«Middle Ages" - a term coined much later time, they indicated.Put it was originally, in order to determine the time of the strict ban on all that was due to the antiquity.This was the period that followed the collapse of the Western Roman Empire and lasted until the beginning of the Renaissance, when interest in ancient Rome and Greece broke out with renewed vigor.
Timeframes vary
it is limited to approximately VI and XVI centuries and millennia is called the Middle Ages.But, of course, the exact timeframe of the Middle Ages is not installed.Opinions very much.It is called and the end of the XVII century, after the fall of Constantinople in 1453 (one of the boundaries of the end of the Middle Ages), with small breaks were one after another epochal event, giving more freedom to mankind.And each of them a certain group of historians is the date of the end of the "dark times", although this term is more appropriate in respect of the Early and Middle Ages.To milestone dates include the discovery of America (1492) and the Reformation (the fight against abuses of the Catholic Church), attributable to 1517.This was followed by the English revolution, the end of the Thirty Years War, the Peace of Westphalia, and equal rights for Catholics and Protestants.And each of these momentous events in Europe is seen as a possible modievistami final timeframe of the Middle Ages.
Schools - different views
representatives modievistiki studied mainly the story of the European Middle Ages, and after similar events took place in Russia, and further into Asia, Africa, America just opened.Scholars have long supporters of the Middle Ages.In their theories they are based on more complete data on the radical changes in all layers of human society completely.Early modern period they consider the beginning of the French Revolution.There is no consensus in relation to the beginning of the time period.In the "History of Humanity" - the encyclopedic edition of UNESCO - the boundary between the ancient world and the Middle Ages is connected with the moment of the rise of Islam.Obviously, every scientist has the right to his point of view.
broad concept
So what is the "Middle Ages"?This, by the standards of human history, quite a short period, which included a great deal.There were changes in the stages of development of society, new religion and the country, opened continents and born genius scientists, changed the view of the world, and science in general, there was a "great migration of peoples."Obviously, such a multifaceted concept must be viewed in different planes.Because, really, given how committed atrocities the Inquisition as it brutally suppressed even a hint of dissent, the end of this time should be considered as equal rights for representatives of different faiths, not the appearance of the masterpieces of the Renaissance genius.
twins
What the Middle Ages?In short, it sounds like - a period of historical development of society between antiquity (the ancient world), and New time.Another thing, where Antiquity ends and New times begin.Each historical stage has its own socio-economic system: Antiquity - slave system, medieval - feudal, New time - capitalism.The time frame of the Middle Ages in Europe, and not only coincide with the feudalism completely, but, for example, in Russia, his remains were destroyed in October 1917.In some countries, the residual effects of feudalism have not been overcome yet.And with regard to the views of European researchers differ.It is alleged that for a long time, many systems have been medieval society, and in all spheres.Obviously, the way it was, because not a change of team formations.
emergence of the concept of
accepted version is that the emergence, dominance and expansion of feudalism - this is the era of the Middle Ages.And the term itself was introduced by Italian humanists (such as Flavio Biondo), which makes significant efforts to revive classical Latin.They have designated the period preceding their time and separates them from the revered antiquity, phrase medium aevum, sounding as "IU them aeuim", which means "middle age."No matter how short age of the average time compared with the existence of the ancient world, its different periods were characterized by distinctive features, and therefore there is a periodization of the Middle Ages.
Necessity periodization
It is a division of the 12-century-old domination of this historical segment into three main periods.The first is time stretched from the end of V century to the middle of XI, and it is called the early Middle Ages.Classic or High Middle Ages, it came immediately after the previous stage (XI century) and was completed in the XIV century.Later, terminating the Middle Ages, it is also called the Early New time.Its half - XIV-XVI centuries.The historiography of the XX century has changed very much under the influence of the French school, formed around the journal "Annals" in whose honor and was named.They put forward the idea of the "long Middle Ages."
