World History

Unit Three400BC – 1500 AD

From Rome to the Dark Ages

“Who would believe…that Rome, built upon the conquest of the whole world, would itself

fall to the ground?”

The Fall of Rome

• From within

• From without

From Within

• Political – Marcus Aurelius dies in 180

• Ends Pax Romana

– 100 years of political problems• 26 emperors in 50 years

• Economic – High taxes

• Support armies and roads

– Rising prices – Poor people had to sell out to rich

• Rich protected the poor on estates

Efforts to Reform (Change)

• Diocletian in 284– Fix prices – Divides power into two emperors

• Known as Tetrarchy – East leader (himself) – West leader (Maximian)

• Constantine 312 – Toleration of Christians

• Edict of Milan

– Builds a EAST capital city• Constantinople

From Without

• Germanic invaders from the North– Used to be powerful enough to fight them off– “within” problems caused weakening

Fall of Rome 476 AD

• Huns Invading groups from china• Germanic Tribes invade– Groups of people from western Europe

HUNS

Germanic

Invasions

• By 500 AD Western Rome was now several Germanic states. – Visigoths in Italy– Ostrogoths in Spain

• The Franks (France) – Clovis – strong military leader – Converted to Christianity

Different People brings Different way of life

• Roman law settled things in court• Germanic law settled things in court and out– Punishment for murder may be a blood feud

between families– Wergild – money paid for injury

• Ordeal- physical trial that God would intervene before harm was done. – “No harm no foul!”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zrzMhU_4m-g

Lasting Impact of Rome

• Spread of Christianity• Model for modern cities– infrastructure

• Roman system of law

Rise and Fall

Fall of Rome ushers in the

Rise of Europe

Europe

The Rise of Europe

• From isolation to a dominant force• Germans carve up into small kingdoms• United Europe under Charlemagne• United Europe under Christianity• Feudalism gives order• Agricultural Revolution

The European World

• The Dark Ages• Feudalism takes over

Charlemagne

• Germanic groups had carved up the Roman Empire

• Charles the Great or aka Charlemagne– Unites western Europe or the Old Roman Empire • Through wars

– The church in Rome came under attack • Pope Leo III (head of the church) asks Charlemagne’s

help, who is a Christian• Charlemagne's wins and the pope crowns him

“emperor”

Result of “Emperor” status

• This causes tension between the east and west churches.

Charlemagne

• Works closely with “the Church”• Unites a Christian Europe– Fights Muslims in Spain– appoint people called nobles to rule local areas– Attempts to revive learning

• Everything falls apart after he dies

Unrest Resumes

• Tours – Muslims• Magyars – Hungary

• Vikings–Most destructive – Raiders– From Ireland and Russia–Major traders – Leif Erikson-sailed the Atlantic to North America

Feudalism

Feudalism defined – a system for structuring society around the powerful local “lords” gave land to poor folks in exchange for protection and labor.

“You scratch my back and I will scratch yours”

Development of Feudalism

Reason for Feudalism • Invaders, like the Vikings, constantly raided

towns and villages • People needed someone to protect them

King

Lords (nobles)

Knights

Peasants or Serfshttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rAaWvVFERVA

Roles in Feudalism

• Kings owns all land• Lords collect money for king• Knights protect land • Peasants live and work the land pay taxes

The Main Power

The rise of Church

Rise to Church Power

• Constantine becomes Christian• Makes Christianity “official” religion of Rome• Becomes religious and political authority• Clovis (Franks leader) converts • Charlemagne was called “Holy Roman

Emperor” • Church and State are the same.

The Organization of the Church

• Organization – Priests led local congregations called parishes

groups of parishes were called diocese overseen by a Bishop who joined together and were overseen by and Archbishop… later the Archbishop of Rome became known as the Pope (father) who was the leader of the whole Roman Catholic Church

Organization of the Roman Catholic Church

Pope (Archbishop of Rome)

Archbishops

Bishops

Diocese

Priests

Parishes

The Roman Catholic Church

• Catholic – universal • Pope Gregory I increased power of the

Papacy – office of the pope and thus the Church.

