Rise and Fall of Roman Empire: The Middle Ages

Study Notes

By 285 CE, the Roman Empire was split into two: the Western Empire and the Eastern Roman Empire, also known as the Byzantine Empire.
The Western Empire was slowly destroyed and invaded by Germanic tribes, marking the beginning of the Dark Ages.
The Eastern Roman Empire, with its capital in Constantinople, controlled lands in Eastern Europe and successfully ruled until its defeat in 1453.
Constantinople was built on the site of the old Greek city Byzantium by Emperor Constantine in the 4th century CE.

The feudal system was developed in the 11th century by the Franks and was used across Europe, Asia, and the Middle East.
The system was based on a hierarchical structure of king, noble, and peasant, where people were given land and protection in exchange for work and military service.
The feudal system was similar to the caste system, with social mobility being difficult.

The Black Death was a pandemic that occurred in the 14th century, causing widespread death and devastation.
The disease started in Central Asia and spread across Europe through the Silk Road and merchant trade.
Symptoms of the plague included fever, headache, and large buboes in the armpits and groin.
Rats and fleas were responsible for spreading the disease to humans.
The plague killed approximately 40-60% of Europe's population, estimated to be around 75-200 million deaths.

The Crusades were a series of campaigns led by Pope Urban II to gain land and power in the Holy Land, specifically Jerusalem.
European Christians were involved in the Crusades, motivated by the desire to reclaim the Holy Land.
The Crusades benefited the Catholic Church and the nobility, who gained power and wealth from the campaigns.