Abstract
An outline of the early medieval period, which saw the rise of new kingdoms in Western Europe. The paper discusses the rise and development of the Carolingian Empire. It also provides special attention to the economic and social structure that came from the collapsed Roman Empire and the Barbarian kingdoms.

From the Paper
"In the pre-Christian era, the German tribes migrated from the northern Europe to the Roman Empire and occupied the northern lands. There were clashes between the German tribes and the Romans who considered them intruders into their lands and called them "barbarians". The collapse of the Roman Empire enabled the German tribes to explore the Western Roman Empire. There were three basic factions of these German tribes-Germanic Lombards who settled in northern and central Italy, Anglo-Saxons in Britain, And Franks in Gaul (France). The Frankish kingdoms later became one of the new western European civilizations."

Tags:roman, western, middle, ages, empire, social, economic, barbarian

Abstract
This paper discusses rebellion in medieval Europe and looks at the broad forces that made so many of them (if not all of them) possible. From there, the paper also explores the issues of excessive taxation, the unwillingness of the nobility to respect the old responsibilities they once owed their serfs and underlings, the general corruption that made government work as a tool for the elites and not on behalf of the urban poor, and the leadership that drained the public treasury (or at least the pockets of ordinary citizens) while contributing nothing to the well-being of the state as a whole.

From the Paper
"In the final analysis, a review of the Flemish revolt of 1323-1328, the uprising of the ciompi in Florence during the late 1370s, and the peasants' revolt of the early 1380s in England have many more similarities than differences - though some of the differences are interesting, too."

Tags:statesmanship, medieval, rebellion

Abstract
This paper examines how the Carolingian Empire, which united most of Western Europe under one ruler in the late eighth century AD, was based on the domination of the Franks, including some of the greatest European kings who ever ruled. It focuses on the rule of Charlemagne and how his reign is considered the apogee of the empire for several reasons. It looks at how he conquered much of Europe, promoted the spread of Christianity and generally improved his people's way of life.

From the Paper
"Like Clovis I, Charlemagne was a devout Christian and a firm believer in education and therefore was a great supporter of both the clergy and faculty. "Charlemagne practised the Christian religion with great devotion and piety, for he had been brought up in this faith since earliest childhood" (Einhard, 104). He built a great Cathedral, called Holy Mother of God in Aachen and donated a great deal of money and relics to monasteries, churches and other religious institutions. He often personally chose which person would be appointed to a given position within the church, based on how wise and virtuous the candidates were. Not only did he further and improve religion in his own realm, by conquering other territories he spread Christianity's influence."

Tags:church, charles, christianity

Abstract
A discussion of the lack of source material available when exploring the lives of women in medieval Europe. It focuses on the book by Emilie Amt, "Women's Lives in Medieval Europe". It explains that most of the material available was written from a male perspective and that a true history of these women's lives is hard to come by.

From the Paper
"Out of necessity, history or an "aggregate of past events," must be built primarily on written materials. Oral histories and storytelling can provide input on a specific period of time. Yet, one can only assume that that the facts are altered through the generations from one tale relating to another. Of course, no one can assume that everything or even almost everything that is written is true. Just look at the variety of materials on the Internet to clarify that! However, some written materials are accurate, or nearly so, and give historians a place to start."

Tags:amt, emile

Abstract
This paper is a book report on the book "The Oxford Illustrated History of Medieval Europe", edited by George Holmes and containing six essays on different aspects of the history and culture of the medieval period in the Mediterranean region and in Northern Europe.

Abstract
This paper considers the role of royal medieval women, including their political and religious influence. The author presents a country by country analysis of royal families in medieval Europe, explaining the traditions of succession in each of these countries, and whether or not women could ascend to the throne in these kingdoms. The author concludes that women had political weight during this time. They contributed, even if sometimes indirectly, to the evolution of the states where they lived and they made themselves a place in history.

