Unit 3 TEST

In what ways has the Byzantine Empire influences the modern world?

Religion, Education, Engineering, Defense, Laws,

How did people get their jobs and their socio-economic positions int he Middle Ages?

They were born into it

What filled the vacuum of power in Western Europe after Rome fell?

feudal system and the church (WESTERN HALF: Feudalism develops in most places so people can meet their basic needs and protect themselves: Muslims, Vikings, and Magyars

In what ways did the Byzantine Empire continue the legacy of the Western Roman Empire? ESSENTIAL QUESTION TALK TO THIBAULT ABOUT THIS TOMORROW BEFORE SCHOOL STARTS

Architecture; Building ideas (Hagia Sophia ; Sports (Chariot Races); Constantine moved capitol (took some ideas like:); Battle strategies; emperors (continued tradition); Both had wealth

Why were rich decorations and images used in Orthodox churches?

BELIEVE THAT THEY BROUGHT THEM CLOSER TO G-D... they thought they could see what it was like to be in G-d's kingdom

Bulgaria

Basil fought in here for 15 years; Basil II defeated an army from here; out of 14K people, blinded every 99 and left 1 eye out of 100 with 1 eye

What are the benefits and drawbacks of the feudal system?

Benefits: protection, safety, people can lean on each other; need each other to coexist Drawbacks: Nobody can move in the system, born into your class

What is Manorialism?

economic system of the middle ages, in which each manor strove to be self-sufficient

How influential was the Roman Catholic Church in early medieval Europe? ESSENTIAL QUESTION

how they got power and land; what they provided for people (bread to poor) ; food in troubled times; protection; scribes for monarchs; people really liked them: sometimes left money and land in will for them and asked them to pray for their souls; believed in them

What is Chivalry?

knights lived by a code of behavior called chivalry ("horse.") expected to be loyal to the Church and to their lord, be just and fair protect the helpless. performed acts that were gallant respect paid to women

How did the Roman Catholic Church become the largest landowner in Europe by 1050?

land came in the form of gifts from monarchs and wealthy lords Some land was taken by force collecting a tithe, or tax. Each person was expected to give one-tenth of his money, produce, or labor to help support the Church Many people left wealth and land to the Church in their wills in exchange for prayer for their souls

How long did the Byzantine Empire Last?

lasted from about 500 to 1453 C.E.

What were the responsibilities of a knight?

lived by a code of behavior called chivalry ("horse.") expected to be loyal to the Church and to their lord, be just and fair protect the helpless. performed acts that were gallant respect paid to women From the acts that i listed above, we get the modern idea of chivalry Chivalry as traditional forms of courtesy and kindness toward women. Jousts and tournaments: In a joust, two armed knights on horseback galloped at each other with lances pointed at the other The rule was to try and unseat the opponent from his horse. Jousts were held as sporting events This was for: exercise, or as serious battles between rival knights. A tournament involved a team of knights going one on one against each other fought wearing heavy suits of armor. 11th century armor was made of linked metal rings (chain mail). 14th century armor was plate armor which was know for being more common and providing better protection knighthood lasted until about the 17th century when warfare changed with the gunpowder and cannons, Knights who fought on horseback, were no longer able to protect against these weapons

According to the Church, how did people gain salvation?

By following the Church's teachings and living a moral life (Look at Seven Sacraments)

What is Confirmation?

Formal declaration of belief in G-d and the Church

What happened in 1066 CE?

William of Normandy conquers England at the Battle of Hastings

Who was Charles Martel?

"the hammer"): Poitiers, defeated Muslim army invading souther Gaul from Spain

Holy Roman Empire

(Holy Roman Empire never controlled the city of Rome, it was in modern day Germany) Ruled much of Western Europe in 800 CE; First emperor was Charlemagne; crown in 800 by Pope Leo III

What is Matrimony (Marriage)

A formal union blessed by the Church; after being married by a priest, a couple signs their names in a registry, or book of records

What did peasants eat in Western Europe during the early medieval era?

vegetables meat such as pork dark, coarse bread make of wheat mixed with rye or oatmeal almost no one ate beef or chicken During winter ate: pork mutton fish that had been preserved in salt Herbs were often used to improve the flavor and reduce saltiness, or to mask the taste of stale meat

What happened in 800 CE?

