Middle Ages aka “Dark Ages”

Middle Ages aka “Dark Ages” 500 AD- 1500 AD

Teacher Evaluation • Honestly fill out the evaluation of me so that I can work on becoming a more effective teacher. • You do not have to put your name on it.

Warm-up Question • Answer the following question on the back of your sheet of paper in at least 4 sentences. • What freedoms would you give up for protection? • Imagine yourself in a time period where there was constant war and violence and all you wanted was safety. What freedoms would you give up? Freedom to move somewhere else? Money? Food?

Middle Ages Problems • Turn to page 353 in your book. • Take five minutes to name as many problems as you can that led to the Middle Ages.

Problems after the fall of Rome • Repeated invasions and constant warfare. • Disruption of trade. • Money became scarce. • Business collapsed • Cities were abandoned because no strong leadership. • Nobles retreated to rural areas. • Decline of Learning (Many invaders could not read or write) • Loss of a common language- As German and mixed with Romance languages, dialects began to form.

How did Society Change? • Germanic kingdoms replaced Roman Provinces (Look at map on page 351) • Family ties and loyalty more important than citizenship. • Small communities governed by unwritten rules and traditions. • Germanic chief led warriors who pledged loyalty to him. • Impossible to establish orderly government

Frankish Family Tree

Middle Ages aka “Dark Ages”