1. Progress During the Middle Ages

2. The Dark Ages Fall of the Roman Empire caused Western Europe to go through a cultural & economic decline Characteristics: – Violence – Brutality – Lack of intellectual activity – Feudalism – Religious Dominance

3. Transition Eventually, progress returned to Western Europe Advances were made in agriculture & technology Trade Expanded A new legal system was created Philosophy mixed with religion

4. Agricultural Changes Farmers had no knowledge of crop rotation Three Field System – 1 Field – Winter Crops – 1 Field – Summer Crops – 1 Field – Unused to regenerate fertility Great Famine (1315-1322) – Trouble growing crops – Many across Europe died

5. Technological Advances Better Watermills Windmills Mechanical Clocks Improved lives

6. Expansion of Trade Trade not possible during Dark Ages Shifted to fairs located inside castle walls Eventually trade routes became safe & were used again Cities along trade routes grew

7. Magna Carta 1215 – English nobles rebelled against taxes & forced loans collected by King John King John forced to sign agreement Guarantees – Only applied to free men – Trial by jury – Council of Nobles must approve new taxes

8. Justinian Code Emperor Justinian collected existing Roman Laws & organized them into a single code Listed all laws & opinions on each subject Had special laws relating to religion – Required all to belong to Eastern Orthodox Christian faith

9. Monasticism Def. – Way of life in convents & monasteries where nuns & monks withdraw from the world & its temptations. Monks & nuns lived by strict rules – Monks – Males that worked in church; Clergy – Nuns – Females that worked in church; Not clergy Had to withdraw in order to live Christian life Served God through fasting, prayer, & self- denial

10. Scholasticism Def. – Medieval philosophy attempting to bring together faith & reason. Medieval philosophers tried to make Aristotle’s ideas work with ideas of church Aristotle placed importance on human reason Church writers placed importance on faith Eventually it was shown that these philosophies conflicted