Three periods in European history

THE CLASSICAL PERIOD When we refer to the classical period of European history, we are talking about the time of the Greek and Roman empires. These great empires spread many new ideas and technologies and are generally seen as a time of great progress for humans.

Then.... these ideas and this trend toward progress disappeared. We call this period the Middle Ages.

Renaissance Many years later, when humans re-discovered Greek and Roman ideas, a new age, which we call the Renaissance (rebirth), began.

Classical Middle Ages Renaissance (Greece and Rome) (Medieval) (rebirth)

Classical Medieval Renaissance

Classical Europe 1000 BC AD Greece became world’s first democracy Athens was capital of Greece Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle were great Greek philosophers Alexander the Great was Greek ruler who spread Greek culture Rome peaked later, had a republic The Coliseum is a famous roman stadium Romans had aqueducts Jesus was born during the time of Caesar Augustus Christianity spread and became religion of the Roman empire Rome fell in the 400s

GREECE: THE “CRADLE OF DEMOCRACY” Before about 400 BC, each city-state (polis) had been ruled by a king. During the Greek “Golden Age,” the Greeks began a democracy – or direct rule of the people. The city-state of Athens was home to the world’s first democracy!

Great philosophers Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle were all great Greek philosophers. Philosopher means “love of wisdom.” Philosophers try to understand human nature.

Rome Rome began really growing around 700 B.C.. Although Greece was a great empire, it began to weaken around 400 B.C. Rome borrowed the Latin alphabet from the Greeks. Rome started a republic, which is when people elect leaders to rule them. Eventually, Rome came to be led by an emperor. Roman architecture includes the Pantheon and the Coliseum. Under the rule of Constantine I in the 300s AD, Rome adopted Christianity as the official religion of the Roman Empire. The capital was moved to Constantinople, and Rome was weakened and fell in the 400s AD.

The Middle Ages a.k.a., Medieval period 1,000 year period between the fall of Rome and the Renaissance (500s AD – 1300 AD) The Roman Catholic Church was the most powerful force in Europe at the time, dictating life for most Europeans. The pope controlled the Catholic church and had vast power. Feudalism was the social system people followed (Kings gave land to nobles/vassals and serfs were like slaves that worked the land.) The Crusades were holy wars in the 1000s, where Christians attempted to take control of “the Holy Land.” Charlemagne was a powerful leader of the “Franks” and adopted Christianity.

The Roman Catholic Church During the Middle Ages, the Roman Catholic Church became a great force throughout Europe. In the 500s, popes became the leaders of the RCC. Beginning in the 1000s, the RCC sponsored a series of holy wars called Crusades. The RCC taught people that life on earth was meant for suffering and that people would be rewarded in heaven. Some people even believed that using spices was sinful because food was meant not for pleasure but sustenance.

Renaissance Means “rebirth” A “new” golden age inspired by Greek and Roman ideas People became less likely to focus solely on the Church and more likely to focus on the achievements and uniqueness of individuals. Humanism – the idea that people could think for themselves and accomplish great things on their own using their intellect – represents the spirit of the era. Great artists like Michelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci emerged People began writing in the vernacular (their own spoken language) instead of only in Latin.

Renaissance, continued Some Christians split from the Roman Catholic Church. This was during a movement called the Reformation (spurred by Martin Luther). Technology allowed explorers like Christopher Columbus (1492), Barthlomeu Dias, and Vasco da Gama to sail great distances. Europeans began settling the “New World.” People began to challenge monarchs and eventually revolutions (like the French and American Revolutions) led to democracy in Europe and America.

Renaissance art

Da Vinci’s Mona Lisa

Medieval Renaissance

Humanism in literature

1488 – Bartholomeu Dias reached Cape of Good Hope 1492 – Christopher Columbus reached the Americas 1498 – Vasco da Gama reached India