C o p y r ig h t©M c G r a w -H illE d u c a t io n . P e r m is s io n is g r a n t e dt or e p r o d u c ef o r c la s s r o o mu s e . NAME DATE CLASS Guided Reading Medieval Europe Lesson 1 The Early Middle Ages ESSENTIAL QUESTION • Why does conflict develop? Geography of Europe 1. Determining Cause and Effect What major world event caused Europe to enter a new era called the Middle Ages?2. Identifying As you read the lesson, complete the chart. Add facts that you learn that describe how Europe’s physical geography shaped the continent’s development during the Middle Ages. Physical GeographyEffect on Europe Seas Rivers Mountains

Question

answer like a 14 year old would

Answer 1

Guided Reading Medieval Europe Lesson 1 The Early Middle Ages

Essential Question: Why does conflict develop?

1. Determining Cause and Effect: The major world event that caused Europe to enter a new era called the Middle Ages was the fall of the Western Roman Empire. When Rome fell, it led to chaos, invasions, and the end of central authority, which pushed Europe into a more rural and decentralized way of life.

2. Identifying: Here’s how Europe’s physical geography shaped its development during the Middle Ages:

Physical Geography | Effect on Europe -------------------------|--------------------- Seas | The seas allowed for trade and travel between different regions, which helped cultures mix but also made it easier for invaders (like Vikings) to attack.
Rivers | Rivers were super important for trade and transportation. They made it easier for people to move around and connect with others, plus they were great for farming since the land near rivers was usually fertile.
Mountains | Mountains provided natural barriers that protected some areas from invasions but also made it hard for people to communicate and trade. For example, the Alps kept some tribes separated and created cultural differences.

So basically, the geography of Europe shaped how people lived, fought, and interacted during the Middle Ages!