The Middle Ages - this is what centuries? What is the Late Middle Ages

The Middle Ages - is a vast period of development of European society, covering the 5-15th century AD. The epoch began after the fall of the great Roman Empire, and ended - the beginning of the industrial revolution in England. For these ten centuries, Europe has gone a long way of development, characterized by a great migration of peoples, the formation of major European states and the appearance of the most beautiful historical monuments - Gothic cathedrals.

What is characteristic of medieval society

Each historical epoch has its own unique features. The historical period under consideration is no exception.

The Age of the Middle Ages is:

• Agrarian economy - most people worked in the field of agriculture;
• The predominance of the rural population over the urban population (especially in the early period);
• The great role of the church;
• Observance of Christian precepts;
• Crusades;
• feudalism;
• The formation of national states;
• Culture: Gothic cathedrals, folklore, poetry.

The Middle Ages - this is what centuries?

The epoch is divided into three large periods:

• Early - 5th-10th centuries. N. E.
• High - 10-14th centuries. N. E.
• Later - the 14-15th (16th) centuries. N. E.

The question "The Middle Ages - this are what ages?" Does not have an unambiguous answer, there are only approximate figures - the points of view of a particular group of historians.

Three periods seriously differ from each other: at the very beginning of the new era, Europe experienced a troubled time - a time of instability and fragmentation, at the end of the 15th century, a society with its characteristic cultural and traditional values was formed.

The eternal dispute of official science with an alternative

Sometimes you can hear the statement: "Antiquity is the Middle Ages". An educated person clutching his head after hearing such a delusion. Official science believes that the Middle Ages is an era that began after the capture of the Western Roman Empire by barbarians in the 5th century. N. E.

However, alternative historians (Fomenko) do not share the point of view of official science. In their circle one can hear the statement: "Antiquity is the Middle Ages". This will be said not from ignorance, but from another point of view. To whom to believe, and who does not - it's up to you. We share the point of view of official history.

How it all began: the collapse of the great Roman Empire

The capture of Rome by the barbarians is a serious historical event that served as the beginning of the era of medieval Europe.

The empire lasted for 12 centuries, during this time, the invaluable experience and knowledge of people who had sunk into oblivion after the savage tribes of the Ostrogoths, Huns and Gauls captured its western part (476 AD) was accumulated.

The process was gradual: first, from the control of Rome, the conquered provinces came out, and then the center fell. The eastern part of the empire with its capital in Constantinople (present-day Istanbul) existed until the 15th century.

After the capture and plunder of Rome by barbarians, Europe plunged into the dark ages. In spite of a significant pullback and turmoil, the tribes were able to reunite, create separate states and a unique culture.

The early Middle Ages - this is the era of the "Dark Ages": 5th-10th centuries. N. E.

During this period, the provinces of the former Roman Empire became sovereign states; The leaders of the Huns, ready and the Franks declared themselves dukes, counts and other serious titles. Surprisingly, people believed the most authoritative personalities and accepted their authority.

As it turned out, the tribes of the barbarians were not as wild as one can imagine: they had the rudiments of statehood and knew at a primitive level metallurgy.

This period is also notable for the fact that three classes were formed:

• clergy;
• nobility;
• people.

The peasants, artisans and merchants belonged to the people. More than 90% of people lived in villages and worked in the fields. The type of farming was agrarian.

High Middle Ages - 10-14th centuries. N. E.

The heyday of culture. First of all, it is characterized by the formation of a certain worldview, characteristic of a medieval man. The horizon widened: an idea of the beautiful appeared, that there is a sense in being, and the world is beautiful and harmonious.

A huge role played by religion - people revered God, went to church and tried to follow the biblical values.

There was a stable trade link between the West and the East: traders and travelers returned from distant countries, bringing porcelain, carpets, spices and new impressions of exotic Asian countries. All this contributed to a general increase in the education of Europeans.

It was during this period that the image of a male knight appeared, which to this day is the ideal of most girls. However, there are certain nuances showing the ambiguity of his figure. On the one hand, the knight was a brave and brave warrior who swore a bishop to defend his country. At the same time he was cruel enough and unprincipled - only so you can fight with hordes of savage barbarians.

He always had a "lady of heart", for which he fought. Summing up, we can say that the knight is a very contradictory figure, consisting of virtues and vices.

Later the Middle Ages - 14-15th (16th) centuries. N. E.

Western historians consider the end of the Middle Ages the discovery of Columbus of America (October 12, 1492). Russian historians hold a different opinion - the beginning of the industrial revolution in the 16th century.

