The Fall of Rome
These are two internal political factors that weakened the Roman Empire.
What are government corruption and civil war/unstable government?
Explain the strategic location of Constantinople in terms of trade.
It served as a bridge between Europe and Asia, encouraging the exchange of goods, ideas, and customs from diverse civilizations.
The United Kingdom and France have longer growing Seasons due to the warm weather caused by the North Atlantic Drift
This is the correct order of social rank in Feudal society, from highest to lowest.
King, Lord, Noble, Peasant
In 1066, this Duke of Normandy successfully invaded England, claiming the throne and forever altering the relationship between England and France.
William the Conqueror
This internal military issue contributed to the decline of the Empire.
What is a weakening military or lack of consistent leadership?
This enduring legal contribution preserved Roman principles and provided a framework for many modern European civil law systems
The Code of Justinian
Why is the geography of the Great Northern Plain important to population and strength of Europe?
During the Middle Ages, this institution served as a "unifying force" that sent missionaries to convert local populations.
The Catholic Church
An individual could be a Lord as a manager and noble, in charge of many peasants and lesser lords, collecting taxes and offering protection to those under them, while also being a vassal, completely subservient to the monarch, paying taxes and pledging allegiance to him.
Why do historians argue that moving the capital to Constantinople was a strategic move for the Roman Empire?
Moving the capital to Constantinople was a strategic necessity because the Eastern half of the empire possessed wealthier urban centers and a more defensible location.
Emperor Constantine chose a coastal location for his new capital to secure wealthy provinces and protect the treasury from these specific groups.
Barbarian migrants (or Germanic tribes)
These three geographic factors make Europe particularly well-suited for human settlement.
Abundant rainfall, excellent farmland, and a mild climate
Feudalism was based on "mutual obligation," where peasants provided labor in exchange for this from their lord.
Physical Protection
What is a fief?
A fief is a piece of land that is owned by the King, but managed by the Lord or Lesser Lord. Peasants were usually tied to the fief.
What were the benefits of moving the capital of Rome to Constantinople?
By moving the capital the then had access to
-coastal location with natural defenses
-secured the wealthiest provinces
-protected the treasury from the barbarian migrations threatening the West.
The Byzantine Empire was known for its technology and architecture. The Hagia Sophia is a famous example of this type of architectural structure used as a church. What was this type of architecture referred to as?
A Basilica
This specific historical event would likely destabilize the feudal system because it makes labor scarce and valuable.
The plague lead to a huge decrease in population, which strained the workforce.
How did Feudalism stabilize Europe after the fall of the Roman Empire?
After the fall of Western Rome, feudalism was a decentralized, localized structure based on mutual obligation. It provided safety via military protection from lords (knights) for serfs, who in turn worked land (manors) to produce food and goods.
Why did Western Rome eventually fall?
Due to power being concentrated in the East after the capital moved to Constantinople and barbarian attacks.
Why can it be argued that the Roman Empire did not completely fall until the late 1400s?
Explain why the Ural mountains were important to Europe.
The Ural mountains are the natural barrier between Europe and Asia, separating Europe specifically from China and Russia
The Urals are rich in useful minerals.
William the Conqueror united the English throne with the Dukedom of Normandy, ruling lands on both sides of the English Channel. How did this specific political union set the stage for future conflict between England and France?
It created a complex dynamic where the English King was a sovereign ruler in England but a vassal (servant) to the French King for his lands in Normandy, leading to centuries of war.
Contrast the Roman Empire's form of government and the feudal system.
After the fall of the central Roman government, Europe transitioned from a society governed by written law and public citizenship (the Empire) to one governed by personal loyalty (to a lord) and unwritten customs (feudal/manorial system)