If the Roman Empire had remained in control, how would Europe have been different?

(This post relates only for 7th period World History)

Medieval Europe Webquest

After Rome fell to barbarians in the 5th century, most of the barbarians destroyed much of the Roman culture. The cities through out the empire were being constantly sacked and their culture was buried with them. Europe fell into a period known as the dark ages.

Because there is no central power, people do not have any loyalty to central governments and therefore their loyalties and allegiances switch to local leaders. Europe becomes very fragmented! A new system of government, known as feudalism, develops.

In 500 AD, western civilization began to emerge from the period known as “The Dark Ages,” a time in which many invading forces ruled Europe and brought an end to the Roman Empire.

Medieval Europe was a dark, fascinating and dangerous place. There were many roadblocks to living a long happy life. The people were subject to harsh rulers, nasty diseases, poor health, long days, bad food, and other sources of life long misery.

For the next hundred years, the newly emerging Christian Church would soon govern Europe, administering justice, initiating the Crusades against the East, creating Universities, and for the most part dictating the destiny of music, art and literature

This webquest will give you a look into some of the major events and people of Medieval Europe.

RESOURCES

These resources will help you in your quest. Remember that not every source on the internet is reliable, or relevant to what you are studying today. Stay focused in your research!

• http://www.glencoe.com/sec/socialstudies/worldhistory/gwh2003/tx/content.php4/737/1
• http://www.learner.org/exhibits/middleages/feudal.html
• http://www.allabouthistory.org/the-dark-ages.htm
• http://www.britannia.com/history/magna2.html
• http://www.darkagessociety.co.uk/home.html
• http://www.benturner.com/robinhood/
• http://www.channel4.com/history/microsites/W/worstjobs/medieval.html
• http://www.archaeolink.com/medieval_civilization_general_re.htm
• http://www.mapsofwar.com/ind/history-of-religion.html
• http://www.historyonthenet.com/Medieval_Life/feudalism.htm
• http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/12272b.htm
• http://www.castles-of-britain.com/index.htm
• http://www.constitution.org/eng/magnacar.htm
• http://www.medievalcrusades.com
• http://www.chronique.com/Library/MedHistory/charlemagne.htm
• http://www.wideopendoors.net/middleages_original/LifeTimes/Plague.html
• http://www.middle-ages.org.uk/manorialism.htm
• http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/medieval_law_and_order.htm

PROCESS

In order to successfully complete this assignment, you must answer the following questions. The final product must be typed, in a font no larger than font size 12. Please print a hard-copy of the document when completed and turn it into the box. If you choose, you may create a multimedia presentation rather than a written document. The multimedia document should be e-mailed to me.

Do NOT Copy and Paste!

1. What happened to Western Europe after the fall of the Roman Empire?
2. Why can historians call this period in history the “dark ages”?
3. Who was Charlemagne? Why is he significant?
4. What is feudalism? Create an image depicting the hierarchical nature of feudalism.
5. How did bubonic plague spread from city to city? How many people died from Black Death in Europe from 1347 to 1352?
6. Where and when was the Magna Carta signed? Who signed it?
7. Name three popes who ruled from 500CE through 1300CE. Include their real names, their dates of birth and death, and the years they served as pope.
8. Medieval law was very harsh. Give some examples of the punishment criminals could expect for their crimes. Why was jail usually not an option?
9. What is manorialism? How is it different than feudalism?
10. How did Europe change after the fall of the Roman Empire?

EVALUATION

The assignment will be graded as follows:

1. Accuracy
   • Each question will be worth 5 possible points for accuracy. If there are multiple questions within a question, accuracy will be split equally among all sub-questions.
2. Citing of sources
   • Each question will be worth up to 3 points for correct referencing of information. Each question will be answered by referencing the work of some one other than you. All questions must show the source of your answer.
3. Original summarizing
   • Do not copy and paste! Summarize in your own words! Each question will be worth up to 3 points for original writing.

TEKS

History. The student understands how, as a result of the collapse of the Western Roman Empire, new political, economic, and social systems evolved, creating a new civilization in Western Europe.

(A) compare medieval Europe with previous civilizations;

(B) describe the major characteristics of the political system of feudalism, the economic system of manorialism, and the authority exerted by the Roman Catholic Church

CREDITS

This webquest was adopted from Morris Knolls High School: http://www.mhrd.k12.nj.us/mk/library/webquests.htm#kane

Use these links to help you with your Fall of Rome WebQuest. Remember, not all sources are created equal, and some may be filled with ‘half-truths.’

• Wikipedia Page – Fall of Rome
• The Plague did it
• The plague under Marcus Aurelius
• SparkNotes – Fall of Rome
• Homosexuality and the Fall of Rome?
• Why did Rome Fall?
• An Asteroid May have Called the Fall of Rome?
• About.com’s Fall of Rome
• The Fall of Rome and Modern Parallels
• Silly Educational Video on the Fall of Rome
• The Fall of Rome
• Random (silly?) Reasons Rome Fell

Let me know if you find more sites!

If Rome was so Great, why did it fall???

Like any great empire that has come before or after it, the theories surrounding the fall of Rome are many. Since the empire crumbled, all other great empires or nations have been compared to Rome, with many coming up short.

For many, understanding the fall of Rome is the key to the survival of our great nation, the United States. For much of this century, the U.S. has been compared to the Roman Empire in about every conceivable way. There are those who say that we are following the same path to destruction as the ancient Romans.

So, why did Rome fall? Could their fate have been averted, and if so, would the world be different today? The answer lies in what you think after you have looked at all the facts. Let’s examine what we know. We know the great empire known as Rome no longer exists. Now let’s look at what we don’t know:

1. Did plagues reduce the population to the point it could not sustain itself?
2. Did civil wars lessen the strength of the empire and weaken the population?
3. Did the army lose its discipline and thus endanger the empire and cause it to be overrun?
4. Did the citizens of Rome become too satisfied and lazy, allowing the empire to crumble due to neglect?
5. Did the empire bureaucracy become too top heavy, eventually causing the empire to collapse upon itself?
6. Did God turn His favor away from Rome due to its sinful nature?
7. Did it fall as the result of barbarian invasions?
8. Did the empire spend too much of its resources on the poor, thus drawing away precious funds from the empire?
9. Was the Roman Empire just too big, making a collapse inevitable?

WebQuest is Here

You are an Expert Roman Historian and you have been asked to testify before Congress. Congress is concerned that America is going to fall like Rome did. They want to look into the past to see WHY Rome fell. You’re going to tell them!

You will:

1. Select a theory as to why Rome fell!
2. Research it and prepare a presentation for Congress. (This can be done on PowerPoint, or in a prepared written statement.)
3. Once you’re done with your presentation pick two of the three questions to answer as part of your evaluation.
   • What similarities exist between Rome and the United States?
   • Do you feel the United States is in the process of decline as a nation?
   • Assume for the minute that the U.S. is declining in a manner similar to Rome. How would you stop the slide and return the U.S. to its prior greatness?

Thanks to David MacDonald at Fillmore USD for the WebQuest!