Charlemagne is crowned Holy Roman Emperor

Sahara Desert

Southern Border of the Roman Empire

What is Holy Orders?

The sacrament in which a man becomes a priest

What is a Crusade?

A military version of a pilgrimage, but when you kill a Muslim, you go straight to heaven

What is Extreme Unction?

A blessing in which a person in danger of death is anointed (blessed with holy oil) by a priest; today, this rite is known as the sacrament (or anointing) of the sick

What is Eucharist?

A central part of the mass, the Church service in which the priest consecrates (blesses) bread and wine. In Catholic belief, the consecrated bread and wine become the body and the blood of Jesus

Sicily

A city on Sicily asked Rome for help; Rome stayed; Carthage felt threatened --> Punic War; valuable for Med. Trade; Rome conquered Sicily (Fought over this in the Punic Wars) Trade hub (island)

Why should we study the Byzantine Empire? ESSENTIAL QUESTION

Affected us today... Education (Socratic Method) , Law (Declaration of Independence: Life, Liberty, Happiness) Religion (98% of Greece is eastern Orthodox, a religion that thrived in the Byzantine Empire and gives the patriarch the power he has today)...

What was the Edict of Milan

Allowed people to practice Christianity freely

Who was Justinian?

An emperor; didn't have a lot of fans because he made high taxes, legislate morality (outlaws adultery, prostitution, homosexuality, gambling, heresies); trying to make everyone the same; He is most famous for under his direction, a committee studied the thousands of laws the Byzantines had inherited from the Roman Empire. (Justinian's Code) They revised outdated and confusing laws. They also made improvements, such as extending women's property rights. It became the basis for many legal codes in the western world.

What images were typically used?

An image of Christ as the Pantocrator, or ruler of all, gazed down from the domes of all Orthodox churches. Most churches also displayed an icon of Jesus's mother, Mary (called the Theotokos, or god-bearer) and the Christ child over the altar. Many Byzantines believed that sacred pictures brought them closer to God.

Why did Pope Leo III's crowning of Charlemagne upset the Byzantine ruler (Empress Irene)?

Another major disagreement occurred in 800 C.E. At the time, Empress Irene was the ruler of the Byzantine Empire. Because she was a woman, Pope Leo III did not view her as true or strong enough to govern. He wanted the protection of a strong leader to help defend the Church in the west. Instead, Leo decided to crown Charlemagne, the king of the Franks, as Holy Roman emperor. The pope's action outraged the Byzantines, who felt that their empress was the rightful ruler of the remains of the Roman Empire.

By the start of the High Middle Ages, around 1000 C.E., feudalism had

Brought stability to much of Europe

Carthage/Tunis

Burned to the ground by Rome after the third Punic war, Hannibal is from here, important in the second Punic War; Rome's rivals; Defeated by Rome in the Punic Wars; fully conquered after the Third Punic War; Hannibal from here

476 CE Eastern:

Byzantine Empire

Rhine River

Caesar crossed this river by building a bridge that took 10 days; northern border of Rome at one point; border between Germania (Holy Roman Empire) and Gaul (France);

North Africa

Carthage controlled this until Rome defeated them; Justinian won this back for the Byzantines (but then they lost it)

What were the purposes of a castle?

Castles were built for many purposes. One of a castle's main function was to serve as a home. Castles were also one of the most important forms of military technology. With their moats, strong walls, and gates, they were built for defense. Finally, their large size and central locations made castles visual reminders of the social hierarchy and the power of the ruling classes.

What was the Hagia Sophia?

