The GIANT

             centuries. .
             During the early Middle Ages, Goths, Vandals, Burgundians, and Franks .
             dominated western Europe, while the Arabs controlled the Mediterranean. Although the .
             Mediterranean regions couldn't be controlled entirely by Arabs, Western trade and .
             commerce with these territories decreased significantly. The great cities of the old Roman .
             Empire declined as people migrated to interior regions. Western people were cut off from .
             both ancient and contemporary sources of learning and science. Moreover, they were .
             forced to fall back on native resources. The importance of physical survival increased .
             largely. As large numbers populated the countryside and continual partitioning under .
             descendants and dynastic infighting contributed to disintegration of central control, .
             provincial counts took localized power for themselves and "feudal society" began to .
             evolve. The most important figures of the early Middle Ages were farmers and soldiers. .
             Main issue was preserving the basic social structures and little time and money could be .
             given to the unnecessary goals of civilization. The basic physical needs of life limited the .
             development of education and culture largely. .
             All of these developments, which ensued in early Middle Ages,.
             combined with later ones made the Middle Ages nothing but a period of conformist .
             religion and church domination. Unlike the localization of European political powers that .
             based upon personal bonds of vassalage, and a manor system organizing agricultural .
             production and rural security, the Papacy expanded hierarchically and demonstrated an .
             increased independence from Constantinople. Later, the rise of monasticism energized .
             the papacy and church. Monastic reform movements in the ninth century and then in the .
             tenth century gave greater power to Church attempts to preserve the remnants of .
             classical learning, elaborate theology and lessen fighting in Europe. In addition, as .
             monastics became popes, the Church became able to assert increased claims to a spiritual .