Unit 2 Activity 4 Presentation Medieval Towns Unit 2 Activity 4 Presentation

A peninsula is a piece of land jutting into a body of water Setting the Stage GEOGRAPHY of Europe: a peninsula of peninsulas! (Iberian peninsula, Italian peninsula, Balkan peninsula, Scandinavian peninsula) a continent of rivers! A peninsula is a piece of land jutting into a body of water

Setting the Stage GEOGRAPHY of Europe: Major mountain ranges: the Alps + the Carpathians Why does geography matter? We can learn how humans interact with the environment and with each other!

Setting the Stage BEFORE 1000 C.E. AFTER 1000 C.E. (Late Middle Ages) Most people lived in: countryside on feudal manors or religious communities AFTER 1000 C.E. (Late Middle Ages) Most people lived in: towns around castles + monasteries

Timeline We’ll look at events roughly around here for THIS lesson! (1000 to 1300 C.E.) 500 B.C.E. 0 C.E 300 C.E. 800 C.E. 1400 C.E. Roman Republic 509 B.C.E. to 27 B.C.E ~500 years Roman Empire 27 B.C.E. to 284 C.E. ~300 years Roman Empire (West) 284 C.E. to 476 C.E. ~100 years Various Kingdoms 476 C.E. to 800 C.E. Holy Roman Empire + Various Kingdoms 800 C.E. to 1806 C.E. ~1000 years Roman Empire (East) later known as the Byzantine Empire 284 C.E. to 1453 C.E. Emperor Constantine moved capital of the empire from Rome to Byzantium in 330 C.E. = the fall of the Roman Empire = the beginning of the MIDDLE AGES

Map What do you notice about where these cities/towns were LOCATED? They’re all located by RIVERS or SEAS! Rivers/seas allow people to TRAVEL! When people can move from place to place, they can trade and communicate with others! GEOGRAPHY QUESTION! How do people interact/use rivers and seas?

What led to the growth of medieval towns? Improvements in AGRICULTURE + Revival of TRADE = more towns!

What led to the growth of medieval towns? Improvements in AGRICULTURE Better farming methods Surplus of food grown Sell food in town markets Population growth More jobs needed/created! Not everyone had to farm People left farms to look for jobs in towns Surplus = oversupply

What led to the growth of medieval towns? Revival of TRADE During the Roman Empire = Trade was GOOD Fall of the Roman Empire = Trade was DISRUPTED Feudalism restored some order = Trade REVIVED Rivers/seas = Made trade EASIER

What was life like in medieval towns? Narrow streets Crowded with: people, horses, carts, livestock No garbage collection More people = more jobs, more homes, more crimes! CROWDED LIVELY + BUSTLING Many shops and businesses Many celebrations: religious feasts, fairs, games