Download Change and Continuity Over Time Essay

Change and Continuity Over Time Essay
Topic: Social and Political Changes in Western and Eastern Europe from 600-1450 C.E.
Beginning
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A trend towards decentralization
Urban population gradually declines
Particularly in Western Europe,
Roman laws stop being upheld.
Urban elites gradually lose power to
nobles, aristocrats, lords and local
kings.
People sought safety with local lords
and kings, who provided better
protection from “barbarians” and
invaders than far away rulers
The functional unit became the
manor
The Church began to gain political
power
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Middle
The High Middle Ages were marked
by political and religious squabbles
One such conflict was the schism
between the Orthodox and Roman
Catholic Church
The Crusades were both political
and Religious in motivation.
The first crusade was launched in
response to an appeal by the
Byzantine Emperor, requesting for
assistance against the Muslims
occupying the holy land.
However, by the fourth Crusade,
Western Europeans sacked
Constantinople.
The Schism of Avignon and failed
crusades led to lessened prestige and
power for the Catholic Church.
There were controversies
surrounding lay investiture.
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End
The Magna Carta is signed by John
“Softsword” of England in 1259,
limiting the powers of a King
The Crusades led to renewed
interest in trade, and as such, reurbanization.
Kings began to lose power, and city
states arose, starting in Italy.
The 100 years war (actually a series
of wars) sowed the seeds of French
and English Nationalistic thought
for the future, and split England
from mainland France.
Power began to shift back towards
towns and cities, though lords and
nobility held most of the power
Constantinople was taken by the
Ottomans in 1453
Mongol invasions and trade would
lead to the spread of plague
Changes: The last remnants of the Roman Empire, the Byzantine Empire, fell to Muslim invaders. The Magna Carta had been signed by the
end of the Middle ages, and it laid the groundwork for future documents and constitutions.
Continuities: Throughout the Middle ages, the Byzantine Empire gradually lost territory, and the end of the Middle ages is marked by the fall
of the Byzantine Capital of Constantinople. The middle ages began with decentralization and a decline of urban population and ended with a
trend towards reurbanization.
THESIS: Social and Political changes in Western and Eastern Europe had much to do with the loss of Roman unity, religious squabbles/shifts
in power, and foreign threats, for the most part in that order. Society was decentralized in the Early Middle ages, but by the late Middle Ages
nationalities began to form, sowing the seed for nation states.