Download Fall of Roman Empire and Middle Ages Study Guide

Fall of Roman Empire and Middle Ages Study Guide
Topics for Study→ Please refer to Mr. Quartararo’s website for a review of
any notes and lesson activities
A) Fall of Rome
1. Pax Romana→ Golden Age for Rome
a. 200-year period of peace
b. Achievements such as aqueducts, roads, bridges, etc.
2. Emperors→ Good and Bad
a. Many did not rule for more than 5 years
b. Poor decisions led to fighting and economic problems
3. Problems
a. Natural disasters killed many citizens, barbarian
invasions, army couldn’t maintain the borders, empire
grew too large, empire split into two parts (East and West)
B) Feudal Europe
1. Manor Life
a. Small, self-sufficient towns
b. Most people remained on the land for life
c. manors→ land given to a lord (baron) by the king
d. Church was a major presence on the manor
2. Feudalism Social Hierarchy
a. Kings→ give out the land; provide protection
b. Barons/Lords/Nobles/Priests→ govern the land; make
laws of the manor; collect taxes; religious leaders
c. Knights→ protect the manor; defend the land
d. Peasants/Serfs→ do the majority of the work on the
manor; common people; artisans and merchants and
farmers; provide food in return for protections
3. Smaller kingdoms
a. Barbaric tribes that defeated Roman Empire split up
Europe into smaller kingdoms
b. Easier to defend
c. Converted to Christianity
4. Spread of Christianity
a. Christianity became widespread religion throughout
Europe and parts of Asia
b. Pope became important leader on religious and political
ideas
c. Most decisions were made based on the church’s power
d. Example: Pope Gregory vs. King Henry IV→ King tried to
appoint bishops; Pope was angered; King had to give in
to the church to avoid angry people and a rebellion
C) Byzantine Empire
1. Preserve Greek and Roman culture
a. Artifacts shipped to Byzantium
b. Greek language used in the empire
c. Buildings and architecture modelled after classical
civilizations
2. Justinian
a. Code of laws (Justinian’s Code)
b. Rights for women
c. Simplified language/writing so all were aware of laws
d. Wife Theodora convinced him to stay during times of
trouble (economic problems led to rebellion)
e. Seen as great leader, but still had challenges to face
3. Hagia Sophia
a. “Holy Wisdom”
b. Grand church in Byzantium
c. Built after the rebellion to give people a marvelous place
of worship
d. Survived many natural disasters; eventually taken over by
Muslims and converted to a mosque
4. Constantinople/Byzantium
a. In modern-day Turkey
b. Originally named Byzantium, but the city’s name was
changed to Constantinople when Constantine was
emperor
c. Changed back to Byzantium; today it is called Istanbul
D) Islamic Empire
1. Rapid spread of Islam
a. Originated as a religion around 630 AD, in Middle East
region
b. By 750 AD, spread all around Mediterranean region
2. Cordoba, Spain→ Jewel of Europe
a. Major city for knowledge, learning, arts, architecture
b. People from all over would come to visit
3. Respect for knowledge and learning
a. Inventions such as paper and calligraphy to spread ideas
and culture easily and cheaply
b. Scientific advancements
4. Goal: “catch up” to other civilizations
E) War and Plague
1. Clash of Cultures and Religions
a. Muslims and Christians
b. Both lay claim to Holy Land (Jerusalem)
2. Seljuk Turks
a. Banned Christian pilgrimages to Holy Land after years of
peaceful coexistence among Muslims, Jews, and
Christians
b. Spread Muslim influence even further into Christian lands
3. Crusades
a. Series of wars to defend/take back Holy Land
b. Pope enlisted thousands of crusaders to fight the Seljuk
Turks
c. Led to new trade routes and cultural exchanges
d. By end of wars, Muslims retain control of Holy Land
4. Blank Death/Bubonic Plague
a. Wipes out one-third of Europe’s population
b. Leads to new advancements in medicine and science
c. After plague clears out of Europe, Renaissance begins
● Be able to explain about perspective and understand how different
sides of a conflict have differing points of view
○ Example 1: Justinian→ Good leader or bad leader?
○ Example 2: Crusades→ Which side was right? Why would the
Pope use exaggeration in his speech to rally the Christians?
○ Example 3: Barbarians→ Savages or just “not Roman”?
● Key Tip→ When reading a map, base your answers and what you
see on the map!!!
● Political Cartoons/Images→ Be able to use evidence from the picture
to answer questions