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4000 BCE
Ancient Greece
Physical geography naturally shaped the development of ancient Greece. The people felt deep ties to the land land, which is beautiful. At the same time, Greece's many mountains, islands, and the surroundings seas isolated early communities and kept them fiercely independent. -
4000 BCE
Ancient Greece Part II
earliest Greek civilizations began among farming & fishing peoples who lived near the Aegean Sea. After warfare led to their decline, independent territories called city-states developed throughout Greece. Athens was one of the most prosperous & powerful city-states there was. Athens introduced the world's first democracy. During the mid-1300 B.C., warfare weakened the Greek city-states. Soon Philip II of Macedonia conquered Greece. Around 130 B.C., Romans had conquered most of Greek kingdoms. -
753 BCE
The Roman Empire
While Greece ruled the eastern Mediterranean, Rome became a dominant power on the Italian Peninsula. Rome began as a monarchy but changed to a republic in 509 B.C. Rome was led by two consults who were elected by the citizens. -
753 BCE
The Roman Empire Part II
One of the government's great achievements was the development of a code of laws. The laws stated that all free citizens had the right to be treated equally. About 200 B.C., Roman armies began seizing territory throughout the Mediterranean region. Instead of ruling only by force, though, the Romans allowed many of the people they conquered to become Roman citizens. As the Roman Republic expanded, it evolved into massive Roman Empire. On 27 B.C Augustus became the first ever emperor. -
325
Christianity
During the Pax Romana, Christianity was developing in Palestine in the eastern part of the Roman Empire. There, a Jewish teacher, Jesus of Nazareth, preached a message of love & forgiveness. Jesus soon attracted followers as well as enemies. -
325
Christianity Part II
Fearing public unrest, the Roman authorities had Jesus executed. Yet within days, Jesus' followers reported that he had risen from the dead. They took this as proof that Jesus was the son of God. Eager to spread Jesus' teachings, two early Christians leaders, Peter and Paul, established the Christian Church in Rome. Roman officials at first persecuted Christians. Despite this abuse, the new religion grew in popularity. In A.D. 392, Christianity became Rome's official religion. -
800
The Middle Ages
About A.D. 800, a Germanic king named Charlemagne united much of western Europe. After his death, this empire broke up. At that point, no strong governments existed to help western Europeans withstand invaders. To bring order, a new political and social system arose by the 1000s. -
800
The Middle Ages Part II
Under the system, called feudalism, kings gave land to nobles. The nobles in turn provided military service, becoming knights for the king. As romantic as this may sound, life was hard for the masses. Most western Europeans were poor peasants. They farmed the lands of kings, nobles, and church leaders, who housed and protected them but who also limited their freedom. -
1340
The Black Plague
Meanwhile, in the 1300s, people all across Europe were battling a frightful disease. The Black Plague, or Black Death, spread rapidly and killed perhaps a third of Europe's population. The Black Plague was one of the most devastating diseases ever in Europe. -
1340
The Black Plague Part II
One consequence was shortage of labor. Although the shortage hurt the economy, it helped workers earn higher wages and gain more freedom. In this way, the Black Plague became another force that weakened feudalism. The bacterium, Yersinia, was found on rats, that was the cause of the plague. The Black Plague was stopped in late 1665 by the great fire of London. -
1350
The Renaissance
As parts of Europe recovered from the Black Plague, interest in art & learning revived. Ways of thinking changed so much between about 1350 & 1550 that this period is called the Renaissance, from the French word for "rebirth." The Renaissance spirit was one of rejuvenation, enthusiasm, & experimentation. -
1350
The Renaissance Part II
Merchants in Florence, Rome, & Venice had gained great wealth through trade with Asia & the Mediterranean world. They used the money to support scholars and artists. Poets, sculptors, & painters, such as Michelangelo & Leonardo da Vinci, created stunning masterpieces. Humanism was another important element of the Renaissance. Humanism held that reason, was a path to knowledge. Over time, Renaissance ideas & practices spread from Italy to other parts of Europe. -
1517
The Reformation
The Reformation was especially referred as the Protestant Reformation. During the 1500s, the Renaissance idea of humanism led people to think about religion in a new way. Some people felt there were problems in the Roman Catholic Church that needed to be corrected. -
1517
The Reformation Part II
In 1517 Martin Luther set out to correct certain church
practices; however, the pope didn't accept Luther's ideas & Luther broke away from the Roman Catholic Church. Luther made a religious movement called the Reformation, which led to a new form of Christianity called Protestantism. Wars between Roman Catholics & Protestants soon swept through Europe. As the authority of church leaders was challenged, kings & queens claimed more authority for themselves. -
The Enlightenment Part II
Nicolaus Copernicus' idea, Galileo Galilei idea and other ideas sparked a revolution in the way people thought. Englishman John Locke said that all people have natural rights, including the rights to life, liberty, & property, & that when a government does not protect these rights, citizens can overthrow it. The American colonists later used Locke's idea to support their war for independence from Britain in 1776. By 1900, most countries had responded by limiting the powers of rulers. -
The Enlightenment
After the Renaissance, educated Europeans turned to science as a way to explain the world. Nicolaus Copernicus, concluded that the sun, not the Earth, is the center of the universe. An Italian scientist called Galileo Galilei believed that new knowledge could come from carefully observing and measuring the natural world.
