Economic

 The central government had a very large bureaucracy  For most of the time it was good  Constantinople was in control of surrounding areas  Centralization  Food prices were set by the government

 The very large peasant class was good for  Products  TAXES  Large merchant class  Never gained significant political power

 Trade for food was very important  Usually a priority to make sure they could feed a very large urban population  Traded with:  Asia, Russia, Scandinavia, Arabs, India  Silk and other luxury goods

 Vikings  During the 6 th and 7 th centuries moved into the region  c. 855, monarchy under Rurik (Danish)  Center at Kiev  Prosperous commercial center

 Expansion of arable land  Population rises  Cleared forests, swamps  Lords encouraged such efforts  Improved farming techniques  Crop rotation methods  Use of fertilizer  Cultivation of beans increased  More domestic animals  Books on economy, agriculture  New tools and technology  Extensive use of watermills and heavy plows  Use of horseshoe and horse collar, increased land under cultivation  3-plot rotation of planted land

New farming technologies And new foods Before 1000, European diet - grains After 1000, more meat, dairy products, fish, vegetables, legumes Increase in food production Population explosion Between 1000 and 1300, the population of Europe doubled

 no market economy (trade) –food production and land ownership form basis of wealth  development of better farming techniques allowed for increased food production, rise in population, and centralization of authority  later development of commercial trade (headed by Italians -access to waterways)  because of Christian ethics, views on merchants were similar to China

 New technologies & contacts  from Africa –new crops  from Asia / Middle East –new farming tools, math, science, philosophy  from Eastern Europe –math, science, philosophy (obviously NOT religion)  **Western Europe takes far more than it gives**