THE IMPACT OF THE FALL OF ROME ON WESTERN EUROPE



ROME

THE IMPACT OF THE FALL OF ROME ON WESTERN EUROPE

• After the Huns were turned back from China at the Great Wall, they turned westward toward Russia and Europe.

• The Huns, combined with the Goths (from Germany) united to eventually bring down the fall of Rome

• Following the fall of the Roman Empire around the year 500 AD, Western Europe became fragmented

• The Huns, under Attila and other barbaric groups ravaged areas that had been part of the Roman Empire

THE EFFECT OF INVASIONS:

• Disruption of trade- merchants faced frequent invasions, their businesses collapsed and Europe’s cities were destroyed and abandoned as economic and political centers

• Population shifts- the population of Western Europe became more rural as Roman centers of trade collapsed. Nobles retreated to rural areas and the cities were left without strong leadership. Other city dwellers moved to rural areas to grow their own food.

• Constant perils of dangerous animals, kidnappers, and every day violence

• Plagues and other diseases were recurring

• Breakdown of infrastructure- roads, drainage systems etc. and loss of the knowledge of bricklaying

• In agriculture, the basic tools were picks, spades, rakes, etc. There were no plows which caused problems in the heavy soils of northern Europe.

• The harness, collar and stirrup did not exist until about 900 A.D.

• People entered into feudal agreements for protection.

THE DECLINE OF LEARNING:

• Intellectual life vanished from Europe

• Though Germanic invaders had a rich oral tradition of songs and legends, they could not read or write

• Romans became less literate as they moved to rural areas

• Few people except priests and other church officials could read and literacy was scorned.

• Knowledge of Greek was almost lost

• As German people mixed with the Roman population, Latin began to change until it was no longer understood from region to region- this development of various languages added to the break-up of the once unified Roman Empire

THE ROLE OF THE WESTERN CHURCH

• The Church was an institution that survived the fall of Rome and helped carry on the Roman tradition.

• During the time of political chaos, the Church provided order and security

• The conversion of military leaders and the work of missionaries and other church leaders helped to expand Christianity

• Early church leaders helped define the beliefs of the Church in councils such as the Council of Nicaea(325 A.D.) where a single standard of belief emerged called the Nicene Creed

• Early church scholars and writers also helped define the early church-

• Augustine (later known as Saint Augustine), a fifth century bishop of Hippo in North Africa was very influential and wrote the City of God which said that the fate of earthly cities was not important because the heavenly city could never be destroyed.

Nicene Creed 381 AD

We believe in one God,

the Father, the Almighty,

of all that is, seen and unseen.

We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ,

the only Son of God,

eternally begotten of the Father,

God from God, Light from Light,

true God from true God,

begotten, not made,

of one Being with the Father.

Through him all things were made.

For us and for our salvation

he came down from heaven:

by the power of the Holy Spirit

he became incarnate from the Virgin Mary,

and was made man.

For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate;

he suffered death and was buried.

On the third day he rose again

in accordance with the Scriptures;

he ascended into heaven

and is seated at the right hand of the Father.

He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead,

and his kingdom will have no end.

We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life,

who proceeds from the Father and the Son.

With the Father and the Son he is worshipped and glorified.

He has spoken through the Prophets.

We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church.

We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.

We look for the resurrection of the dead,

and the life of the world to come. Amen.

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ROME

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