1.2 Key characteristics and major events of the medieval period

The Middle Ages spanned a thousand years, from the fall of Rome in 476 CE to the Renaissance. This era saw the rise of feudalism, the spread of Christianity, and the development of Gothic architecture. It was a time of great change and innovation.

Key events shaped medieval Europe, including the Crusades, the Black Death, and the invention of the printing press. These had lasting impacts on society, economy, and culture. The period also saw the emergence of powerful figures like Charlemagne and Joan of Arc.

Chronology and Key Events

Chronological span of Middle Ages

Top images from around the web for Chronological span of Middle Ages

• 

  Timeline Middle Ages and Early Modern Period View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Historical maps: Europe View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  WorldHistoryPPG - The Crusades View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Timeline Middle Ages and Early Modern Period View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Historical maps: Europe View original

  Is this image relevant?

1 of 3

Top images from around the web for Chronological span of Middle Ages

• 

  Timeline Middle Ages and Early Modern Period View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Historical maps: Europe View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  WorldHistoryPPG - The Crusades View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Timeline Middle Ages and Early Modern Period View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Historical maps: Europe View original

  Is this image relevant?

1 of 3

• Encompasses approximately 1,000 years from 476 CE to the 15th and 16th centuries
  • Commenced with the collapse of the Western Roman Empire in 476 CE (end of classical antiquity)
  • Concluded with the dawn of the Renaissance and the Age of Discovery (transition to early modern period)

Key events in medieval Europe

• Disintegration and eventual fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 CE
  • Resulted in the formation of various Germanic kingdoms throughout Europe (Franks, Visigoths, Ostrogoths)
• The Italian Renaissance emerged in the 14th century
  • Ignited a resurgence in cultural, artistic, and intellectual pursuits (humanism, art, literature)
• The conquest of Constantinople by the Ottoman Turks in 1453
  • Signaled the demise of the Byzantine Empire (Eastern Roman Empire)
  • Altered the balance of power in the Mediterranean region
• The development of the printing press by Johannes Gutenberg in the 1450s
  • Transformed the spread and accessibility of knowledge (mass production of books)
• The commencement of the Age of Discovery in the late 15th century
  • Expeditions by explorers such as Christopher Columbus (discovery of the Americas) and Vasco da Gama (sea route to India)
  • Amplified European presence and influence on a global scale
• The ascent of Christianity as the dominant religion across Europe
  • Ensued the conversion of Emperor Constantine in 313 CE (Edict of Milan)
  • Solidified the Church as a formidable institution (papal authority, monasticism)
• The Crusades (1095-1291)
  • Sequence of military expeditions initiated by European Christians to recapture the Holy Land from Muslim control (Jerusalem, Levant)
  • Exerted significant influence on European society, economy, and culture (trade, cultural exchange, religious fervor)
• The Black Death (1347-1351) pandemic
  • Ravaged Europe, claiming an estimated 30-60% of the population (bubonic plague)
  • Drastically impacted social, economic, and religious structures (labor shortages, social upheaval, questioning of faith)

Political, Social, and Economic Structures

Feudalism and manorialism

• Feudalism
  • Prevailing political and social system founded on the reciprocal exchange of land for military service and allegiance
  • Hierarchical structure: King > Lords > Knights > Peasants (vassalage, oaths of fealty)
• Manorialism
  • Predominant economic system centered around the self-sufficient agricultural estate known as a manor
  • Peasants cultivated the land in return for protection and a portion of the harvest (serfdom, subsistence farming)

Rise of towns and middle class

• Resurgence of towns in the 11th and 12th centuries
  • Reinvigorated trade and commerce (merchant guilds, trade fairs)
  • Spurred the expansion of cities as hubs of trade, craftsmanship, and learning (urbanization, burgher class)
• Emergence of the middle class, comprising merchants and artisans
  • Defied traditional social hierarchies (social mobility, wealth accumulation)

Historical Figures and Their Impact

Charlemagne's unification of Europe

• Charlemagne (742-814)
  • United a significant portion of Western Europe as King of the Franks and later Emperor of the Romans (Carolingian Empire)
  • Fostered education, culture, and religious reform (Carolingian Renaissance, Palatine Chapel)

Norman conquest of England

• William the Conqueror (1028-1087)
  • Led the Norman invasion and conquest of England in 1066 at the Battle of Hastings
  • Instituted Norman rule and feudalism in England (Domesday Book, castles)

Joan of Arc in Hundred Years' War

• Joan of Arc (1412-1431)
  • French peasant girl asserting divine guidance from God
  • Commanded French forces to victories against the English during the Hundred Years' War (Siege of Orléans)
  • Apprehended, convicted of heresy, executed, and subsequently canonized (patron saint of France)

Cultural, Intellectual, and Technological Achievements

Gothic architecture and manuscripts

• Gothic architecture
  • Distinguished by pointed arches, ribbed vaults, and expansive windows (flying buttresses, stained glass)
  • Epitomized in iconic structures such as Notre-Dame Cathedral (Paris) and Westminster Abbey (London)
• Illuminated manuscripts
  • Renowned examples include the Book of Kells (Celtic) and the Très Riches Heures du Duc de Berry (French)
  • Exhibited intricate artwork and calligraphy (gold leaf, vibrant colors)

Scholasticism and medieval thinkers

• Scholasticism
  • Emerged as a systematic approach to critical thought and learning in medieval universities (dialectical reasoning, disputation)
• Influential thinkers
  • Thomas Aquinas (synthesis of Christian theology and Aristotelian philosophy) and Roger Bacon (empiricism, scientific method) made notable contributions to philosophy and science

Agricultural and technological innovations

• The heavy plow facilitated the cultivation of denser soils in Northern Europe, enhancing agricultural productivity (three-field system, crop rotation)
• The windmill and watermill harnessed wind and water power for diverse applications (grinding grain, sawing wood, pumping water)
• The printing press, pioneered by Johannes Gutenberg, revolutionized the dissemination of knowledge (movable type, mass literacy)