In Europe from 500 CE to 1500 CE, a continuity was the importance of the Church, and two changes were the split of the church into two branches, Roman Catholic and
Eastern Orthodox, and the ruination of structure in Europe caused by the black plague.
A continuity in Europe was the importance of the Church. The importance of the church happened because of how the earlier empires used Christianity as a unifier. The popularity of Christianity was first spread during the decline of the Roman Empire. It’s popularity became enforced by the Byzantine Empire, when Justinian tried to rebuild the
Roman Empire. Justinian was often portrayed with his officials on his left, and the church powers on his right. He used Christianity to unite the people under his rule. Another time when the church’s importance was enforced was the mass conversion of Russia under the rule of Vladimir I. He ruled from 980 to 1015, and when he converted, he converted not only himself, but his entire empire. Vladimir organized mass baptisms for his subjects, forcing conversions by military pressure. He created his own branch of Christianity, Russian
Orthodox.
A change in Europe was the split of the church to two branches, Roman Catholic and
Eastern Orthodox starting in 1054. An ambitious church patriarch in Constantinople raised several old questions about Christianity, causing this great split. The Roman Catholic church believed that the bread for communion cannot be made with yeast, that the priest should take vows of celibacy, placing great power in the Pope in rome, and being much more strict in their rules. The Eastern Orthodox church were much looser in their values, believing the the bread used for communion could be baked with yeast, that priests could be allowed to marry, diminishing the power of the pope, and being much more lax in rules of the church.
The Eastern Orthodox church were less strict in their values because they had more
influence