Америка в прошлом и настоящем. Часть I. Горчакова Е.П - 15 стр.

9.     In order to survive, groups in small geographical areas had to depend
on one another. Kings gave land and special favors to important people in
their kingdoms. In exchange1, these people, called lords, promised to fight in
the king’s army. A similar exchange system united lords and peasants2.
Peasants promised to stay on their lord's land and give him all the food and
goods 3 he needed. In return, they received protection from their lord.
 10. This exchange system, called feudalism, organized European
 society after the fall of Rome. Since peasants made everything that was
 needed on their lord's land, there was very little trade. And lack of trade
 meant that European towns - traditional4 centers of commerce—could not
 develop. Beyond Europe, of course, there were possibilities for trade. But
 European merchants were unable to explore these possibilities. They
 needed financial 5 support, and the weak governments of Europe did not
 have enough money to give them. Across the Atlantic, the great Mayan
 civilization had developed. To the east, the Orient was filled with treasures.
 But in 1000 A . D . no European nation had enough power or wealth to
 look for treasures beyond Europe. Few people, in fact, knew that such
 treasures existed.

    RISE OF THE ISLAMIC EMPIRE
    11. South of the Mediterranean, however, things were different. There, as
    the old world of the Romans died, a new empire appeared. In 570 A.D. - just a
    hundred years after the fall of Rome - the prophet6 Mohammed was born in
    Arabia. His followers, called Muslims, quickly spread Islam, their religion.
    By the early 700s, the Islamic Empire was enormous7. It stretched from
    Spain across northern Africa and the Near East to India.
    12. Powerful and loyal8, the followers of Mohammed built a great
    civilization. There were beautiful cities with fine palaces and elegant 9
    temples. In large libraries, the knowledge of ancient Greece and Rome was
    preserved. Scholars10, translators, astronomers, and mathematicians came together in
    centers of learning to make important discoveries. In busy towns, trade prospered11.
    Muslim merchants bought spices, perfumes, jewels, and silk from the Orient.
    Everywhere, ancient trade routes which had once led to Rome filled the cities of the
    Islamic Empire with great Eastern wealth.
1
  in exchange: in return
2
  peasant: poor farmer
3
  goods: things, possessions
4
  traditional: customary, usual
5
  financial: pertaining to money
6
  prophet: person who knows the future
7
  enormous: very large
8
  loyal: faithful
9
  elegant: very beautiful
10
   scholar: highly educated expert
11
   prosper: become more successful

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