity