Europe After the Fall of Rome

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)

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

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!

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

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

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

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

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.

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.

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

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

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

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.

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

The Early Middle Ages