Europe’s Middle Ages476-1400 (app) CE

What happens when centralized rule disintegrates?

In 2003, the United States invaded Iraq and deposed its dictator Saddam Hussein and his ruling apparatus. Let’s consider the impact this has had on Iraq and the challenges of creating a government that is in control.

What is the impact on:Government

Belief

Economy

Social Structure

Impact of the Collapse of the Roman Empire

By 476 CE, the Western Roman Empire was weak and overstressed. In that year, Germanic rebels murdered the Emperor. Although wealthy landowners maintained local power, slowly, parts of the empire broke up from invasion, and Roman cultural life disintegrated.

What was Europe like during the Roman Empire?What was the impact of the collapse (476 CE) on:

GovernmentBeliefEconomySocial structure

Impact of the Collapse of the Roman Empire

Impact of the Collapse of the Roman Empire

Impact of the Collapse of the Roman Empire

Impact of the Collapse of the Roman EmpireRoman Empire

Centralized, Public

church-state divide

urban, exchange

Citizenship, universal law apply to all

Western Europe during Middle Ages:

No central authority: lack securitysmaller kingdomsprivate armies

Church has political, moral power; less tolerant; dominates art and education

Exchange declineslocal production, return to barter, lack of new ideas

People seek protection/security and exchange rights (live in castes)

Government:

Belief:

Economy:

Social Structure:

What and when are the Middle Ages?

Names

A. Middle Ages: Between Rome and Renaissance, 476-1400 (generalization)

B. Medieval

C. Dark Ages (light=learning)

Feudalism is a political system that:

• Depends on mutual obligations between vassals and Lords (serfs, knights, nobility)—each caste has a legal obligation to the others.

• Depends on land in exchange for service (agricultural production, defense) on a manor.

• Power is privately controlled rather than by the public (rulers are not accountable to anyone).

• Led to expansion of land as Lords needed to constantly reward others for service

Differences between slavery, caste and class

Caste: Social relations w/in caste, hereditary, judged as group member by law

Class: Some mobility, birth shouldn’t matter, judged as an individual by law

Slave:Belongs to owner (serf belongs to land, can’t be separated). Owner has little obligation

Impact of the Collapse of the Roman Empire

Impact of the Collapse of the Roman Empire

Roman Empire Western Europe during Middle Ages:

Government:

Belief:

Economy:

Social Structure:

Feudalism is

1.

2.

3.

4.

Caste:

Class:

Slave:

Name_____________________

Where and what is “The West”?

Origins of Origins of monotheismmonotheism

Greek ideas of Greek ideas of government, government,

social structuresocial structure

During the During the Renaissance, Renaissance, “western” “western” culture culture expanded West expanded West with with colonizationcolonization

The Roman Empire (in red) The Roman Empire (in red) is finally divided. The is finally divided. The Western half is Catholic.Western half is Catholic.

A new economy of merchants and A new economy of merchants and explorers develops in this area in explorers develops in this area in the 1500s--the Renaissance the 1500s--the Renaissance imitates ancient Greeks and imitates ancient Greeks and Romans.Romans.