2C.++European+Political+Systems+&+Cultural+Patterns

C. Political Systems & Cultural Patterns: The Restructuring of Europe: decentralization, division of Christianity, & revival of cities: Analyze impact of art, science & technology on culture & politics. Compare to other regions (Americas, Africa, etc..)

Table of Contents:
 * 1) Introduction
 * 2) Historical Context
 * 3) Religion in the Fragmented Roman Empire
 * 4) Decentralization of Europe
 * 5) The Revival of Cities


 * 1) Introduction.**


 * **Where:** Europe
 * **When:** The Middle Ages
 * **What:** The fracturing of the Roman Empire sending Europe, as well as European culture, to the bottom, and resetting the continent to a state of Barbarianism.


 * 2) Historical Context:**
 * The Middle Ages were a complicated time.
 * They occured after the Fall of Rome, but before the European Renaissance.
 * At this point in time, Rome split into two sections, East and West.
 * The Eastern portion revolved around the capital city of Constantinople.


 * Came to be known as the Byzantine Empire
 * Highly Centralized government
 * Briefly continued to flourish after the collapse of Rome
 * The Western portion of the old Roman Empire completley collapsed
 * Fell into disarray.
 * Religion, however, anchored life and prevented complete chaos from sweeping over Western Europe.




 * 3) Religion in the fragmented Roman Empire:**
 * Christianity reigned supreme in both the Eastern / Western sections of the old Roman Empire.
 * Christianity and the Byzantine Empire:


 * Though it still practiced Christianity, The Byzantine Empire developed its own "Brand" of Christianity:
 * Orthodox Christianity.
 * Allowed philisophical thinking.
 * Possed views about the use of religions icons, the "nature of the Holy Spirit", and when Easter should be recognized.


 * Christianity in Western Europe:
 * Became known as "Roman Catholic"
 * Did not support philisophical thinking
 * Did not seek to prove the teachings and acts of Christ
 * If science proves Christ's teaching Roman Catholicism does not support nor deny them.
 * Became the source of Power in Western Europe
 * (ie. The Pope, centered at the Vatican).






 * 4) Decentralization of Europe:**
 * The fall of the Roman Empire left Europe incredibly vulnerable and prone to attack.
 * Decentralization led to the turmoil that consumed Europe in the Middle Ages.
 * It provided avenues for:
 * Corruption in the Church
 * The feudal system
 * Further weakend Europe because of a lack of unity
 * Viking attacks
 * These attacks ravaged Europe
 * They spread fear
 * They increased the Church's power by enlisting more followers, giving the Church control of more people.
 * Decentralization also led to a lack of a strong government, as much of the land was controled by Barbarians, and other groups only looking out for their own interests.




 * 5) The Revival of Cities:**
 * The Middle Ages were slowly coming to an end, and Europe was approaching the Renaissance.
 * It began with the crowning of Charlemagne (Charles the Great).
 * Built the "Holy Roman Empire"
 * For a small period of the Middle Ages, much of Western Europe was united under one ruler.




 * Serfs (lower class of the feudal system) Eventually Learned Skills Other Than Farming.
 * This allowed Europe to begin trading with the rest of the world.
 * The "success" drew people back in to centralized cities.
 * *This also allowed for the construction of the **Middle Class**
 * Made up of Craftsmen as well as Merchants.
 * This occured near the 11th Century C.E.
 * The Crusades followed soon after.
 * This provided a common enemy (Islam) for all of Europe to fight in the name of God.


 * United Europe once again.
 * Once again promoted open thinking.
 * Promoted the study of Philosophy, Medicine, and even Law.

=__Comparing the Four Major Cultures of the Middle Ages__=
 * Black Plague helped increase women’s significance in the workforce
 * Fuedalism was destroyed by the Black Plague, however, because the majority of the working class died.

