1. Heirs to the Roman Empire: Europe, 500 to 800 AD World History - Libertyville HS

2. Effect of Disintegration of W Roman Empire Germanic tribes settled throughout old Roman Empire – Ostrogoths – Italy – Saxons – England / NW Germany – Visigoths – Spain – Vandals – North Africa – Franks - France

3. Effects of Fall Changes in government form – Citizenship less important (less obligation) – Now, personal loyalty is most important (requires high obligation to leader) – German chiefs led bands of warriors personally loyal to him

4. Effects of Fall of WRE Economic Effects – Cities shrank as law, order broke down – Trade shrank as l & o broke down – Travel became unsafe (bandits)

5. Effects of Fall of WRE Loss of knowledge, learning – Incomers were illiterate (no written language) – As cities shrank, so too did the “literacy line” decrease Represents where people have opportunity to get educated Roman times = throughout Empire Early MA = around monasteries, a few towns – People didn’t have time to learn to read (survival!)

6. Effects of Fall of WRE Population shifts – Roman nobility moved to countryside – Intermarried with incoming Germanic leaders – Became future nobility of Europe

7. Effects of the Fall of WRE Political Effects – Almost all (Roman) political institutions FAIL Examples of political institutions? – Results in a power vacuum – Power goes to those who control land

8. Effect of Fall of WRE Power to those who control land – Shift of power from Southern Italy to N. Europe – Less wealth in N = less to loot = less destruction – Development of heavy plow – Larger populations developed more quickly in N than S – More population = more specialization

9. Who benefits from Fall of Rome? Rise in power of local warlords – whoever had military strength, seized and controlled land Rise in power of Church – Only Roman institution to survive fall of Empire – Provided continuity / link between WRE, post WRE world – Something for regular people to hold on to – Preserved knowledge of Romans, some Greeks

10. Power of Church Remnants of Roman authority used to bolter own authority – The past was very important for commoners to look to – They were no longer important, themselves Conversion of incomers key – Church came to terms with invaders (blended old, new ways) – Conversion key b/c w/ their conversion, more power to church