The The ““Middle AgesMiddle Ages”” of of EuropeEurope

400 AD – 1500 AD400 AD – 1500 AD

Learning Target:Learning Target:

I can describe the events following the Fall of Rome I can describe the events following the Fall of Rome in Europe. I can define the terms in Europe. I can define the terms ““Middle AgesMiddle Ages”” or or

““Medieval PeriodMedieval Period”” and describe why some historians and describe why some historians refer to this period as the Dark Ages.refer to this period as the Dark Ages.

To what does To what does ““Middle AgesMiddle Ages”” refer?refer?

When the Roman Empire collapsed, Europe lost its When the Roman Empire collapsed, Europe lost its center of power and a new period of history began.center of power and a new period of history began.

That period, called the Middle Ages, is the period That period, called the Middle Ages, is the period between ancient and modern times.between ancient and modern times.

Sometimes, this period is also called the Medieval Sometimes, this period is also called the Medieval Times. Medieval comes from the Latin for Times. Medieval comes from the Latin for ““middle agemiddle age””..

Two Middle AgesTwo Middle Ages Historians split the Historians split the

time period.time period. The Early Middle AgesThe Early Middle Ages

400 – 1000 AD400 – 1000 AD Most believe the time Most believe the time

period starts with the period starts with the Fall of Rome (476 AD)Fall of Rome (476 AD)

The Later Middle AgesThe Later Middle Ages 1000 – 1500 AD1000 – 1500 AD Most believe the period Most believe the period

ends with Columbus ends with Columbus landing in the Americas landing in the Americas (1492 AD)(1492 AD)

Why was this time period once Why was this time period once called the called the ““Dark AgesDark Ages””??

Historians once called Historians once called the early middle ages the early middle ages the the ““Dark AgesDark Ages”” because they focused because they focused on the problems of the on the problems of the time:time: Lack of a central Lack of a central

governmentgovernment Widespread disease Widespread disease

(plague)(plague) Long religious warsLong religious wars Little access to Little access to

educationeducation Lack of technological or Lack of technological or

cultural developmentcultural development

Key Developments/EventsKey Developments/Eventsof the Middle Ages of the Middle Ages

Spread and Growth of Spread and Growth of ChristianityChristianity

Reign of Famous Kings Reign of Famous Kings and Start of New and Start of New EmpiresEmpires

Development of Development of FeudalismFeudalism

New Economic System New Economic System = Manor System= Manor System

The CrusadesThe Crusades Growth of Democratic Growth of Democratic

ThoughtThought The Black DeathThe Black Death