Characteristics of Early Medieval
early Middle Ages coincides with a significant expansion of the areas in which emerging Western European civilization.A characteristic feature of the Early Middle Ages is the formation of the territory of Great Britain, France, Saxony and Russia.During this period, which lasts about 5 centuries, there was a "great migration of peoples", which is based on the invasion of the Huns from Asia to Eastern Europe, which was the periphery of the Western Roman Empire.Potesnenny Huns nations moved mainly in Gaul, Spain, Italy and Dacia.Another feature of this historical period is the transition from paganism to Christianity, taking place under the auspices of the Roman Catholic Church, whose role in this time period is difficult to overestimate.
Empire francs
Middle Ages - it is the rule of the church.It was the core of Western civilization, she rallied the people around itself, and it also was the center of culture.Laid and new relations of production - there is feudalism, based on the dominance of large landed property.We can not say the emergence of the state in this period francs Carolingian dynasty, whose representative, Charles the Great, united territory, approaching in size to the area occupied by the Western Roman Empire.Save this empire and failed.For the Early Middle Ages in general characterized by the variability of borders arising States.Everything is in the process of education and formation.Begins to develop certain literary trends - Early Middle Ages was the golden time for the emergence of the heroic epic.In general, "the Middle Ages" - a "Lay" and the French "Song of Roland", the Spanish "Poem of the Cid" and Germany's "Song of the Nibelungs."So the times were not quite "dark".
wars and uprisings as engines of progress
very name of the next phase - "high", "classic", "ripe" Middle Ages - it says that in this period ended and flourished (and therefore most productive) all started in the previoustime.Finally formed feudal relations, strengthen centralized power, formed a class-representative monarchy (as in the drafting of laws was attended by representatives of different classes).This era had only her inherent traits - are beginning to emerge parliaments and political parties.Not spared this time, side and bloody feuds.Which killed a quarter of the country's dynastic wars of the Roses, when part of the population, faithful members of Plantagenet birth-Lancaster, kill supporters of York, that is, the British destroyed the British.Another feature of this period are the peasant uprisings such as John Ball and Wat Tyler in England.
treasures of medieval architecture
What the Middle Ages?This is a great architecture, which incorporates the four styles - "Carolingian Renaissance" (named after the ruling dynasty of Frankish kingdom) Ottonovskoe art (on behalf of the representative of the Saxon dynasty of Otto I), Romanesque and Gothic styles.The heyday of the latter, which originated in France in the XII century, just came in the late Middle Ages.Across Europe, scattered wonderful examples of architectural trends.And the "Gothic" - a general beautification of Europe, its business card.Cologne Cathedral (1248-1437), Notre-Dame de Paris (1163-1437), Gothic churches and cathedrals Prague - that can compare to this unfathomable beauty.They are not in the least inferior to the masterpieces of the Renaissance.
Horror Dark Ages
What the Middle Ages?This Great Famine, the pandemic plague, or Black Death, that the Inquisition, the Crusades and bloody Jacquerie - large feudal revolt of the French peasants (Zhakov-suckers) in 1358.However, the Late Middle Ages and Early still called New time, that is, began a rapid growth in all areas - the city became stronger, developed crafts, originated manufacture, trade is gaining momentum.There were huge changes in the social, cultural, scientific and political life of Europe.Is in decline papacy - the core of the Middle Ages.The change formations produced a hitherto unknown size and power of the revolts of the lower strata of the population - Dutch uprising and the Great Peasant War in Germany.
traditional understanding
Nowadays periodization of the Middle Ages, is determined taking into account the specificities of each country, but with the recognition that in one form or another this historic process is common to all states of the world.Therefore, there is no specific time frame.XVII century - a time when the feudal relations are becoming obsolete, and begins the emergence of capitalism.
But this misfortune came on the XV century - famine, terrible diseases, the atrocities of the Inquisition, create a bleak picture, as if painted by Hieronymus Bosch, and are associated with the Middle Ages.Therefore, most of the definition of the Middle Ages, fall is not great works of literature and architecture, great discoveries, and fires, which burned heretics, including Giordano Bruno, scary white mask with a long beak, which went to the doctors on the dirty streets plague cities.While Europeans have not yet washed.Therefore, long term "medieval" is synonymous with such concepts as "dense", "backward", "scored."
