Outcome: Causes/Effects of the Middle AgesThe Middle Ages

Causes/Effects of the Middle Ages

1. The Middle Ages: What is it?a. Name given to the time period after the gradual decline of the

Roman Empire.

b. Lasts roughly 1000 years, 500-1500c. Sometimes called The Dark Ages or medieval

period.d. Often seen as a very bleak and dangerous periode. Had roots in:

i. The classical heritage of Romeii. The beliefs of the Roman Catholic Churchiii. The customs of various Germanic tribes

Fall of Rome

Causes/Effects of the Middle Ages

2. Causes of the Middle Agesa. Fall of Romeb. Invasions

i. Disruption of Trade: Merchant trade collapsed and Europe’s economic centers were destroyed. Money also became scarce.

ii. Downfall of cities: Cities were abandoned as centers of administration.

Causes/Effects of the Middle Ages

b. Invasionsiii. Population shifts: Roman cities left without strong

leadership. Europe became mostly rural.iv. Decline of learning: Germanic invaders could not

read or write. Learning became less important as people moved to rural areas.

v. Loss of a common language: Latin changed as Germanic people mixed with Roman population.

Causes/Effects of the Middle Ages

c. Early Plaguei. Plague of Justinian

1. 541-542 AD2. Affects Byzantium including

Constantinople3. Justinian has it but does not die of it

Causes/Effects of the Middle Ages

3. Effects of the Middle Agesa. New Germanic Kingdoms Emerge (Holy Roman

Empire)

b. Rise of feudalism in Europe

Causes/Effects of the Middle Ages

3. Effects of the Middle Agesc. The power of the Church grows rapidlyd. Europe became rurale. No major emphasis on learning

Causes/Effects of the Middle Ages

3. Effects of the Middle Agesf. New languages replace Lating. Early signs of modern European countries start to appear

(England & France)