• Political power too

Monks and Monasteries

• Monk – man who separates from society to dedicate himself to God. Monks lived in monasteries.

• Became Christian heroes– Social workers in communities– Provided education (schools, occupational ed.)– Provided hospitals– Missionaries – people sent out to convert others

Unrest with Feudalism

• Abuses of power – No trial by jury

• Corruption of kings and religious leaders

• Uprisings and Rebellions

Magna Carta 1215

• Nobles threaten to kill the king• Force the king to sign “magna carta” or the

great charter– trials by jury– King NO LONGER ABLOLUTE power – Council of nobles HELP make laws • Council is now called parliament

Representative Government

• Government in which people chose others to represent them and vote on their behalf.

Laws

• Common Law – is a system of law based on PRECEDENT or “previous decisions” in other courts. – Can be “unprecedented” – Can change overtime as “times” change

Global Trade

Global Trade

• China• The Silk Road – Western China to Mediterranean– Over land– Silk

Global Trade

• India• Indian Ocean Trade– By water– Pearls, spices and fruits

Global Trade

• Europe – By water and Land– Textiles (wool and cotton) , Horses

Global Trade

• Middle East/Arabia – By Land– Gold, Camels

More than Exchanging Goods

• What do you think was made to link these areas?

• What do you think was created at the intersection of these roads?

Effects of Trade

• Diffusion of cultures • Exchange of religious ideas• Exchange of political ideas• Spread of disease

Black Death

Black Death

• AKA Bubonic Plague – 100 million world wide– 33 million in Europe

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p53kJX64ieQ• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4BbkQiQyaYc

Effects of the Black Death on Europe

• Anti- Semitism – hostility toward Jews – Christians blamed them for the plague by

poisoning wells• Trade declined• Shortage of workers • Decline of church influence

New Patterns of Civilization

• African Civilizations• Asian World• Europe and the Middle Ages• The Americas

Africa

African Geography

• Location

African Geography

• Location• Geography– Sahara Desert

African Geography

• Location• Geography– Sahara Desert– Congo Basin – tropical rain forest

African Geography

• Location• Geography– Sahara Desert– Congo Basin – tropical rain forest– Savannahs – grasslands

• Four different climates

Early African Civilizations

• Kush 1000 B.C. – 150 AD• Axum (Ethiopia) 150 AD – 1400 AD

KA

Early African Civilizations

• Kush 1000 B.C. – 150 AD– Polytheistic – Influences by Egyptians– Major accomplishment

• Iron ore, ivory, slaves, gold trading

• Axum (Ethiopia) 150 AD – 1400 AD– 330 AD King Ezana converts to Christianity – Islamic influence in 700 AD– Major accomplishment

• Trade route with India

Great African Kingdoms

• Ghana

G

Great African Kingdoms

1. Ghana– 500 AD – 1100 AD– West Africa

• Economy – Exports – sending stuff out and Imports – bringing

stuff in.

Exports ImportsGold SaltIvory TextilesSlaves Horses

Great African Kingdoms

2. Mali– 1100 AD – 1359 AD

• King Mansa Musa– Muslim– Built mosque and libraries – Scholars came to Timbuktu to study the Quran

African Culture

• King and subjects– King s held meetings with the people– Taxes

• Family and lineage– Greatest since of identity– Lived in small villages– “I am from the family of…”

• Women – Much greater role than other societies

• Slavery– Common in Africa

African Tribal Religion

• Single Creator• Yoruba (a religion of Nigeria) – believe the

creator sent his son Oduduwa from Heaven in a canoe to create humans.

• Ashanti (a reigion of Ghana) – creator is named Nyame who had sons that were lesser gods.

African Religion

• Diviners – people who believed they had power to foretell events- hired by Kings.

• Ancestors could influence gods • Music and dance were key to festivals• Belief in two lives:– One on earth– Other in Heaven

Outside Influences

• West Africa and South of Sahara 1490 AD– Islam because of Muslim traders

• East Africa and South Africa 400 AD– Christianity