New Patterns of Civilization

New Patterns
of Civilization

Essential Question: How did a new
European civilization develop after the
fall of the Roman Empire?

Review: the fall of the Roman Empire
was caused by a split empire.

● Land-owning Lords became “monarchs”

○ Kept their land and subjects

● Split identity:

○ West became influenced by Germanic culture

and Christianity

○ East Roman Empire maintained culture

Review: the fall of the Roman Empire
caused by a split empire.

● Invasions by the Huns & Barbary tribes

○

Able to do so because of divided nature

● Charlemagne took over Western Roman Empire;

established Carolingian Empire

● Eastern Roman Empire became controlled by the

Byzantine Empire

The Carolingian Empire established a
feudal system which was the beginning
of the Middle Ages

● Feudalism: nobles in power, land grabs

○ Peasants/serfs lived under their Lords in

exchange for military protection

● Cause of its fall: Viking invasions & too large

The Carolingian Empire established a
feudal system which was the beginning
of the Middle Ages

● Years: 1000-3000 CE
● Period of rapid growth

○

Agricultural production, trade, cities/towns,
and money economy

The Middle Ages was characterized by
centralized power, and the expansion of
the power of the Catholic Church.

● Landed Aristocracy in charge (those who have land

= nobles, vassals)

○

Serfs/peasants tenants

● Kings exercised centralized authority

○

Concentration of power in the hands of one
individual

● Catholic Church was dominant institution

○

Rise in spirituality; more religious order

The establishment of the Byzantine
Empire kept Classical ideals alive

● Surviving Eastern Roman Empire

○

Lasted for hundreds of years; 9th-11th
centuries

● Culture and religion spread to Central Europe

and Russia

○

Greek/Roman Classics spread to Europe

○

Contributed to European Renaissance

The decline of the Byzantine Empire
created the Ottoman Empire, which
reigned until World War 1!

● Fell to the crusading

Ottoman Turks

○

Fall of
Constantinople
1452

Big Ideas:

● The Roman Empire fell because of its massive

size, split, and invading tribes.

● The Carolingian Empire led the way in creating

the Middle Ages and feudal system, contributing
to the strength of the Catholic Church.

● The Byzantine Empire helped to jump start the

European Renaissance, later becoming the
Ottoman Empire.