From the Paper
"The queens of medieval Western Europe were present in almost each and every state, from the Scandinavian kingdoms to Spain and from England to Hungary. Their power was sometimes only in name, other times they had the real attributes of the kings. They got involved in political battles and plots, being (in some of the cases) real partners of their kings and having specific duties or true rulers, in name and in fact, of their empire. The medieval Byzantium is a stage for powerful empresses, from Theodora, in the sixth century and Irene, in the eighth to Anne of Savoy, in the fourteenth century. The first two empresses played an important part in the iconoclastic debate, their role being grounded in the "interstices of Byzantine society, in myths, in liturgical practices and religious beliefs and the symbols surrounding them, which they could draw upon" . Acting on two contemporary "stages" - the religious influence and the direct ruling, the empresses of the Eastern Roman Empire constituted exceptional figures, influencing and directing the politics of their times."

Tags:women, middle, ages, queens, succession, royalty

Abstract
The paper researches the history of the Jewish community in Medieval Europe, particularly in the areas dominated by the Christian rulers and the Church. The paper examines the discrimination and cruel prosecution of the Jews, and the reasons behind this persecution. The paper gives specific examples of their periodic persecution and also discusses their treatment by the Muslim rulers in Spain.

Table of Contents:
The Root Cause of the Bias Against Jews
Jews in the Early Middle Ages
(i) Jewish Community in the Iberian Peninsula
(ii) Money Lending Jews and Isolated Existence
(iii) Prosecution During Crusades
(iv) Later Middle Ages

From the Paper
"Although the Christian crusades in the Middle Ages were primarily directed against their arch enemies--the Muslims, they frequently degenerated into massacres of an easier target--the Jewish communities in Europe. For example, during the First Crusade in 1096 AD, the German crusaders on their way to the East, turned on the flourishing Jewish communities on the Rhine and the Danube and utterly destroyed them."

Tags:vatican, blood, libel, Visigothic, Iberia, anti-semitism

Abstract
This paper looks at the reasons behind the huge development of medieval Italian cities in relation to the rest of Europe. These factors include: Their superior organization, military history, geographical advantages in terms of trade and commerce and the unique form of government dividing the country into city states.

From the Paper
"Medieval times saw an expansion in city life all across Europe, but nowhere more so than in Italy. As early as the tenth century, Italian towns, though still inferior to those in the East, had become far larger than those in other Catholic European countries. From 1100-1250, the population of many Italian cities grew considerably, rising from around 5,000-6,000 people to between 30,000-40,000. This was because of a number of factors, most notably the commercial revolution and explosion of trade, which Italy was in a unique position to exploit, due, among other things, to her history and geographical location."

Tags:commerce, florence, italy, trade, venice

Abstract
This paper considers the varied role of castles in the development and gradual devolution of medieval society from a place of defense and therefore of social congregation, through their evolution into elaborate manor houses which lost all but the rudiments of their defense function as society changed from the Middle Ages.

From the Paper
"Castles were not a new phenomenon in the middle ages. Archeological records show that virtually in every ancient society, people came together for mutual self-defense, and fortified their locations by building walls, towers, and other elements of defense by which they could withstand the onslaughts of those who sought to attack them (Coulson 15). In western Europe, the medieval castle had its primary forerunner in the walled Roman fort. As military bases, these forts were the mainstay of Roman control, and throughout western Europe, towns grew up around these forts, taking advantage of the relative security that they offered."

Tags:castles, europe, towns

Abstract
The paper provides a brief biography of Charlemagne and notes the improvements made during his reign to the quality of life in the Middle Ages in Europe. He improved education, helped unify Europe through military conquests and improved architecture.

From the Paper
"During the long period from the fall of the Roman Empire to the Renaissance almost a thousand years later, referred to as the Dark Ages, Charlemagne is the only bright spot in European history; his is the only commanding presence. During most of this period, barbarians ranged around Europe, Christians made almost no progress against paganism and Western reading and writing were almost extinguished. This grim period, however, was illuminated briefly by Charlemagne and his reign."

Tags:ages, carolingian, dark, medieval, middle, renaissance, buildings, travel, war