EUROPE PRE-EXPLORATION

THE DARK AGES

PERIOD OF TIME BETWEEN FALL OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE, AND THE RISE OF EUROPEAN MONARCHS

476 AD- 1400 AD

Fall of the Roman Empire was so devastating that Europe split into thousands of tiny separate kingdoms

- Feudalism

THE CRUSADES

1095-1291

Muslims expanding through middle east. Take over holy lands - Jerusalem

Christians no longer feel safe traveling there

Pope calls on worldwide Christians to wage war against Muslims taking back holy lands

Forces interaction between powerful and advanced Muslim world and stagnant Europeans

Religious war leads to advances in military and exploration technologies

RE-OPENS TRADE BETWEEN EUROPE AND ASIA

Silk Road - Marco Polo

MARCO POLO

1271 -24 year journey through AsiaTells story to cellmate who turns it

into The Travels of Marco Polo

THE BLACK PLAGUE1347 - 1350

Carried by fleas on rats along the Silk Road

1/3 of Europe is Killed50% of anyone living in a City

Forces Europe to make changes in medicine and sanitation

FEUDALISM

Economic system of kings, lords, knights and peasants/serfs

FEUDALISMNo ability to better yourself or move up or down in

societyBlack Plague destroys labor force - Serfs could now

demand for work and move to cities

End of Feudalism