Women's Status in Ancient Societies
 *  ** Europe ** ||  ** Islam (Middle East) **  ||  ** India **  ||  ** China **  ||
 * Strict and patriarchal social divisions || Equality in religion, but separate in mosque || Strict patriarchal caste system || Strict Confucian social order and guidelines for virtuous behavior ||
 * Could inherit land and take oath of vassalage, but property belonged to husband || Received half inheritance of male children || Child marriages || Access to dories and owned businesses ||
 * Could bring a court case, but not participate in decision || Testimony had less weight than male || Practice of // sati // for widows || Widow to remain with son; no property if remarried ||
 * <span style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-element-anchor-horizontal: margin; mso-element-anchor-vertical: page; mso-element-frame-hspace: 9.0pt; mso-element-top: 181.55pt; mso-element-wrap: around; mso-element: frame; mso-height-rule: exactly;">Christian monogamy || <span style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-element-anchor-horizontal: margin; mso-element-anchor-vertical: page; mso-element-frame-hspace: 9.0pt; mso-element-top: 181.55pt; mso-element-wrap: around; mso-element: frame; mso-height-rule: exactly;">Concubines and seclusion in harems || <span style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-element-anchor-horizontal: margin; mso-element-anchor-vertical: page; mso-element-frame-hspace: 9.0pt; mso-element-top: 181.55pt; mso-element-wrap: around; mso-element: frame; mso-height-rule: exactly;">Marriage limited to caste members || <span style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-element-anchor-horizontal: margin; mso-element-anchor-vertical: page; mso-element-frame-hspace: 9.0pt; mso-element-top: 181.55pt; mso-element-wrap: around; mso-element: frame; mso-height-rule: exactly;">Concubines and seclusion in harems ||
 * <span style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-element-anchor-horizontal: margin; mso-element-anchor-vertical: page; mso-element-frame-hspace: 9.0pt; mso-element-top: 181.55pt; mso-element-wrap: around; mso-element: frame; mso-height-rule: exactly;">Education limited to upper class males || <span style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-element-anchor-horizontal: margin; mso-element-anchor-vertical: page; mso-element-frame-hspace: 9.0pt; mso-element-top: 181.55pt; mso-element-wrap: around; mso-element: frame; mso-height-rule: exactly;">Literate society || <span style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-element-anchor-horizontal: margin; mso-element-anchor-vertical: page; mso-element-frame-hspace: 9.0pt; mso-element-top: 181.55pt; mso-element-wrap: around; mso-element: frame; mso-height-rule: exactly;">Education limited || <span style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-element-anchor-horizontal: margin; mso-element-anchor-vertical: page; mso-element-frame-hspace: 9.0pt; mso-element-top: 181.55pt; mso-element-wrap: around; mso-element: frame; mso-height-rule: exactly;">Literate society, but sate education imited to men ||
 * <span style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-element-anchor-horizontal: margin; mso-element-anchor-vertical: page; mso-element-frame-hspace: 9.0pt; mso-element-top: 181.55pt; mso-element-wrap: around; mso-element: frame; mso-height-rule: exactly;">Did not recognize illegitimate children || <span style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-element-anchor-horizontal: margin; mso-element-anchor-vertical: page; mso-element-frame-hspace: 9.0pt; mso-element-top: 181.55pt; mso-element-wrap: around; mso-element: frame; mso-height-rule: exactly;">All children are seen as legitimate || <span style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-element-anchor-horizontal: margin; mso-element-anchor-vertical: page; mso-element-frame-hspace: 9.0pt; mso-element-top: 181.55pt; mso-element-wrap: around; mso-element: frame; mso-height-rule: exactly;">None || <span style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-element-anchor-horizontal: margin; mso-element-anchor-vertical: page; mso-element-frame-hspace: 9.0pt; mso-element-top: 181.55pt; mso-element-wrap: around; mso-element: frame; mso-height-rule: exactly;">None ||
 * <span style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-element-anchor-horizontal: margin; mso-element-anchor-vertical: page; mso-element-frame-hspace: 9.0pt; mso-element-top: 181.55pt; mso-element-wrap: around; mso-element: frame; mso-height-rule: exactly;">Veling of upper class || <span style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-element-anchor-horizontal: margin; mso-element-anchor-vertical: page; mso-element-frame-hspace: 9.0pt; mso-element-top: 181.55pt; mso-element-wrap: around; mso-element: frame; mso-height-rule: exactly;">Veiling in public || <span style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-element-anchor-horizontal: margin; mso-element-anchor-vertical: page; mso-element-frame-hspace: 9.0pt; mso-element-top: 181.55pt; mso-element-wrap: around; mso-element: frame; mso-height-rule: exactly;">// Purdah //: veiling or seclusion || <span style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-element-anchor-horizontal: margin; mso-element-anchor-vertical: page; mso-element-frame-hspace: 9.0pt; mso-element-top: 181.55pt; mso-element-wrap: around; mso-element: frame; mso-height-rule: exactly;">Foot-binding ||
 * <span style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-element-anchor-horizontal: margin; mso-element-anchor-vertical: page; mso-element-frame-hspace: 9.0pt; mso-element-top: 181.55pt; mso-element-wrap: around; mso-element: frame; mso-height-rule: exactly;">Division of labor; women in textiles || <span style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-element-anchor-horizontal: margin; mso-element-anchor-vertical: page; mso-element-frame-hspace: 9.0pt; mso-element-top: 181.55pt; mso-element-wrap: around; mso-element: frame; mso-height-rule: exactly;">none || <span style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-element-anchor-horizontal: margin; mso-element-anchor-vertical: page; mso-element-frame-hspace: 9.0pt; mso-element-top: 181.55pt; mso-element-wrap: around; mso-element: frame; mso-height-rule: exactly;">Family textile labor || <span style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-element-anchor-horizontal: margin; mso-element-anchor-vertical: page; mso-element-frame-hspace: 9.0pt; mso-element-top: 181.55pt; mso-element-wrap: around; mso-element: frame; mso-height-rule: exactly;">Silk weaving as female occupation W ||