1. History 10: How to Think About History
Unit 2: Foundations of Medieval Europe

2. Events are the products of other events
Causation
Events are the products of other events
The Catholic Church’s authority increased due in large part to the importance Charlemagne placed on achieving religious unity in his empire
The spread of Islam to northern Europe was prevented by Charles Martel’s victory at the Battle of Tours thereby ensuring the Christian make-up and character of Europe into the future

3. Change is ongoing and ever present
Feudalism became most important and developed in those areas that experienced the most invasions
Roman and Germanic culture mixed creating a new European culture

4. Continuity
Continuity connects different historical periods and developments
Feudalism was weakest, or least developed, in regions where Roman Republican values remained relatively unchallenged, e.g. Italy and Byzantium
Like feudalism, the manorial system grew out of earlier traditions, e.g. under the Roman Empire, coloni, or peasant farmers, worked the states of great landowners. The coloni were not slaves but could not leave the estate without permission. When Germanic nobles replaced Roman landowners, they retained the coloni system.

5. History is not a science but a perspective or story
Perspectives & Biases
History is not a science but a perspective or story
Did the Catholic Church teach and represent the one true form of Christianity?
Is typological history trustworthy or problematic?