The Middle Ages
The Middle Ages: What is it?
1.
a.
Name given to the time period between the fall of Rome and the Renaissance.
b. Lasts roughly 1000 years, 500-1500
c. Sometimes called The Dark Ages or medieval period.
d. Often seen as a very bleak and dangerous period
e. Had roots in:
i. The classical heritage of Rome
ii. The beliefs of the Roman Catholic Church
iii. The customs of various Germanic tribes
2.
Causes of the Middle Ages
a. Fall of Rome
b. Invasions of Germanic Tribes
i. Disruption of Trade: Merchant trade collapsed and Europe’s
economic centers were destroyed. Money also became scarce.
ii. Downfall of cities: Cities were abandoned as centers of
administration.
b. Invasions
iii. Europe became rural: Roman cities left without strong
leadership. Population shifted to the countryside.
iv. Decline of learning: Germanic invaders could not read or write.
Learning became less important as people moved to rural areas.
v. Loss of a common language: Latin changed as Germanic people
mixed with Roman population.
vi. Loss of centralized rule: Germanic tribes did not have codified
laws nor an educated bureaucracy for ruling purposes.
3.
Changes that occurred as a Result of the Fall of Rome
a. New Germanic Kingdoms Emerge (Holy Roman Empire)
b. Rise of feudalism in Europe
3.
Changes that occurred as a Result of the Fall of Rome
c. The power of the Church grew rapidly
d. Europe became rural as cities shrank
e. No major emphasis on learning
f. Decline in Trade
3.
Changes that occurred as a Result of the Fall of Rome
g. New languages replace Latin
h. Early signs of modern European countries start to appear
(England & France)