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CAUSES AND CONSEQUENCES

The Decline and fall of Empires, Church and State

(Paperback - 4 Mar 2011)

 

Robert D. Morritt

 

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          Causes and Consequences examines the causes and effects of individuals in early society and of attempts to usurp power ecclesiastically, politically, or by the sword.

          Contained within are scenes depicting how these events 'rolled-out'. This varies from the invasions of 'Northmen' and by individual King's within Britain and in Europe, the which compare with the same situation that occurred within the Frankish Empire. These all have the same thing in common, the search for power also monetary gain.

 

          The book describes the downfall of Charlemagne and the decay of the Frankish empire. life in feudal Europe and the influence of early Christianity and  growth of the Papacy.

 

          The first and second Crusades are described with an account of the founding of the Knights Templars. The reign of Henry the Fowler, (919-936 AD) and of an attempt to separate Thuringia from Saxony in order to weaken his  ducal power. Also included is an overview of the origin of the German burghers and middle classes from 911 to 926 AD.

 

          In Britain we look at the reign of Alfred the Great, from the time as a crown prince when his troops ran the West Saxons up the slopes at Ashdown. It was noted that from that point onwards that there was a decided unwillingness on the part of the Danes to meet Alfred, except when they could catch him at disastrous odds.

 

          The book is a veritable compendium of information, that contains a variety of historical situations that deal with the following subjects:

 

          The Conquest of Egypt by the Fatimites AD 969, The Growth and the Decadence of Chivalry, The Conversion of Vladimir The Great, The dissension and separation of the Greek and Roman Church (1054 AD), The decline of Moorish power in Spain. Stephen usurps the English Crown (1135 – 1154 AD), Arnold of Brescia, St.Bernard and the Second Crusade and concludes with an overview of the decline of the Byzantine Empire.