Middle Ages Intro.

1. Impact of the
Fall of the
Roman Empire

2. Disruption of Trade
Roads fell into disrepair
Trade/travel became dangerous due to invasions
Loss of common currency led to bartering

3. Downfall of Cities and
Population Shifts
People fled cities due to attacks
Buildings,aqueducts, monuments fell into disrepair
Population in the West shifted to rural areas
Scholars and people of means moved to Constantinople

4. Decline of learning
Lack of a Central Government/Chaos meant that schools
closed
People forgot how to read and write over generations

5. Loss of a common language
People always spoke in local vernacular, but after Rome
fell people lost the ability to read and write in Latin
(with the exception of the church)
This further divides people culturally