Postclassical+Europe+Introduction

By: Lucy Li, Claire Foussard, Sam Forsgren, Ava Gallagher, Erin Moynihan
 * __Introduction to Medieval Europe__**

The medieval period in Europe resulted from the dramatic fall of the Roman Empire. Peoples tried to recover, but society had periods of ups and downs. The structures of government had collapsed, so the wealthy church stepped in to fill the power vacuum. The monasteries preserved most of literature and learning, and the church managed to convert most of Europe to Christianity. During the high middle ages, the church conducted several Crusades against the Arabs in the East. These holy wars helped promote culture and economic growth. It helped expose the West to Middle Eastern influences. Three estates made up society. The church, headed by the pope, often had conflicts with the estate of nobles. The majority of people made up the third estate, “those who work.” Merchants challenged the structure, however, as trade increased and they became wealthier. In around 100, clerics brought philosophy and theology to new levels. They focused on religion and believed reason could help people understand God. Universities emerged and supported a mixture of spiritual and rational understanding. In arts, the theme of religion dominated. Romanesque architecture made way for Gothic structures, and with the emergence of the Black Death, depictions of death also became common. From around 500-1000 C.E, the medieval age of Europe stay mostly intact by Christianity and a slow recovery from the fall of Rome.