Fall of Rome (476 CE)
Collapse of centralized authority; led to political fragmentation
and loss of long-distance trade.
1/31
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Fall of Rome (476 CE) | Collapse of centralized authority; led to political fragmentation and loss of long-distance trade. |
| Dark Ages/Early Middle Ages | Period marked by ruralization, decline of learning, and local warfare. |
| Manorial System | Economic system where peasants lived and worked on a lord’s estate in exchange for protection. |
| Subsistence Agriculture | Farming for survival rather than trade; characteristic of the early medieval economy. |
| Feudal System | Political and social hierarchy based on landholding and loyalty. |
| King → Nobles → Knights → Peasants/Serfs | Structure of obligations. |
| Knights | Warriors who pledged loyalty and military service; governed small plots of land (fiefs). |
| Chivalry | Code of conduct emphasizing bravery, loyalty, and protecting the weak. |
| Catholic Church | Central institution unifying Western Europe; controlled education, daily life, and law. |
| Pope Innocent III | Expanded papal authority; claimed supremacy over monarchs. |
| Stained Glass Windows | Taught Bible stories to an illiterate population. |
| Universities | Grew around cathedrals; trained clergy and helped standardize learning. |
| Crusades | Series of military campaigns to reclaim the Holy Land. |
| Pope Urban II | Called for the First Crusade to fight Muslim Turks. |
| First Crusade | Crusaders captured Jerusalem; resulted in massacre of many inhabitants. |
| The Great Schism | Break between Roman Catholic (West) and Eastern Orthodox (East). Key Issue: The pope’s claim to authority over all Christians. |
| Reconquista (Spain) | Christian kingdoms’ effort to retake Iberia from Muslim rule. |
| Impact of Reconquista | Expulsion of Jews and Muslims led to economic decline and loss of cultural diversity. |
| French Kings (e.g., Philip II) | Expanded royal lands; strengthened centralized power. |
| English Kings | Weakened due to conflict with nobles. |
| Magna Carta (1215) | Limited royal power; established that even the king must obey the law. |
| Byzantine Empire | Eastern continuation of Roman Empire. |
| Constantinople | Thrived due to location on trade routes and strong walls. |
| Icon Controversy | Disagreement over use of religious images contributed to the Great Schism. |
| Heavy Plow, Three-Field System, Horse Collar | Increased food production. Population growth, rise of towns, revival of trade, emergence of middle class. |
| Impact of Rome’s Fall | Western Europe fragmented. Decline in trade, cities, learning. |
| How Feudalism Restored Order | Provided security through local lords and knights. Created predictable economic and social structure. |
| Power of the Medieval Church | Influenced education, government, law, and daily life. Reached its peak under strong popes like Innocent III. |
| Effects of Crusades & Reconquista | Increased contact between Europe and Middle East. In Spain, expulsion of Jews and Muslims weakened cultural and economic strength. |
| Universities’ Significance | Helped professionalize clergy. Preserved and expanded classical knowledge. |
| Constitutional Development in England | Magna Carta protected noble rights. Foundation of limited government and constitutionalism. |