The History of Philosophy in Western Europe

The history of philosophy in western europe is difficult to split into discreet periods, ancient versus mediaeval. Feudal structures of land ownership started to emerge already in late antiquity as a strong imperial centre disintegrated amongst civil war and barbarian raids. Perhaps this instability was one more factor that contributed to the popularity of neoplatonism. As we'll see, platonism urges us to turn away from our bodily existence and towards a more perfect, stable realm. But before we get to neo platonism, we need first look at its roots in the earlier, so called post hellenistic period.