tance, the Angles and the Saxons drove out virtually all other inhabitants of the island and erased virtually all signs of Roman culture.1 The truth of the situation in regards to the barbarian invaders of Rome is that they had their own culture and their own civilization. The barbarians essentially crushed the Roman Empire and created their own regional societies. Barbaric culture, be it Goths, Vandals, Visigoths, Angles, Saxons, Huns, etc. had no dependence on Roman culture or society. They had a system that worked for them already in place. When Rome does fall though, regionalism in Europe takes place. Whereas the typical European was living under one banner, Rome, now lived under regional secular authority of whatever barbaric people had conquered their region. This regionalism remains the situation in Western Europe up until the Holy Roman Empire and then again when the Holy Roman Empire is broken down into many separate regions. Christian culture becomes the force that binds Europe after the fall of the Roman Empire. Christianity begins its escalation in European culture in the 5th century and its status increases throughout the medieval era. Christianity, simply put, becomes the tie that binds European culture from the fall of Rome into the medieval era. Christian culture becomes the one and only outlet for education in the post-Roman world. Monastic life sees a great increase because it provided some sense of structure to its members and the ability to be educated. Christianity also sees a rise in its power on another level of education. The only educated peoples were the Christians and so the only things being read and/or written were Christian in nature. It is a great way to become instantly influential in any culture, having your doctrines and beliefs being the only accepted thing and nobody to debate it. Education equaled power to the Christians. With the power of their education, nobody could effectively refu...
