1. Unit 2 Activity 4 Presentation
Medieval Towns
Unit 2
Activity 4 Presentation

2. 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

3. 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!

4. 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

5. Timeline
We’ll look at events roughly around here for THIS lesson! (1000 to 1300 C.E.)
500 B.C.E C.E C.E C.E 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

6. 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?

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

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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