Cathedral Hagia Sophia served as a model for many Orthodox churches. The architecture of the church also reflects Orthodox views. The simple base represents the earthly world. Upon it rests the "dome of heaven." Rich decorations on the inside were meant to remind worshippers of what it would be like to enter God's kingdom; took less than 6 years to build; Had to be rebuilt because of an Earthquake;

What is Penance?

Confession of sins to a priest in order to receive G-d's forgiveness; today, Catholics call this sacrament reconciliation

Constantinople

Constantinople was conquered by the Ottoman Turks; The patriarch is from here and the Eastern Orthodox is headquartered here; Constantine made this the new capitol of Rome; built this city on the site of an old city called Byzantium (fell in 1453); capital of the Byzantine Empire;

What was the Hippodrome?

Could hold 100,000 people; Almost everyone attended the exciting chariot races here

What church do Cyril and Basil belong to?

Eastern Orthodox

What was the structure of the Eastern Orthodox Church hierarchy and of the Roman Catholic Church hierarchy?

Eastern Orthodox: Emperor--> patriarch of Constantinople (selected by the emperor; first among equals) --> other patriarchs --> bishops --> priests (they could marry) Roman Catholic: Pope--> Cardinals --> Archbishops--> bishops --> Priests (can't get married) Clergy: employees of the church

What were the differences between the areas of the eastern and western Roman Empires after 476 CE?

Eastern half: had many cities, much trade, and great wealth; people spoke Greek largely shaped by its Greek heritage Western half: was mostly rural and agricultural, and not nearly as wealthy, influenced by Frankish and Germanic cultures, Latin was the language of scholars, diplomats, and the Church. MOST IMPORTANT: the conflict that developed between the churches of east and west. After the fall of Rome, popes gradually emerged as powerful figures in western Europe. The popes claimed supreme religious authority over all Christians. The emperors and patriarchs of the east did not claim that power

Who is the head of the Eastern Orthodox Church?

Emperor (Chose the patriarch)

What is Baptism?

Entry to the Church; to cleanse a person of sin, a priest pours water gently over the person's head at the baptismal font, the basin that holds the baptismal water

Judea/Israel/Palestine

Everything that happens in Jerusalem happens here (David, Solomon, etc); Birthplace of Judaism; conquered by Rome; Vespasian used money from sacking this to build the Coliseum,

What were the responsibilities of ladies?

Except for fighting, these women had all the duties that lords had. ran their estates, sat as judges in manor courts, and sent their knights to serve in times of war. not landowners: responsible for raising and training their own children and the children of other noble families. responsible for overseeing their household or households. When they weren't hard at work, lords and ladies enjoyed hunting and hawking (hunting with birds), feasting and dancing, board games such as chess, and reading. Ladies also did fine stitching and embroidery, or decorative sewing. Might inherit land and run fiefs then did everything men did except fight When husbands go to war, they are in charge of the manor

What is a manor?

Most lords and wealthier knights lived on manors, or large estates. A manor included a castle or manor house, one or more villages, and the surrounding farmland. Manors were in the country, far from towns. That meant the peasants had to produce everything the people on the manor needed

How well did feudalism establish order in Europe and the Middle Ages? ESSENTIAL QUESTION (IT IS AN OPINION SO, THIS IS MY OPINION)

Feudalism-- eye for an eye; exchange protection; keep from weaking the government-- most monarchs weren't rich enough to have their own army; kings maintained power and had to rely on vassals; chivalry (so warriors can't go around stabbing people; had to be good to the people including women)

Emperor Basil II

Fought in Bulgaria for 15 years; defeated an army from Bulgaria; out of 14K people, he blinded every 99 and left 1 out of hundred people with 1 eye; Byzantine Emperor; came up with the trebuchet;

What were the two categories of peasants?

Free and Unfree (Serfs)

Who was Geoffrey Chaucer?

