European History Study Guide
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History of the High Middle Ages. V.
A new civilisation arose in western Europe during the eleventh to the thirteenth centuries, transforming medieval society as a result of economic and religious elements. Local political and administrative systems were roughly set up on the basis of local official and dynastic traditions, and were further modified by fighting wars to compose various…
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History of the High Middle Ages. IV.
The crusades, composing eight well-known invasions of the Holy Land in addition to many minor expeditions spanning over two centuries, were another development of the high Middle Ages that later had consequences for Europe by connecting Europe with Islamic civilization, and began to weaken the system of feudalism in Europe. This movement began during the…
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History of the High Middle Ages. III.
A new era of decline and catastrophe was experienced in Europe during the early fourteenth century. A climate change phenomenon known as “The Little Ice Age” with declining temperatures that led to widespread famine of 1315 to 1317. This was followed by one of the major developments during the late Middle Ages known as the…
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History of the High Middle Ages. II.
Local aristocratic rulers on the European continent forcefully maintained their established regional political and economic power through armed strength, and also sought to become vassals of the emperors and also of the papacy, while ongoing warfare threatening order in Europe was further threatened from external sources. Muslim invaders established a prevailing presence by establishing their…
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History of the High Middle Ages. I.
Feudal anarchy continued as a central authority could not be established. A king found it very difficult to get rapidly from one part of his realms to another in order to suppress rebellions, as the fine roads that the Romans had built to enable their armies to move around quickly had fallen into disrepair and…
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History of the Early Middle Ages
Skilled military leaders with sufficient means began restoring order over the prevailing political turmoil in what had been the territories of the collapsing Roman empire. The Carolingians used their power as mayors of the Franks to eventually elevate themselves to the monarchy. This dynasty arose to rule over what had been ancient Gaul and other…
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History of Ancient Rome. IV.
The Roman empire continued declining in strength during the third century, as expansion ceased and there were increasingly higher amounts of internal and external threats. Civil wars waged against corrupt and inept emperors became common, while the German tribes took the initiative against Roman defences by combining their power in large unions to attack…
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History of Ancient Rome. III.
The new triumvirate arrangement later fell apart. When the governor of Gaul died, Octavian added that province to his sphere of influence and gradually consolidated his personal hold on Italy while being aided by competent and experienced military commanders. Lepidus attempted to gain a greater share in the empire by trying to raise a revolt…
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History of Ancient Rome. II.
Most of the newly acquired territories were organized as provinces under a Roman governor who possessed almost unlimited and uncontrolled power. While regulations for the rule of the provinces were made in each case by the Roman Senate, and they were not oppressive on the whole, the Senate did not make any provisions for compelling…
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History of Ancient Rome. I.
The development of civilisation in the western Mediterranean lagged far behind the eastern. Neolithic settlements appear to have appeared in Spain, Italy and southern France by about 3000 B.C. Western tribes of Indo-Europeans entered the Italian peninsula around 1700 B.C., followed by iron using people following them at approximately about 1100 B.C. The first Latin…
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