Middle Ages

Middle Ages (A.D. 400–1500), also known as the medieval period, era in western European history between the fall of the Roman Empire and the beginnings of modern European civilization. By the year 400 A.D., Germanic tribes, called barbarians by the Romans, began to invade the territories of Rome. By this time, the Roman Empire had lost much of its power and could not prevent the invasions. Tribes such as the Visigoths, Angles, Jutes, Saxons, Franks, and Ostrogoths divided the huge Roman Empire into different kingdoms. Because of the primitive legal and economic structures of these tribes, much of the Roman legacy in law, trade, and education was destroyed or lost for centuries. It is for this reason that the term “Dark Ages” is sometimes incorrectly applied to this era. The laws that once provided safety and security to Roman citizens gave way to tribal allegiances and superstitions. The great network of roads built by Rome to maintain trade and communication were destroyed by the barbarians. In the absence of a trade economy, money was no longer necessary. Farming became the economic mainstay of Europe. By the 9th century, most of western Europe was organized into large estates called manors. The manors were owned by a handful of wealthy landowners, but the actual work was accomplished by peasants. The increased power of the manor diminished the need for towns and the need for a merchant class. Consequently, the Middle Ages is characterized by a diminishment in urban life and the loss of culture. Education and cultural institutions were almost totally destroyed during this period. Knowledge of Greece and Rome was lost, the Latin language was unknown to most, and the disciplines of literature, painting, and architecture were forgotten. The sole civilizing force during the Middle Ages was the Christian Church, which saved western Europe from intellectual and cultural oblivion. By the 11th and 12th centuries some powerful lords had succeeded in establishing stable governments that provided peace and security. This, in turn, stimulated thought and economic activities—merchants and towns reappeared, trade routes were established, technological advances occurred, and people ventured far beyond the borders of the manor. This era also experienced remarkable artistic and intellectual achievements such as the cathedral of Notre Dame, the writings of St. Thomas Aquinas, the introduction of the works of Aristotle, and the establishment of universities. Between the 14th and 16th centuries, the Middle Ages slowly yielded to a more modern Europe characterized by the advances of the Renaissance.