1. Europe
After the Fall of Rome

2. The Glory that was Rome
Rome was the biggest, most powerful empire the world had ever seen.
Western Rome “fell” there were leftovers…
- Language (When Latin)
- Roads/Ruins
- Christianity
- Byzantine Empire (Eastern half)

3. The Dark Ages
After Rome, Europe entered the dark/medieval/middle ages.
Period of time in which civilization ceased to exist, advance, and develop.

4. The Dark Ages
List some of the characteristics of Europe after the fall of Rome:
- Constant invasion/warfare
- Anarchy (no central gov.)
- Lack of “permanance”
- No education
- No trade
Led to the downfall of all things “civilized”
Compared to the “light” of Greece/Rome this time was DARK!

5. The Dark Ages SURVIVOR MIDDLE AGES
Survival became the sole purpose of Europeans.

6. The Dark Ages What about the rest of the world?
WELL… they were experiencing GOLDEN AGES!

7. The Early Middle Ages Feudalism
Organized system of rule = local lords divide their land among LESSER lords in return for their loyalty or pledge service

8. The Early Middle Ages Feudalism Lord – ruler or powerful landholder
Knights – armed warriors / fight on behalf of lords
Peasants – work the land
Serf – peasants not free to leave the lord’s land

9. The Early Middle Ages The Church social center and a place of worship.
Christian rituals and faith were part of the everyday life.
values and morality
Man vs Woman
tithe
Monks and nuns
poor and sick
schools for children
food and lodging to travelers.

11. The Early Middle Ages The Church
the Church became the most powerful secular, or worldly, force in medieval Europe.
papal supremacy, or authority over all secular rulers.
laws, known as canon law, as well as its own courts.
disobeyed = penalties.
absolute power in religious matters.

12. The Early Middle Ages problems: The church grew
clergy ignored their vows
priests focused more on themselves
Reform :
monks and nuns took vows of obedience, poverty, and chastity.
outlawed marriage for priests
teach poverty, humility, and love of God.
official Roman Catholic beliefs

13. The Early Middle Ages The Economy:
commercial revolution = reshaped medieval society.
using money
tenant farmers = hired farm laborers.
middle class
The Church forbade Christians from becoming moneylenders (give loans)
Jews took on this role

14. The Early Middle Ages Economy: merchants and artisans = guilds.
passed laws,
levy taxes
made important decisions.
only a certain number of people could work in any trade

16. 3
The World in 1050
As Western Europe was just emerging from a period of isolation, civilizations were thriving elsewhere.
ISLAMIC EMPIRE
INDIA
CHINA
Islamic civilization spread from Spain to India.
Islamic traders went as far as West Africa.
Cities thrived, despite political division.
Hinduism and Buddhism flourished.
Culture flourished under Tang and Song dynasties.
Chinese made advances in technology.
WEST AFRICA
AMERICAS
BYZANTINE EMPIRE
The Sonike people built the great trading empire of Ghana.
Merchants traded gold all over the world.
Mayas cleared rain forests to build cities.
Native Americans in Peru built empires.
Scholars studied Greek and Roman writings.
Merchants mingled with traders from the Italian states.

17. The Early Middle Ages The Crusades CAUSES EFFECTS
Turks invade Palestine and attack Christian pilgrims.
Crusaders were motivated by religious zeal and the desire to win wealth and land.
Pope Urban hopes to heal the schism, or split, between Roman and Byzantine churches and increase papal power.
Religious hatred grows.
Trade increases.
Europe develops a money economy, which helps undermine serfdom.
Power of feudal monarchs increases.
Europeans become curious about the world.
CAUSES
EFFECTS

18. The Early Middle Ages