The Middle Ages is a period in European history that spans roughly from the 5th to the late 15th century, traditionally marking the end of the Roman Empire in the West to the beginning of the Renaissance and the Age of Discovery. This era is often divided into three periods:
Key Characteristics and Events
- Feudalism - A social structure where land ownership and duties were exchanged for military service or protection. This system was fundamental to medieval society.
- Manorialism - An economic system centered around the manor, where peasants worked the land in exchange for protection and the right to cultivate portions of the land for their own use.
- Christian Church - The Catholic Church was a dominant institution, influencing nearly every aspect of life, from politics to education. The Papacy played a significant role in European politics.
- The Crusades - A series of religious wars sanctioned by the Papacy with the goal of restoring Christian access to the Holy Land in the Middle East.
- Trade and Commerce - From the 11th century, trade routes expanded, leading to the growth of towns, the rise of merchant guilds, and the introduction of banking and early forms of capitalism.
- Medieval Learning and Culture - While often characterized as a "dark age" in terms of scientific advancement, there were notable developments in philosophy, literature, and the arts, particularly through the efforts of monastic scholars and the preservation of ancient texts.
Societal Structure
The societal hierarchy of the Middle Ages was rigid:
- Nobility - Including kings, dukes, and knights, who owned land and had significant political power.
- Clergy - Priests, bishops, and other religious figures who provided spiritual guidance and were often involved in education and administration.
- Peasants - The majority of the population, divided into serfs (bound to the land) and free peasants.
End of the Middle Ages
The transition from the Middle Ages to the Renaissance was marked by:
- The decline of feudalism due to the Black Death, which reduced the population and labor force, thereby increasing the bargaining power of the peasantry.
- The rise of nation-states, centralization of power, and the emergence of a more secular and humanistic worldview.
- Technological innovations like the printing press which facilitated the spread of knowledge.
References
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