World History I

Chapter 11: Innovation and Adaptation in the Western Christian World
600-1450 CE

50: Mon, Mar 9, 2026

Please in the forum for the day a short essay in response to this question:

The chapter title talks about adaptation and innovation. The physical resources available to Medieval Europe were not vastly different from those available to the same territories under the Roman Empire or in Late Antiquity. Nevertheless, the use of many of these resources was slowly but significantly changed by the adoption of new methods and technologies, many of which had broadly cascading effects throughout society at every level. The same can be said for immaterial resources such as new ideas and rediscovered texts.

How did Medieval Europeans adapt and innovate resources from the past and from other civilizations? I

• In addition to the new technologies discussed in Chapter 11, flip back to page 254 to review the previously discussed invention of the stirrup.
• Trace throughout the chapter the examples of preserved, rediscovered, or newly translated writings from the past. How did these texts lead to innovation?

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