Throughout the postclassical era, Western Europe experienced many commercial and cultural changes. The decline of the Roman Empire is what officially designated the beginning of the postclassical era, which began around 500 c.e, and it lasted until the 15th century. The postclassical era can be split into two different categories. One, from 500 c.e -900 c.e signifying the recovery period and two, 900 c.e to 1450 c.e which can be considered the advancing period due to the rapid growth from here onward.The recovery period in Western Europe was not a very significant period for advancement. The population of Western Europe was actually just a large in the 6th century as it was in the 1 ...view middle of the document...
Charlemagne also improved the level of intellectual activity along with some church matters like education. After Charlemagne died in 814, the empire given to his three sons and split into three separate pieces. This segregation of power was short lived and was the end of Carolingian authority.Beginning around the 10th century, a series of political and economic advancements arose in Western Europe. Many new technologies were now available to the west that ignited the fuse to new economic and social vigor. Many new agricultural advancements were responsible for population growth. Things like the moldboard plow, three-field system, and a new horse collar were all very important for agricultural development when used together. The three-field system was the dividing of agricultural land into three fields. Two of those fields were to be used for crops while one recovered so the land would not get burned out from lack of nutrients. The moldboard plow was much more efficient than the conventional plow. The new horse collar also prevented the horse from choking itself when pulling the plow. Until this collar was available only a piece of rope was tied around the horse's neck, this would obviously choke the horse.The centuries after the dark ages are now referred to as the high middle ages of Western Europe. Many other key events also took place during these centuries as well as the dark ages. The first universities also arose in Europe including the University of Paris in 1180 where Thomas Aquinas once taught. Thomas Aquinas believed that faith came first before anything. In 1215, king john was defeated in his own war against France and was forced to sign the Magna Car...
