74. Medieval Europe

The lands of Europe fell to war and strife.

The Franks made their empire.

Vikings invaded.

Muslims invaded.

Spain was captured.

Byzantium slowly eroded into nothing.

Their culture lived on in Kiev,

The future cause of problems in the world

Lombards took over Italy

Islam shattered.

The Holy Roman Empire came

With Charlemagne and the Carolingians.

The old Merovingian order fell.

Charlemagne expanded.

He tried to build from the ashes of the old empire.

Education was important

To clergy and people.

Christianity won many converts.

The dream of Rome lived on.

The great city.

The culture.

Charlemagne was the first to try to bring Rome Back.

Fourteen years before he died the pope gave recognition.

Then his death caused the empire to crumble.

As the years passed, Europe slowly organized.

Nations born of local tribesman.

England was born.

Scotland was born.

Ireland was born.

France, Poland and Denmark.

Trade flourished in Europe and routes were built.

Religion took center stage.

Churches got bigger.

More elaborate

As Rome was forgotten they became goth.

Hierarchies were formed.

Peasants on the bottom

Holding kings and nobles on top of pedestals

Knights gave them support.

With the flying buttresses of clergy

Directing masses

Chanting in middle way.

Some hoping an indulgence would pass their way.

Others rejecting such worldly goods

For simple monastic prayer.

66. Christianity

A religion came

During the august one’s reign.

Born of a virgin in Palestine

Among lowly animals

Where three kings

Brought offerings

Of gold

Of Frankincense

Of Myrrh.

They escaped the slaughter of Herod’s men

To Egypt where he lived out his days.

Teaching great wisdom

As a young boy

In a temple where his mother found.

He was washed of sin

By John of the river.

Twelve friends followed him later in life

After many miracles abound.

“What should we do about Caesar?”

Asked one of his faithful ones.

“Render unto Caesar what is Caesar’s”

Said the carpenter’s son.

Then he wandered through the desert

Being tempted by worldly goods.

At his last meal

One of his friends betrayed him

In the garden where he prayed.

He was tried.

“This isn’t my kingdom.”

He said.

“My kingdom will come soon.”

The Pontius one gave his people a choice.

They chose the other.

He was placed on the cross.

“It is finished.”

Was the last dying words

Of the carpenter’s son

To win over death

Bringing people to the world to come.

For three days

They cried for him.

For three days

They sat talking of him

For three days

They waited.

He came back on the third

With great rejoicing

Then rose to the heavens

To his seat.