This session journeys into medieval Europe, where Rome’s legacy was reshaped by Christian ideals, Gothic cathedrals, and the stirring ambition to recreate Rome’s grandeur. From Theoderic and Charlemagne’s ambitious revivals to the thriving cities of Florence and Venice, we’ll examine how feudalism developed and then how urban life flourished. We'll also visit the foundations of higher learning in Bologna and Padua, where the seeds of future Renaissance thinking were sown.