Western Civilization
The Early Middle Ages (The Dark Ages) were characterized by a) barbarian invasions, b) the decline of learning and trade, c) the development of Romanesque Cathedrals, and d) the rise of feudalism. The Later Middle Ages (The High Middle Ages) witnessed the a) crusades, b) the revival of trade and towns, c) the rise of merchant and craft guilds, and the d) development of the Gothic Cathedral. Choose TWO of the characteristics or developments listed above for the Dark Ages and TWO from the High Middle Ages, and for each development you choose, discuss 1) how the development reflects the culture of the time period 2) its defining characteristics 3) how the development impacted the history of the West.