476 - Beginning of the Middle Ages/Fall of the Roman Empire (1 janv. 476 – 1 déc. 476)

Description:

Last Western Roman Emperor deposed
Romulus Augustulus
Empire crumbled
Christianity thrived
Feudalism
- connected people to their land and professions
Tribal invasions
 “Traditional” date for start of Middle Ages
 Christian church remans sole structured inheritor of Roman civilization
 The barbarians were bribed by pepper (since it was valuable)
 Period of cultural darkness
• Loss of literacy
o People can’t afford to learn to read/write anymore
o Not needed anymore compared to when Catholic needed people to read the bible, no religious motivation
• Loss of trade
• Loss of coin-based economy
o Money wasn’t needed because people didn’t need to trade at a long distance anymore