Causes and Characteristics of the Middle Ages

1. The Middle Ages Causes and Characteristics of the Middle Ages

2. The Middle Ages • The Middle Ages: What is it? • Name given to the time period after the gradual decline of the Roman Empire. • Lasts roughly 1000 years, 500-1500 • Sometimes called The Dark Ages or medieval period. • Often seen as a very bleak and dangerous period • Had roots in: • The classical heritage of Rome • The beliefs of the Roman Catholic Church • The customs of various Germanic tribes

3. Fall of Rome

4. Causes of the Middle Ages • Causes of the Middle Ages • Fall of Rome • Invasions • Disruption of Trade: Merchant trade collapsed and Europe’s economic centers were destroyed. Money also became scarce. • Downfall of cities: Cities were abandoned as centers of administration.

5. Causes of the Middle Ages • Invasions • Population shifts: Roman cities left without strong leadership. Europe became mostly rural. • Decline of learning: Germanic invaders could not read or write. Learning became less important as people moved to rural areas. • Loss of a common language: Latin changed as Germanic people mixed with Roman population.

6. Causes of the Middle Ages • Early Plague • Plague of Justinian (Byzantine emperor) • 541-542 AD • Affected all of Afro-Eurasia • Prevented Justinian from reconquering and reforming the Western Roman Empire

7. Characteristics of the Middle Ages • Changes that occurred as a Result of the Fall of Rome • New Germanic Kingdoms Emerge (Holy Roman Empire) • Rise of feudalism in Europe

8. Characteristics of the Middle Ages • Changes that occurred as a Result of the Fall of Rome • The power of the Churchgrew rapidly • Europe became rural as cities shrank • No major emphasis on learning • Decline in Trade

9. Causes/Effects of the Middle Ages • Changes that occurred as a Result of the Fall of Rome g. New languages replace Latin h. Early signs of modern European countries start to appear (England & France)