Describe the political and economic transformation of medieval Europe after the decline of Rome. How did the organization of Medieval European societies differ from that of Rome at its height? What role did invading forces have in this transformation?

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

ANSWER:
The decline of Rome after about 300 C.E. meant the disappearance of western Europe's political and legal framework. Society fragmented and literacy declined. Roman law was replaced with a form of the traditional family-based law practiced by Germanic peoples. In the political realm, students should be able to identify some of the new kingdoms that emerged in the fifth century, such as the Burgundian and Frankish kings in Gaul, the Visigoths in Spain, and the Saxons in England. Vikings raided Spain, Normandy, and England, among other lands. The economy was transformed as cities and urban areas declined. Transportation links between those urban areas fell into disrepair, and the use of currency as a medium of exchange became far less common. Whereas Roman centralization had redirected the wealth of Europe to Italy, Germanic decentralization created a need for local self-sufficiency. That need helped create the self-contained manor, with its corresponding political, economic, and social organization.