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 of WRE Civilization in Europe / WRE almost completely fails  Failure of food surplus b/c of trade disruption  Breakdown of complex institutions (government)  Written language ceases to be known, outside of Church  Worker specialization fails – everyone back to farming!

4. Effects of Fall Changes in government form – Citizenship stopped meaning anything (no state to be a citizen of) – Now, personal loyalty is most important (high obligation to a leader) – German chiefs led bands of warriors, personally loyal to him

5. Effects of Fall of WRE Economic Effects – Cities shrank as law, order broke down – Trade and travel became unsafe due to bandits, lack of order

6. Effects of Fall of WRE Loss of knowledge, learning – Incomers were illiterate – People didn’t have time to learn to read; to focused on survival! Only place where (some) written knowledge was preserved? – Monasteries – Eastern Roman Empire – Later, the Arabic World

7. Effects of Fall of WRE Population shifts – Roman nobility moved to countryside (safer, more food) – Intermarried with incoming Germanic leaders – Became future nobility of Europe

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

9. Effect of Fall of WRE Shift of power from Southern Italy to N. Europe Less wealth in N = less to loot = less destruction Development of heavy plow allows for agriculture to begin again, in N. Europe Larger populations developed more quickly in N than S More population = more specialization

10. 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 – The 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

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