4.3 The spread of Christianity

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• Middelbare school
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• Leerjaar 1

4.3 The spread of Christianity

Learing goals 

1. You can explain how Christianity across western Europe in the Early Middle ages 
2. You can explain why Christianity was very important to people in the Middle Ages. 
3. You can explain what an estate is and you can give the three estates in the medieval society 

From Nature gods to Christianity

Not all people became Christians in the time of the Romans 

In the north of Europe people believed in Nature gods ( Norse mythology) 

Christians called these people heathens 

The church wanted to convert these heathens and with the help of the Frankish kings 

Method:

Missionaries were sent to Europe to convert pagans to Christianity..

Heathens

Heathens are unbelievers

When a piece of land was taken over they build churches, monastaries and convents.

In these buildings monks and nuns lived. 

Convert

Missionaries came to heathen areas to convert people.

Missionary = someone who has the task of converting people (he is on a mission)

Heathen = someone who does not have the 'right' religion (in this case, Christianity)

To convert = to convert to Christianity

Around 730 everyone was Christian 

A Christian culture

People married in a church, got buried in the cemetery and people spend a lot of free time in church 

Each chruch had a priest,  they had rituals like the holy communion. 

Heaven and hell was the promise of the priest. 

Educating and caring for the sick became one of the important tasks. 

The three estates

The first estate

The clergy. They took care of everything related to faith.

The second estate 

The nobility. They governed the land, administered justice, and defended the country in times of war.

The third estate 

The rest of the population. They provided for the food.

Write down three reasons why monasteries were important for medieval society.

Write down the three estates in medieval society and explain in one word what the task was of each of these estates.

Write down the estate to which the following people belonged in the Middle Ages: a serf, a nun and a knight.

Merchants did not have a place in any of the estates in the Early Middle Ages.
Explain why they were not taken into account.