By: Sara Luiz, Gina Lanzano, and Asia Paige Period: 1

RELIGION & ART ECONOMY & TRADING You may be asking, why should we study ancient Europe? What does it matter? But Europes past has affected us greatly and you may even learn something interesting along the way. Here are Europes most prestigious accomplishments:

Europe founded Christianity and Islam, however Christianity was their main religion. From 450A.D. all the way through 1500A.D. The Roman Catholic Church played an important role in medieval European life. The only universal European institution was the church. In France alone, between 1050 AD and 1350 AD, over 500 cathedrals and 1000 parish churches were built. Most cathedrals were built in the shape of a cross. They had high arches and tall ceilings. Stained glass windows played an important role in church teaching and religion. Nearly all art in medieval times was created for religious purposes. They codified the Laws of Justinian. This was important because many countries have been influenced by them today. *The United States Bill of Rights is very similar to the Laws of Justinian!*

New farming devices created such as the heavy plow, the three field system of crop rotation, the use of mills for processing cloth, brewing beer, crushing pulp for paper manufacture and many other advantages that before were not available, and the widespread use of iron and horses. They traded goods with Africa, Asia, and other parts of Europe. Trade markets became a huge part of their culture. By the end of the 5 th century the culmination of several long-term trends, including a severe economic dislocation and the invasions and settlement of Germanic peoples within the borders of the western empire, had changed the face of Europe. Trade fairs became a big part of everyday life. People loved them. Sellers would lay out their goods and people would come and bargain for them. Europe had the first banks. The trade fairs became popular with other countries, so they needed a place to change currency. So, Europe was the first to start a barter economy and a money economy.

600- Christianity introduced among Anglo-Saxons by St. Augustine, missionary from Rome Vikings from Scandinavia begin raiding the unprotected coastal lands of Britain and the northern mainland Heraclius becomes Emperor and marks the beginning of Byzantine history. 622-Mohammed founds the Islam in Medina Arabia Death of the prophet Muhammad Byzantine loses to the Middle East in war First serious Viking incursions Charlemagne, king of the Franks, crowned Holy Roman Emperor, height of Frankish power in Europe. The first agricultural revolution of Medieval Europe begins about 1000 with a shift to the northern lands for cultivation ad- The Byzantine aristocracy gains control over the government ad- generally considered the High middle ages. Western Europe rises as a great power with only China equaling it in political, economic and cultural flourishing.

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