Chapter 1: The World Before the Opening of the Atlantic

Section 4: Europe Before Transatlantic Travel

Greek and Roman Government

• Greek political system– 400-500 B.C. (Classical Period) – Greece began

organizing city-states into democracies.– Democracy – form of government in which people

rule for themselves.– All male citizens in Athens had the right to participate

in the lawmaking assembly.– Direct Democracy – people participate directly in

making laws.

Greek and Roman Government

• Roman Law and Government – Roman Republic was created in 509 B.C.– Roman government was a republic not a democracy– Romans elected representatives to vote on issues, they

did not directly vote on laws.– Laws were kept on public display so the citizens would

know them.– Emphasized equality before the law and people were

assumed innocent until proven guilty.

Why Does This Matter to Americans?

• When Americans began forming the government of the United States they took the ideas of the Greeks and Romans and put them together.

• We are a Democratic Republic.

Democracy and Republic

• Direct Democracy– Every citizen votes on every issue.– Ideas are debated at an assembly of all citizens.– Greece

• Republic– Citizens elect representatives to vote on issues.– Ideas are debated at an assembly of

representatives.– Roman Empire

Middle Ages in Europe

• Middle Ages: lasted from late 400s to 1300s in Europe.

• Roman Empire began to fall around 400.– People of Europe could no longer count on the protection

of the Roman Empire.– Constant fear of invasions from Vikings and Germanic

tribes.• What were the people of Europe to do about

protection?

Feudalism in Europe.

• Feudalism was the answer.• What exactly is feudalism?– Nobles (Lords) could not depend on Kings for

protection. They had to defend their own lands.– Knights (Vassals) were given land in exchange for

military service.– Peasants were allowed to farm on land owned by

knights (Manors). They exchanged the food they grew in order to receive protection.

Nobles (Lords)

Knights (Vassals)

Peasants

Feudalism in Europe• Feudalism brought stability back to Europe.• Merchants now felt safe to travel and trade.• New farming methods brought a surplus of food.• More food led to increase in population.• Economy began to grow. Serfs ran way to towns

to become craftspeople.

Decline of Feudalism

• As towns and trade grew the feudal system weakened because the serfs left the manors to live in the towns.

• Bubonic plague (Black Death) swept across Europe in 1347. It killed ¼ of the population reducing the number of workers. What do you think happened next?

Effects of the Black Death

• Huge shortage of workers.• The peasants that left the manors could now

demand wages for their labor.• They began to move into the cities which

caused the cities of Europe to grow rapidly.• Led to the growth of the merchant / trader

class.