The MIDDLE AGES

The Middle Ages, is a distinct period in European history wich last from the collapse of Roman civilization in the 5th century to the Renaissance (variously interpreted as beginning in the !th, "th, or 5th century, depending on the region of Europe and on other factors#$ The term and its conventional meaning were introduced by %talian humanists with invidious intent& the humanists were engaged in a revival of 'lassical learning and culture, and the notion of a thousand(year period of dar)ness and ignorance separating them from the ancient *ree) and Roman world served to highlight the humanist+s (, se pune dup- apostrof#own wor) and ideals$ %n a sense, the humanists invented the .Middle Ages/ term in order to distinguish themselves from it$ The Middle Ages nonetheless provided the foundation for the transformations of the humanists+ own Renaissance$ 0or several centuries, most civilizations were almost entirely out of e1istence$ This period is called the Middle Ages, or the 2ar) Ages$ 3hy 2ar) Ages4 ,imply, because it was a time of chaos$ 5articularly because the Roman 'ivilization was slowly being displaced by Renaissance (rebirth#$ ,lowly but surely, Europe developed especially in the fields of science, or, music, commerce and literature$ The Middle Ages6 Medieval 5eriod was a state of affairs$ 7ife was difficult for most people$ 0eudalism was in full swing$ ,elf(sufficient states were set by local lords$ ,elf 8 sufficiency was the solution to their primary problem9 the decline in trade and commerce brought about by the fall of the Roman Empire$ This was definitely a turbulent and critical point in the history of 3estern Europe$ :ehind the all the turmoil and chaos in the Middle Age, the Roman 'atholic church was the only constant thing that )ept the people anchored to life$ %t was the common thread that bound all of 3estern Europe$ The main concern of the church was spiritual in nature, it was nonetheless also interested in secular affairs$ There was very stable organization and hierarchy$ The pope was the head of the states surrounding Rome$ 7ords and vassals of states were high officials in the church$ The monasteries and abbeys were the center of large to medium sized states$ After the dissolution of the Roman Empire, the idea arose of Europe as one large church(state, called 'hristendom$ 'hristendom was thought to consist of two

distinct groups of functionaries9 the sacerdotium, or ecclesiastical hierarchy, and the imperium, or secular leaders$ %n theory, these two groups complemented each other, attending to people+s spiritual and temporal needs, respectively$ ,upreme authority was wielded by the pope in the first of these areas and by the emperor in the second$ %n practice, the two institutions were constantly sparring, disagreeing, or openly warring with each other$ The emperors often tried to regulate church activities by claiming the right to appoint church officials and to intervene in doctrinal matters$ The church, in turn, not only owned cities and armies but often attempted to regulate affairs of state$ 2uring the ;th century the *othic style developed in art and architecture$ Also in this period the travel and communication became faster and easier$ %n the !th century the *othic architecture and sculpture were achieved and the intellectual life was dominated by the Roman 'atholic 'hurch$ The brea)up of feudal structures, the strengthening of city(states in %taly, and the emergence of national monarchies in ,pain, 0rance, and England, as well as such cultural developments as the rise of secular education, culminated in the birth of a self(consciously new age with a new spirit, one that loo)ed all the way bac) to 'lassical learning for its inspiration and that came to be )nown as the Renaissance$ The Middle Ages usually is divided into the Early Middle Ages (A$2$ "<=( >>># the ?igh Middle Ages (A$2$ >>> 8 !>># and the 7ate Middle Ages (A$2$ !>>( "5!#, a time division, used in the vestern Europe$ %n the Early Middle Ages, is caracterised by depopulation, deurbanization, and barbarian invasions, wich begun in the 7ate Anti@uity, and continued after$ The barbarian invaders 9Aisigoths (in ,pain#, Bstrogoths and 7ombards (in %taly#, 0ran)s (in 0rance# and the Anglo(,a1on )ingdoms in todayCs *reat:ritain$ The barbarians formed new )ingdoms in the remains of the 3estern Roman Empire$ %n the <th century Dorth Africa and the Middle East, once part of the Eastern Roman Empire, became an %slamic Empire after con@uest by MuhammadEs successors$ Although there were substantial changes in society and political structures, the brea) with Anti@uity was not complete$ The Eastern Roman Empire, )nown as :yzantine Empire, survived and remained a maFor power$ Additionally, most of the new )ingdoms incorporated many of the e1tant Roman institutions, while monasteries were founded as 'hristianity e1panded in western Europe$ %n the <th and Gth centuries, the 0ran)s, under the 'arolingian dynasty, established an empire covering much of western Europe$ This Empire endured until the Hth century, when it succumbed to the

pressures of vi)ing invasion in the north& the Magyars from the east, and the ,aracens from the south$ The 0ran)ish )ingdom which replaced much of the former Roman province of *aul, was at first ruled by a line of )ings founded by the warlord 'lovis from the Merovingian 2ynasty$ ,everal centuries later, the 0ran)ish )ingdom became the model for the formation of medieval Europe through the leadership of 'harles the *reat$ ?e con@uered the nearby lands of the 7ombards and ,a1ons as well as aiding the 'hristian rulers of northern ,pain in pushing the Muslims further south$ ?e was an able administrator and )ept his diverse )ingdom together through tight organization and supervision$ 'harles fostered a renewal of the arts and learning, )nown as the Carolingian Renaissance$ 0or his successes and service to the 'hurch, 'harles was crowned ?oly Roman Emperor in the year G>>$ 'harles+ success in reuniting a considerable portion of Rome+s former territory caused some people to hope that Rome could be revived permanently$ 'harles+ ?oly Roman Empire began to wea)en, however, during the final years of his reign and, in the time of his grandsons, was divided into three portions$ %n the late G>>s the 'arolingian attempt at reviving Rome+s empire was much reduced and fragmented, so that by the > th 'entury, Europe was again in survival mode as Magyars, Tur)s and Ai)ings raided, settled and spread havoc$ %n this new situation, leadership was not provided by )ings, but by local nobles who ruled their domains semi(independently$ The e1ception to this rule was >th century teritory (located in todayCs *ermany#, where Btto % dominated his nobles and recreated a version of the ?oly Roman Empire for a time, until the nobility was able to re(assert control over their own domains$ The system under which order was established and maintained is )nown as feudalism$ 7ords awarded portions of land, called fiefs, to noblemen in e1change for oaths of loyalty and service$ These men were called vassals and ruled their fiefs and the serfs (peasants and common people# living on them$ Doblemen often served as heavy cavalry, or )nights, in the service of a lord or vassal$ %n time, )nights developed a code of warfare and behaviour, called chivalry (the code of the horseman#, in which the ideal 'hristian gentleman lived in courtesy, honour and religious devotion$ %n conclusion, the 2ar) Ages was a perod in EuropeCs history wich bought dar)ness, the new christian religion, the rise and fall of the 'harlemagne Empire and ended with the vi)ing and magyar invasions$ sa nu uiti sa treci bibliografia