Medieval Europe: Rise and Spread of Christianity

Vocabulary terms detailing the decline of the Roman Empire, the nature of the Medieval period, and the early spread of Christianity in Europe.

Medieval Period in Europe

A period of transition from the ancient to the modern world covering a span of about $900-1,000$ years, from the early $7^{th}$ century CE to the early $16^{th}$ century CE.

Emperor Constantine

The ruler who made Christianity a legal religion and played a key role in its establishment in medieval Europe.

St Peter's Basilica

A significant religious building that became the religious head.

Pope

The spiritual head of the Christians throughout the world.

Goths, Vandals, and Franks

Germanic tribes whose repeated raids and barbarian invasions were a primary reason for the fall of the Roman empire.

Byzantium

The eastern part of the Roman empire, established in $395$ CE, with its capital at Constantinople.

Constantinople

The capital of the Byzantine empire, which is known today as Istanbul.

Barbarian invasions

Raids by Germanic tribes that penetrated deep into Roman territory, plundered the city of Rome, and eventually took control of the western part of the empire.

Roman Church

One of the uniting factors for Western Europe that emerged as new centers of power were sought after the end of Roman unity.