Eastern Europe Research Paper

Christian Europe began in the western corner of Afro-Eurasia in which a different culture was being developed, even with the small number of people (36 million) they were able to populate themselves. As time went on they people began to think differently than the rest of the world and soon referred to themselves as ‘Europeans’. (384) Europe was then divided into Western, Northern and Eastern territories all with special characteristics which defined Europe. When the Charlemagne empire collapsed, the northern region was left vastly exposed which allowed Vikings to invade and ultimately left the peasants with no protection or authority. (384) Once the invaders were armed with lethal weapons, they collected taxes, forced labor, and became the rulers of the society. (384) Peasants were not longer free men; they were under the control in every aspect of life which created the system of feudalism. (384) With control over the entire population the feudal lords fueled a commercial transformation that allowed Europe to gain access to the rest of the worlds trade system. Although this area of Europe was considered barbaric and was feared by the peasants in the region and others, Eastern Europe was much more wide-open and many opportunities existed. (385)

They settled in the regions of Flanders, Holland, Northern Germany and to the border of eastern frontiers. (385) With well-watered lands and forest the region filled up quickly. All of the land was replaced with “castles, churches, and towns echoed the landscape of France, now replaced economics that had been based on gathering honey, hunting and slave trade.” (385) The region was like heaven to migrating peasants and local elites because the area offered a promising freedom. (385) Even though the weather was harsh at time, it was much more enjoyable that being in the