pre-1500 background
DESCRIPTION
TRANSCRIPT
Fall of Rome and the Middle Ages
Background
The Roman Empire was perhaps the most powerful Empire in the history of the world. It controlled almost all of Europe, Britain and Parts of Africa and Asia
Rome ruled its empire with an iron fist (brutal), and had the most advanced and well trained army in the world.
As Rome conquered more territory, it spread Christianity.
However, Rome got too big and was forced to fight too many wars in too many places. By 500 AD, the Roman Empire is gone.
Rome
When Rome falls, most of Europe is Christian but has no leadership.
Church becomes extremely powerful (educated, organized, only institution left, people gather around the church and become dependent on it)
Disorder for years with wars, invasion and sons splitting Kingdoms
Order restored with Feudalism
The Middle Ages (Dark Ages)
Lord granted Vassels (pieces of Land and the peasants who lived there) to Warrior Knights in exchange for loyalty, military protection
A Knight was an Armored warrior, who dominated the battlefield (like tanks on horseback), very expensive to have armor, horses and weapons, very hard to equip and train a Knight (that’s why Knights were so important)
Knights had very specific code of behavior called chivalry
A peasant worked the land (farmer) and belonged to the Vassel
Feudalism
Feudalism
Primogeniture – land passed from father to oldest son, kept land intact, never split up
Knights and Primogeniture made things very stable, feudalism lasted almost 1000 years
Logic and Reason took a backseat to faith and superstition
Trail by Ordeal or Trail by Combat for serious crimes
Advances in Farming with the invention of the 3 field system, and new technology
Feudalism
Europe weakened by constant warfare (100 years war between England and France)
Longbow allowed soldiers to kill knights at long ranges
Gunpowder allowed the creation of Cannons that could destroy Castles
Powerful Kings and Countries developed because Kings could build Armies without Knights
Church grew weaker through infighting, tried to keep control through the Inquisition
Ancient knowledge that was suppressed by the church was discovered in Spain in former Muslim land
The Decline of the Middle ages
http://www.waycross.edu/faculty/selby/h2111/feudalism.jpg
Sources