Page:General History of Europe 1921.djvu/285

The Period oj Invasions 203 always maintained his early preeminence and down to this day is considered the chief prelate of the English church. 323. St. Boniface, the Apostle to the Germans. In 718 St. Boniface, an English monk, was sent by the Pope as a mis- sionary to the Germans. He succeeded in converting many of the more remote German tribes, who had still retained their old pagan beliefs. His energetic methods are illustrated by the story of how he cut down the sacred oak of the old German god Odin, at Fritzlar, in Hesse, and used the wood to build a chapel, around which a monastery soon grew up. QUESTIONS I. How did the Roman army come to include numbers of Germans ? Trace the migrations of the West Goths. Where did they finally estab- lish their kingdom ? Describe the policy of Theodoric. What is the Justinian Code ? Who were the Franks ? How much of modern Europe was included in their kingdom ? II. What are the "Laws of the Barbarians"? How did their trials differ from those we are familiar with today? What is meant by the Middle Ages ? Contrast the civilization of the Middle Ages with that of the Roman period. What were the chief reasons why the Empire could no longer maintain itself? III. Give an account of Mohammed's life. What were the princi- pal features of the religion he founded? Compare the mosques with Christian churches. Compare the spread of Mohammedanism with that of Christianity. What countries were conquered by the Moham- medans ? Can you mention any contributions to civilization made by the Mohammedans? IV. In what ways did the government aid the early Christian Church? How did the Church assist the government? In what ways do you think the churches assist the government today ? How did the" Bishop of Rome become the recognized head of the Church in the West ? V. What were the advantages of life in a monastery in the early Middle Ages? What reasons existed then for this life which do not exist today? Describe a monastery and the life of the monks. What did the monks contribute to civilization? Describe some of their early missionary undertakings.