HIS243H1- Midterm Exam Guide - Comprehensive Notes for the exam ( 17 pages long!)
Document Summary
1200, map: large state borders such as the holy roman empire pictured had very little effect on everyday life due to fragmentation. Empire began to erode by invasions, and the imperial system could not be sustained due to man-power, infrastructure and money. The roman empire in the 500s was begin carved up by barbarians, creating new political organization. The barbarians had no desire to sustain the imperial infrastructure when they took over. The old republic has patron-client relationships and later become a relationship of protection powerful patrons provided clients with security against invasion and attack. This system had more to do with personal allegiance than a legitimate system, therefore political fragmentation. Roads, harbours, moved food around all broke down. There was no longer a system of maintenance and control of the trade, aka infrastructure break down. Without ensured food, and proper nutrition, escape from plague, etc, the population plummeted.