Essay On Germanic People Dbq

Beginning at the end of the fourth century, Germanic tribes invaded the Roman Empire, causing a decline in trade, education, and cities, along with population shifts. This time of chaos became better known as the Medieval Period or the Middle Ages, which lasted from about the 5th century CE to the 14th century CE. Europe suffered greatly from the German invaders around 400 to 600 CE. Clovis, the king of the Franks, a Germanic tribe, integrated Christianity to the culture due to the influence from his wife Clotilde. Due King Clovis’ reign, monasteries were being built due to the newly formed relationship between the monarchy and the Church. Following the establishment of monasteries, Pope Gregory I, also commonly referred to as Saint Gregory

“Europe suffered a decline in commerce and manufacturing” (Doc. A) when the Germanic people invaded in the fifth century. . The attackers came from both land and sea, making it nearly impossible to find a viable trading partner. “Cities grew smaller and in some cases practically disappeared” (Doc. A) as a result of the disrupted trade. In response to the declining trade and vanishing cities, money became scarce. From 800 to 1200 CE however, the climate increased to better fit the requirements of farming. Farm production increased as a result of the climate change, the new three-field system, and the transfer from oxen to horsepower. Europe, which had earlier been described as a “region of poverty-stricken farming communities” (Doc. A) was filled with nutrient people. On top of the successful farming methods that were discovered, guilds were being formed. Guilds, associations of merchants, increased the economies' wealth. The Commercial Revolution then began, reintroducing the blossoming idea of trade. Fairs were held to trade food, cloths and leather along with other common goods. Trade routes became vital to the expansion of trade, such as those that stretched from Europe to areas such as Asia and Africa in 1300 CE. (Doc. F) Due to the increase in trade, the people needed to find more convenient ways to carry large amounts of money with them. They created modern day checks to allow for exchanges in money. The rapid growth in wealth allowed for new cities to be built, which altered the lives of many Europeans. The inconvenient events, such as decline and cities, inevitably lead to the rebirth of more advanced cities and methods of