Middle Ages and the Renaissance - the brightest periods in the history of mankind.They remember various events and changes.Next, consider more especially the Middle Ages.
General
Middle Ages is a long enough period.In the framework of the birth occurred and the subsequent formation of European civilization, its transformation - the transition to modern times.The era of the Middle Ages originated from the fall of the Western Roman (476), but, according to modern scholars, more fair to extend the frontier before 6 - the end of the 8th century, after the invasion of the Lombards in Italy.Ends of the Middle Ages to the mid-17th century.Adopted traditionally considered the end of the period of the bourgeois revolution in England.However, it is worth noting that the last century is far different medieval character.Researchers tend to separate from the mid-16th - early 17th century.These "independent" time interval represented by the early Middle Ages.However, this, that the previous periodization is rather conventional.
characteristic medieval
During this period, there was a formation of European civilization.At this time, it begins a series of scientific and geographical discoveries, the first signs of a modern democracy - parliamentarism.Domestic researchers, rejecting interpretation of the medieval period as the era of "obscurantism" and the "dark ages", seeking to illuminate phenomena and events that have turned Europe into a completely new civilization, as objectively as possible.They pose a few problems.One of them is the definition of basic social and economic characteristics of the feudal civilization.In addition, researchers are trying to more fully present the Christian world of the Middle Ages.
social structure
It was a time dominated by the feudal mode of production and the agricultural element.This is particularly characteristic of an earlier period.Society was represented in specific forms:
- Manor.Here, the host through the labor of dependent people to satisfy most of their own material needs.
- Monastery.From the estate he was distinguished by the fact that here periodically met competent people who could write a book and had time for it.
- Royal Court.He moved from one place to another and organized management, and following the example of the life of an ordinary estate.
Polity
It was formed in two stages.For the first it was characterized by the coexistence of Roman and Germanic modified public institutions and political structures as a "barbarian kingdoms".At the 2nd stage of the state and feudal society are a particular system.In the course of social stratification and the growing influence of the landed aristocracy between land owners - the people and seniors there are relations of subordination and domination.Middle Ages is characterized by the presence of caste corporate structure arising from the need for individual social groups.The most important role was played by the institution of the state.It provides protection of the population from feudal freemen and external threats.At the same time the state was one of the main exploiters of the people, because it represents the interests primarily of the ruling classes.
second period after the end of the early Middle Ages there is a significant acceleration of the evolution of society.Such activity was due to the development of monetary relations and exchange of commodity production.Continue to enhance the value of the city, the first time was still politically and administratively subordinate Seniors - estates, and ideologically - the monastery.Later, with his political developments related to the formation of the legal system in the New Times.This process will be perceived as a result of the creation of urban communities, defending liberties in the fight against the ruling lord.It was at that time began to develop the first elements of a democratic sense of justice.However, historians believe that it would not be quite right to seek the origins of modern legal concepts exclusively in an urban environment.Of great importance, and representatives of other classes.For example, the formation of ideas about the personal dignity of the Estates took place in feudal consciousness and initially was of aristocratic character.From this we can conclude that democratic freedoms volnolyubiya evolved from the upper classes.
role of the church
religious philosophy of the Middle Ages had a comprehensive meaning.Church and faith is completely filled with human life - from birth to death.Religion claimed the management of the company, she performed many functions, then gone over to the state.Church of the period was organized on strict hierarchical canons.At the head was the pope - the Roman Pontiff.He had his state in central Italy.In all European countries were subordinate to the pope bishops and archbishops.They were feudal lords and had a whole principalities.It was the tip of the feudal society.Under the influence of religion are different spheres of human activity: science, education and culture of the Middle Ages.In the hands of the church it was concentrated enormous power.Lords and kings who sought her help and support, showered her with gifts, privileges, trying to buy her assistance and location.Along with this religious philosophy of the Middle Ages it provided a calming effect on people.The Church sought to smooth over social conflicts, he appealed for mercy to the destitute and the oppressed, for the distribution of alms to the poor and curb lawlessness.
influence of religion on the development of civilization
Church was controlled by the publication of books and education.Due to the influence of Christianity in the 9th century, the society has developed a fundamentally new attitude and understanding of marriage and family.In the early Middle Ages were quite common unions between close relatives, are quite common and multiple marriages.It is with this all fought the church.The problem of marriage is one of the Christian sacraments, become almost the main theme of a large number of theological writings.One of the principal achievements of the Church in that historical period is considered matrimonial cell formation - a normal family life forms existing today.
Economic development
According to many researchers, technical progress has also been associated with the ubiquitous Christian doctrine.The result was a change in attitude of people to nature.In particular, it is a refusal of taboos and prohibitions that have held back the development of agriculture.Nature has ceased to be a source of fear and the object of worship.The economic situation, technical improvements and inventions have contributed to a significant increase in the standard of living, stable enough to hold on for a few centuries, the feudal period.Middle Ages, so it became very natural and necessary step in the formation of the Christian civilization.
formation of a new perception
human person in society has become a valued higher than in antiquity.This was mainly due to the fact that medieval civilization, imbued with the spirit of Christianity, did not seek to allocate the person from the environment because of the tendency to perceive the world.In this regard, it would be wrong to talk about the supposedly prevent the formation of individual features of the dictatorship of the Church over a man who lived in the Middle Ages.On the Western territories of religion tend to perform conservative and stabilizing the problem, providing for the development of the individual facilities.It is impossible to search for the spiritual man of the time outside the church.That knowledge of the environment and of God, which is inspired on the ideals of the church, gave birth to a diverse, colorful and lively culture of the Middle Ages.The church formed the schools and universities, encourage printing and a variety of theological disputes.
In conclusion
whole structure of society of the Middle Ages is usually called feudalism (as the term "feudal" - award vassal).And this despite the fact that this term does not provide an exhaustive description of social organization of the period.The main features of that time should be included:
- concentration in the absolute majority of the inhabitants of the villages;
- predominance of subsistence farming;
- dominant position of large landowners in the society;
- separation between kings and vassals of the government;
- dominance of the Christian religion;
- unfree situation of the landowners, farmers, are in the personal dependence upon the Lord;
- absence of rampant lust of wealth and accumulation in the society.
most important factor in the cultural community of Europe was Christian.It was in the period under review, it has become one of the world's religions.The Christian Church was based on the ancient civilization, not only denying the old values, but reinterpreting them.Religion, its wealth and hierarchy, centralization and outlook, morality, law and ethics - all these form a single ideology of feudalism.That Christianity is largely determined by contrast medieval society in Europe from other social structures on other continents at that time.