Geoffrey Chaucer wrote a popular narrative poem about pilgrims called the Canterbury Tales. lived in England from about 1342 to 1400. His amusing "tales" are stories that a group of pilgrims tells to entertain each other as they travel to the shrine of Saint Thomas Becket at Canterbury.

What happened in 1054 CE?

Great Schism (Pope says patriarch is going to Hell and the patriarch said that the Pope is going to Hell, spilt between two churches, Eastern Orthodox Church and Roman Catholic church; the leaders in question are the Pope of the Roman Cathlic Church and Patriarch of the Byzantine Empire)

The Eastern Orthodox Church spoke what language?

Greek

How was that conflict between the Pope resolved?

Gregory responded by excommunicating Henry. This meant Henry was thrown out of the Church and, therefore, could not gain salvation. Gregory also said that Henry's subjects were no longer obliged to obey him. pope's influence was so great Henry begged forgiveness and was readmitted to the Church. For the moment, his action amounted to recognizing the pope's authority even over an emperor.

Why did Pope Gregory VII and Henry IV (Holy Roman emperor) come into conflict,

Gregory was elected pope in 1073. An ambitious leader, he undertook several reforms, such as forbidding priests to marry and outlawing the selling of Church offices (official positions). banned the practice whereby kings could appoint priests, bishops, and the heads of monasteries. Only the pope, said Gregory, had this right. Gregory's ruling angered Henry IV. considered it his duty (and privilege) to appoint Church officials. called a council of bishops and declared that Gregory was no longer pope.

Who are the Blues and the Greens?

Groups of fans that supper different charioteers In the past, Blues and Greens among the spectators had often fought with each other. This time, however, both groups were upset over the arrests of some of their members. To Justinian's horror, they united in denouncing him. Fighting broke out, spilled into the streets,

How did the Turks conquer Constantinople?

Gun powder canons

Britain

Hadrian built a wall across Britain between Roman areas and non-Roman areas (basically, Scotland); Rome conquered this in stages; Caesar made it here; Claudius conquered this; William of Normandy conquered this at the Battle of Hastings in 1066 and brought feudalism there

In times of war, what could a lord do if he did not wish to fight for his own higher-ranking lord?

He could supply a well-trained fighting force to fight on his behalf.

What is Charlmagne's greatest accomplishment?

He unified nearly all the Christian lands of Europe into a single empire.

How did the Byzantine Empire develop and form its own distinctive church? ESSENTIAL QUESTION

Iconoclasm controversy: West wanted icons, East didn't Great Schism: Patriarch said Pope was going to Hell and vice versa Different Languages: East : Greek West (Roman Catholic): Latin Crowning of Charlemagne: Pope wanted a strong leader in the West and didn't believe a woman (Irene) could rule well

Why are the Alps significant?

In 218 B.C.E Hannibal, a general surprised the Romans by marching his army from Spain across the Alps into Italy with elephants ; Northern barrier between Italy and Europe; good for defense

Jerusalem

King David founded this land where all of the Jews could reside; Jerusalem is the capitol city-- center of religion and politics; Jews got kicked out for 3 years at some point Pilgrims often went here; Crusades tried to take this back from the Muslims (Pilgrimages are trips for a religious purpose; Crusade was a military version of this-- killing the Christians' enemies is a way to get closer to G-d

Who was Clovis?

King of the Franks at age 15; defeated the last Great Roman army in Gaul

What are fiefs?

Land granted by a monarch to a vassal in exchange for loyalty and service. In return, each lord promised to supply the king with knights in time of war

476 CE

Last Roman emperor fell in the Western Empire when the Germanic tribes conquered Rome (Romulus Augustus)

The Roman Catholic Church spoke what language?

Latin

How did the Roman Catholic Church gain political power?

Latin, the language of the Church, was the only common language in Europe. Church officials were often the only people who could read they kept records for monarchs and became trusted scribes and advisers.

What happened in 1054 to cause the final break between the two branches of Christianity?