The autumn of the Middle Ages (the second name of the late era) was characterized by the formation of large cities. Also there were large-scale peasant uprisings - as a result this estate became free.

Europe suffered serious human losses because of the plague epidemic. This disease took many lives, the population of some cities was halved.

Later, the Middle Ages were the period of the logical completion of a rich era of European history that lasted about a millennium.

Hundred Years' War: the Image of Joan of Arc

Later, the Middle Ages - this is the conflict between England and France, lasting more than a hundred years.

The Hundred Years War (1337-1453) was a serious event that set the vector for the development of Europe. It was not exactly a war and not quite a century. It is more logical to call this historic event a confrontation between Britain and France, which sometimes turns into an active phase.

It all began with a dispute over Flanders, when the King of England began to claim the French crown. In the beginning, Great Britain accompanied the success: small peasant archery units defeated the French knights. But then a miracle happened: Joan of Arc was born.

This slender girl with a man's posture was well educated and from a youth she understood military matters. She managed to unite the French spiritually and to repel England because of two things:

• She sincerely believed that it was possible;
• She called for the unification of all the French in the face of the enemy.

The result of the Hundred Years War was the victory of France, and Joan of Arc went down in history as a national heroine.

The Middle Ages ended in the process of the formation of the majority of European states and the formation of a European society.

Results of the era for European civilization

The historical period of the Middle Ages is one thousand of the most interesting years of the development of Western civilization. If the same person visited first at the beginning of the Middle Ages, and then moved to the 15th century, he would not recognize the same place, so significant were the changes that occurred.

Let's list briefly the main results of the Middle Ages:

• The emergence of large cities;
• Dissemination of universities across Europe;
• Adoption of Christianity by most European residents;
• The scholasticism of Aurelius Augustine and Thomas Aquinas;
• The unique culture of the Middle Ages is architecture, literature and painting;
• The readiness of Western European society to a new stage of development.

Culture of the Middle Ages

The Middle Ages are primarily a characteristic culture. It implies a broad concept, which includes the intangible and material achievements of people of that era. To them it is possible to carry:

• Architecture;
• Literature;
• painting.

Architecture

It was in this era that many famous European cathedrals were rebuilt. Medieval masters created architectural masterpieces in two distinctive styles: the Romanesque and the Gothic.

The first was born in Western Europe in the 11th and 13th centuries. This architectural direction was distinguished by rigor and severity. Temples and castles in the Romanesque style still inspire a sense of gloomy Middle Ages. The most famous is the Bamberg Cathedral.

Gothic style does not leave anyone indifferent: the subtlety and elevation of Gothic buildings is surprising.

The homeland of Gothic is France. Approximately from the 12th century, the first buildings in this style began to appear. They were distinguished by an elegant molding, an orientation towards the sky and a lot of glaring stained-glass windows.

A sophisticated traveler will find many Gothic cathedrals and town halls in Western Europe. However, let us dwell on the most famous:

• Notre Dame Cathedral;
• Strasbourg Cathedral;
• Cologne Cathedral.

Literature

European literature of the Middle Ages is a symbiosis of Christian lyric poetry, ancient thought and folk epic. No genre of world literature can compare with books and ballads written by medieval writers.

Some stories about the battles are worth! Often an interesting phenomenon emerged: people participating in major medieval battles (for example, the Battle of Hansesta), involuntarily became writers: they were the first witnesses of the events that took place.

Famous medieval authors were:

• Aurelius (Blessed) Augustine is the father of scholasticism. He combined the idea of God with ancient philosophy in his work "On the City of God."
• Dante Alighieri is a vivid representative of medieval poetry. Wrote "Divine Comedy".
• Jean Maro - wrote prose. A well-known work - "Textbook princesses and noble ladies."

The Middle Ages are an epoch of beautiful and chivalric literature. The way of life, customs and traditions of people can be learned from the books of writers.

Painting

There were cities, cathedrals were built, accordingly, there was also a demand for decorative decoration of buildings. At first it concerned large urban buildings, and then houses of well-off people.

The Middle Ages are the period of the formation of European painting.

Most of the paintings depicted well-known biblical stories - the Virgin Mary with the Child, the Babylonian Prodigal, "The Annunciation" and so on. Propagated triptychs (three small pictures in one) and diptrikhi (two pictures in one). The artists painted the walls of chapels, the town hall, painted stained-glass windows for churches.

Medieval painting is inextricably linked with Christianity and the worship of the Virgin Mary. The masters depicted her in different ways: but one thing is certain - these pictures are amazing.

The Middle Ages are the time between Antiquity and New History. It was this era that paved the way for the start of the industrial revolution and great geographical discoveries.