This is PART TWO of your reading. Some tips.....So after the fall of the Roman Empire in 476 C.E. you have the end of centralized authority that had come directly from Rome's leadership. It  had been dissolving, anyway, for a few centuries but with it's collapse, you'll have the collapse of a "unifying" authority to direct Europe. What'll happen is that the different European "states" will devolve into what's called feudalism (you covered this is 7th grade) You'll have NO central authority to guide much of anything. Germany doesn't exist, nor does Italy, France doesn't either-really. England won't look anything like it does even by the 15th Century (the 1400's) Life is SHORT, SCARY, DANGEROUS, UNPREDICTABLE. The ONLY thing people had going for them was the hope of Salvation-the hope that when they died, they'd go to Heaven. The "keys" to get into Heaven-in Western Europe-were controlled by the only "centralizing" authority-----The Catholic Church. It was based in Rome. The leader of the Church was a man with the title of "Pope." The Papacy (the office the Pope held) would become incredibly political as the centuries went on---AND rooted in "Italy." (i put quotes around "italy"because it does not yet exist, BUT it's an geographic location) Basically, the Pope is seen as the "King" of the Catholic Church. The Cardinals-who support the Pope, are kinda like the "Princes" of hte Catholic CHurch. Your reading will discuss the politicization of both the Papacy and the Church. France will begin to unify and will become a bit of a rival to the traditional Roman Popes. Perhaps there will be a French Pope? Perhaps the head of hte Church will leave Rome and go to France??? Perhaps some folks will begin to see the Church as "foreign" as "Roman."  GOOD LUCK! IF YOU NEED HELP, EMAIL!! Don't be afraid to seek help, this stuff is tough.