5.2 Europe becomes Christian

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§5.2 Europe becomes Christian

Spread of christianity

Het rijk van Karel de Grote

Karel de Grote

Watch the following clip and answer the question: Why did Charlemagne divide his empire? 

Put the names in the right place

Lord

Feudal system

Vassal

Subvassal

Explain why the Frankish kings eventually had less power in their kingdom because of the feudal system.

Give two examples of how Christianity was spread in the Middle Ages.

Success criteria

You can exlain:

• How christianity was spread in the Netherlands
• How all of Europe became Christian.
• How Germanic traditions were kept
• Why clergymen were important in society

The Frisians

• Around 700, the Franks, Saxons and Frisians lived in the Netherlands.
• The Franks were Christian, but the Frisians had nature gods.
• The Christian pope wanted the Frisians to become Christian too.

Monks and nuns

• Some Christians wanted to focus entirely on God
  
• For this they cut themselves off from the world
  
• These monks and nuns lived together in a monastery
  
• Here they could give their lives to God

Kloostergang

Scriptorium

Kloostertuin

Begraafplaats

Kapel

School

Kerk

Missionaries

• Some monks travelled around converting others
  
• These missionaries made other people Christian
  
• The Germanic pagans were their main target
  
• With success: around 500 the Franks became Christian already

Willibrord

• Around 700 the Irish monk Willibrord was tasked with converting the Frisians to Christianity.
• He became the Bishop of Utrecht
  
• With the protection of the Franks he went to the Frisians

What does it mean to 'convert'?

How?

• To convince the Frisians Willibrord had some tricks
  
• He told beautiful stories from the Bible
  
• He performed miracles, just like Jesus
  
• But when the Franks conquered the area, the Frisians were simply forced to convert

Video

The origin of the Christmas tree

Mixture of cultures

• In order to convince Frisians even more, the christians adopted traditions
• Example: the pagan midwinter festival became Christmas
  
• And the spring festival became Easter
  
• This is how the Christian and Germanic cultures mixed

Mannelijke bewoners van kloosters

Het hoofd van de katholieke kerk

Iedereen die werkt voor de kerk

Vrouwelijke bewoners van kloosters

Iemand die het christendom wil verspreiden

De paus

Missionarissen

Geestelijken

Monniken

Nonnen

To work

What? Preparing for thursday . Study the text 'The Daily Life of Medieval Monks' in Classroom. Translate the words you don't understand using the internet.