12 Questions
Why did the Roman Empire split into two parts by 285CE?
The empire had grown too large and had too much land to control, causing it to fall apart.
What groups invaded the Western Roman Empire after its decline?
Germanic tribes.
What was the new name of the Eastern Roman Empire?
The Byzantine Empire.
What was the capital of the Byzantine Empire?
Constantinople.
What was the official language of the Byzantine Empire?
Greek.
Who defeated the Byzantine Empire in 1453?
The Ottoman Empire.
What was the Feudal System and how did it work?
A system where people were given land and protection by those of a higher rank in exchange for work and military service. The king would give land to lords, who would provide for knights, who would then provide for peasants.
What were the main symptoms of the Black Death?
Fever, headache, and the growth of large buboes in areas such as the armpits and groin.
How did the Black Death spread across Europe?
Through the exchange of goods along the Silk Road, and through infected rats on ships that traveled from Central Asia to European ports.
What was the main reason behind the Crusades?
To reclaim the Holy Land, specifically Jerusalem, and to gain power and land for European Christians.
What was the social hierarchy in the Feudal System?
King, noble, and peasant.
What was the estimated percentage of Europe's population killed by the Black Death?
40-60%.
Study Notes
The Decline of the Roman Empire
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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.
Learn about the decline of the Roman Empire, its split into Western and Eastern Empires, and the subsequent invasions by Germanic tribes that led to the Dark Ages.
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