Matters between east and west came to a head in 1054. The patriarch of Constantinople, Cerularius, wanted to reassert Byzantine control of the Church. He closed all churches that worshipped with western rites. Pope Leo IX was furious. He sent Cardinal Humbert to Constantinople. The cardinal marched up to the altar of Hagia Sophia.In front of everyone, he laid down a bull (a proclamation by the pope) excommunicating Cerularius. Cerularius responded by excommunicating the cardinal. This was only a symbolic act, for the patriarch did not have that power. But it showed that the split, or schism, between east and west was complete. Despite future attempts to heal the division, the Eastern Orthodox Church and the Roman Catholic Church were now separate churches.

Red Sea

Moses split this sea during the Exodus; the Egyptian soldiers drown when this closed on them.

Who conquered Byzantine?

Ottomon Turks

How did kings say/ believe they got their power, and how did they really get and maintain their power?

Most medieval monarchs believed in the divine right of kings, the idea that God had given them the right to rule. In reality, some had to work hard to maintain control of their kingdoms. Few had enough wealth to keep their own armies. They had to rely on their vassals, especially nobles, to provide enough knights and soldiers. In some places, especially during the Early Middle Ages, great lords grew very powerful and governed their fiefs as independent states. In these cases, the monarch was little more than a figurehead, a symbolic ruler who had little real power.

Who were the Muslims

Muslims, or the followers of the religion of Islam, advanced from the Middle East and northern Africa into what is now Spain. Pope said that whoever killed Muslims would go straight to heaven; Hammer kept them from going into Spain/Gaul

Danube River

Northeast border of Rome; Byzantines conquered up to here at one point

What are the seven sacraments?

Penance, Eucharist, Holy Orders, Extreme Unction, Confirmation, Matrimony, Baptism

Who was Charlemagne?

Pope Leo decided to crown Charlemagne the first Holy Roman Emperor, the king of the FranksThe pope's action outraged the Byzantines, who felt that their empress (Irene)was the rightful ruler of the remains of the Roman Empire. FIRST HOLY ROMAN EMPEROR

How were the church, state, and everyday life combined in the Byzantine Empire?

Religion and government were more closely linked in the Byzantine Empire than in the west. The Byzantines viewed the emperor not just as the head of the government but as the living representative of God and Jesus Christ. This meant that church and state were combined into one all-powerful body.

What kind of activities or social services were provided by the Roman Catholic Church in Western Europe?

Religious services were held several times a day. Town meetings plays concerts Merchants had shops around the square in front of the church. Farmers sold their produce in the square, and markets, festivals, and fairs were held there, as well. During the Middle Ages, the Church provided education for some and it helped the poor and sick. It was a daily presence from birth to death.

Who was Constantine?

Roman emperor; wrote the Edict of Milan; moved the capitol to Byzantium and then called it Constantinople

Asia Minor/Turkey

Roman province at one point; ruled by the Byzantine Empire, the last that they lost; Paul traveled throughout here spreading Christianity

France/Gaul

Roman province; mostly modern-day France; conquered by Caesar when crossing the Rhine; Was part of the Frankish kingdom (Clovis, Charlemage); William of Normandy was from here

Mediterranean Sea

Romans eventually controlled the trade on this; Octavian controlled all of this;

Egypt

Rome got control of this around 50 B.C.E; Moses led the Jewish people out of slavery in Egypt during the Exodus; conquered by Rome; Cleopatra and Marc Anthony saga

Tiber River

Rome is founded on this, important for trade and defense

Greece

Rome takes this over from Carthage in the Second Punic War; Caesar and Pompey were both governors of this a different times; Influenced the Romans; Eventually conquered by Rome ; Byzantine Empire spoke Greek

Who was Saint Basil?

Saint Basil promoted charity and reformed the liturgy.

Who was Saint Cyril?

Saint Cyril helped create the Cyrillic (sih-RIL-ik) alphabet, which allowed scholars to translate the Bible for people in Eastern Europe.

