THE MIDDLE AGES
Social Studies 10| A. Morrison
OUTCOME
• 5.1 Explain how the various Medieval institutions (church, feudalism, manoralism) helped fill the political and economic vacuum created by the collapse of Rome.
• 5.6 Analyze the effects of geography on medieval life.
ACTIVITY
•Handout| Geography of Western Europe
• Read the handout and complete the questions.
GEOGRAPHY
• Europe is the smallest of the seven continents.
• Fertile plains and fields, long coast lines.
GEOGRAPHY
• Fertile soil for crops and a significant annual rain fall.•ONE major harvest
per year.
GEOGRAPHY
•Good resources: wood, tin, furs/skins.
• European rivers connect the continent; good for trade, travel.
•Danube River• Rhine River
• Volga River.
GEOGRAPHY•Mountain ranges were a natural border that separated groups• Created different
cultures, kingdoms.• Unlike
Mediterranean: mountain passes made for easy travel.
THE MIDDLE AGES
• The Middle Ages can be divided into two periods:
Early Middle Ages –476-1050CE (the “Dark
Ages”)
Late Middle Ages –1050-1450CE
THE EARLY MIDDLE AGES
• Also called Medieval times.• After the fall of Western Rome,
small independent kingdoms developed.• Christianity continued to spread.
• Latin became the language of the church.
“Medieval” comes from Latin Medium aevum (literally “middle ages”).
Wooden motte and bailey castle.
THE EARLY MIDDLE AGES
•Nearly constant invasion meant governments could not protect people.• Those who wanted to
survive turned to powerful kings and lords.• Serve a lord (farm, fight):
be protected in return.Magyar Invasion of Europe
END