Who were the Magyars?

The Magyars, a central Asian people, pressed in from the east.

Who is the head of the Roman Catholic Church?

The Pope

What was the source of the iconoclasm controversy, and how was it resolved?

The first major disagreement concerned religious icons. Many Christians in medieval times used images of Jesus, Mary, and the saints in worship and prayer. Some Christians in the east, however, believed that people were wrongly worshipping the icons as if they were divine. In 730 C.E., Byzantine emperor Leo III banned the use of religious images in all Christian churches and homes. This policy of iconoclasm ("icon smashing") led to the destruction of much religious art. Throughout Christian lands, people cried out in protest. In Rome, Roman Church leaders were angry because Leo's order applied to parts of Italy that were under Byzantine control. Pope Gregory III even excommunicated the emperor. The Byzantine Empire lifted its ban on icons in 843. But the dispute over iconoclasm had caused a major split between the east and west. It also helped drive popes in Rome to look for support and protection against enemies.

What are vassals?

The king kept some land for himself and gave fiefs, or land grants, to his MOST IMPORTANT LORDS, who became his vassals. In return, each lord promised to supply the king with knights in times of war

Black Sea

There Roman Empire stretched from the inland of Britain in the northwest to the Black Sea in the east; Border of the Byzantine Empire

Spain

Trajan was from here; first of the series of emperors who did not come from Italy; Roman Province; Conquered by Rome in the Punic wars; Muslims conquered this in the Middle Ages; advance stopped in France by Charles the HammerMuslims conquered this in the Middle Ages; advance stopped in France by Charles the Hammer

Pilgrimages?

Trips for a religious purpose: Cure for an illness, gain penance or salvation

Under the system of feudalism, how did people get land?

Under this system, people were bound to one another by promises of loyalty. In theory, all the land in the kingdom belonged to the monarch (usually a king, but sometimes a queen) .A great deal of land was also owned by the Church. The king kept some land for himself and gave fiefs, or land grants, to his most important lords, who became his vassals. In return, each lord promised to supply the king with knights in times of war.

Who were the Vikings?

Vikings swept down from present-day Norway and Denmark; sacked towns and villages

Why were the Byzantines so successful?

Wealthy (efficient defense), Trade routes, Easy to defend, Church supplied events such as food for the poor; the emperors helped the poor; engineering advantages

Atlantic Ocean

Western Border of the Roman Empire

Who was Theodora?

Wife of Justinian; was a "dancer"; co- emperor with Justinian; when the rioting continued from the Blues and the Greens for a week while Justinian and Theodora hid in the palace. Much of the city was in flames. Justinian's advisors wanted him to flee the city. Theodora, however, urged him to stay and fight. With her encouragement, Justinian put down the revolt

Who was William of Normandy?

William, the powerful Duke of Normandy (a part of present-day France), believed he had the right to the English throne. However, the English crowned his cousin, Harold. In 1066, William and his army invaded England. William defeated Harold at the Battle of Hastings and established a line of Norman kings in England. His triumph earned him the nickname "William the Conqueror." When William of Normandy conquered England, he brought feudal institutions from Europe with him.

What were the differences between the two types of peasants?

based on the amount of service owed to the lord Free- rented land to farm and owed only their rent to the lord Unfree (serfs)-farmed the lord's fields and could not leave the lord's manor (labor=their own small plait of land to farm)\

Who is Procopius?

court historian; wrote glowing accounts of Justinian's achievements. also wrote the Secret History, in which he called the emperor "a treacherous enemy, insane for murder and plunder. he gave an insight onto what it was like during that time and gave facts that we can now look back upon.

What were the responsibilities of lords?

manage and defend his land and the people who worked it. appointed officials to make sure villagers carried out their duties. acted as judges in manor courts and had the power to fine and punish those who broke the law. held posts in the king's government. In times of war, lords fought for their own higher-ranking lords, or at least supplied them with a well-trained fighting force. only men were part of the feudal relationship between lord and vassal.

How does somebody become a knight?

many years of training boy started as a page or servant at 7, he left home and went to live at the castle of a lord (relative usually) all wealthy lords usually had several pages living with them learned how to ride a horse and received religious instruction from the local priest or friar pages spent much of their time with the ladies of the castles expected to help the ladies in every way possible taught by the ladies to sing, dance, compose music, and play the harp seven years as a page, a young boy became a squire. this part of training, the page spends most of his time with the knight who was his lord. polished the knight's armor, sword, shield, and lance. helped care for his horse. acted as a waiter to the lord during his meals carried water for the lord The page also did: hand washing carving meat filling the lord's cup when it was empty trained to become warriors. learned to fight with a sword and a lance (spear that measured up to 15 feet long.) learned how to use a battle-axe and a mace (a club with a heavy metal head). practiced fighting in fake battles. squires also sometimes went into real battles. was expected to help dress his lord in armor care for his weapons and horses follow him into battle look after him if he was wounded. In his early 20s, if deserving of the honor, a squire became a knight. Becoming a knight could be a complex religious event. often spent the night before his knighting ceremony in prayer. The next morning, he bathed and put on a white tunic, or long shirt, to show his purity. During the ceremony, he knelt before his lord and said his vows. The lord drew his sword, touched the knight-to-be lightly on each shoulder with the flat side of the blade ( not able to hurt the knight because it was not sharp), and knighted him Sometimes, if a squire did particularly well in battle, he was knighted on the spot.

What did Justinian spend huge sums of money on?

public works: new bridges, public baths, churches, parks, roads, and hospitals. built many grand churches (Hagia Sophia "Holy Wisdom"; one of the most famous buildings in the world) military campaigns to take back parts of North Africa, Italy, and Spain

What were peasants' responsibilities?

revolved around work most raised crops and tended livestock (farm animals) Peasant women worked in the fields when they were needed Cared for their children homes and livestock might owe the lord numerous taxes. was a yearly payment called "head money," at a fixed amount per person. When a woman married, she, her father, or her husband had to pay a fee called a merchet. required to grind their grain at the lord's mill ( only mill on the manor)

Rome (city)

sacked by Vandals; Pope= Bishop of Rome; Pilgrims visited here; became an empire; republican form of government; Where the Coliseum and Pantheon are; capital of the roman Empire until 330 CE ; Headquarters of the Roman Catholic Church; Last emperor of the Western Roman Empire was kicked out of here in 476 CE

Why did Constantine choose this particular site for Constantinople?

site was easy to defend. surrounded on three sides by water. fashioned a chain across the city's harbor to guard against seafaring intruders. Miles of walls, fortified by watchtowers, and gates discouraged invasion by land and by sea. stood at the crossroads of Europe and Asia, and the many sea and overland trade routes linking east and west. At its height, Constantinople was home to around one million people. The city's language and culture were Greek, but traders and visitors spoke many languages. Ships crowded the city's harbor, loaded with goods. city streets, some narrow and twisting, some grand and broad, teemed with camel and mule trains. more comfortable than in Western Europe. boasted a sewer system, which was quite rare in medieval times. Social services were provided by hospitals, homes for the elderly, and orphanages. Despite the luxuries enjoyed by the rich, many people lived in poverty. emperor gave bread to those who could not find work. In exchange, the unemployed performed such tasks as sweeping the streets and weeding public gardens.

What is feudalism, and why did it emerge after the fall of the Western Roman Empire?

system of obligations and rewards, based on loyalty; each person's role is generally determined from birth;the economic and political system The weak rulers who followed Charlemagne could not defend the empire against new waves of invasions. These kings helped prepare the way for the system of feudalism by following Charlemagne's example of rewarding knights with land and privileges in return for military service.

Later castles were built of stone rather than wood because

they could resist attacks by more powerful siege weapons.