Year 9
Unit 5 - The Early Middle Ages
Lesson 1 - What are the Middle Ages?
The Middle Ages of European history (adjective ‘medieval’) are a period in history which lasted for roughly one thousand years, commonly dated from the fall of the Western Roman Empire in the 5th century to the beginning of the Early Modern Period in the 16th century. As accomplished linguists, you might be interested to know that the plural form of the term, Middle Ages, is used in English and Dutch while other European languages use the singular form (French le moyen âge, German das Mittelalter, Spanish edad media).
The Middle Ages form the middle period in a division of European history between the classical period of Greece and Rome that we have studied and the Early Modern period associated with the Renaissance. During the Renaissance (meaning rebirth) Europeans rediscovered and built upon the achievements of classical civilisation. For people of the Renaissance, the Middle Ages had been the 'Dark Ages' of barbarism, superstition and war, a time when humanity hadn't progressed but had actually gone backwards. This isn't really true and history is never that simple, but the term Middle Ages has stuck so it is important you understand what it means.
The Middle Ages are themselves often subdivided into three.
The Middle Ages form the middle period in a division of European history between the classical period of Greece and Rome that we have studied and the Early Modern period associated with the Renaissance. During the Renaissance (meaning rebirth) Europeans rediscovered and built upon the achievements of classical civilisation. For people of the Renaissance, the Middle Ages had been the 'Dark Ages' of barbarism, superstition and war, a time when humanity hadn't progressed but had actually gone backwards. This isn't really true and history is never that simple, but the term Middle Ages has stuck so it is important you understand what it means.
The Middle Ages are themselves often subdivided into three.
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The early or low medieval period was from the 5th to the 9th century. Sometimes called the Dark Ages, this period is associated with the consequences of the break up of the Roman Empire and regular invasions into Europe by non-Christian ‘Barbarians’. This is the subject of this unit of study.
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The middle period (the High Middle Ages) follows, and this is a time of the feudal system, castle and cathedral building, new methods in warfare and the growth of towns. The last span (the late Middle Ages) is a later period of the growing power of kings and queens, increasing importance of trade, and weakening of the feudal system after the 14th century plague. This is what you will be studying next year
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When did the Middle Ages begin and end?
It is impossible to put a precise date on the beginning and end of the Middle Ages. The successful attack on Rome by the Visigoths in 400AD and the deposing of the last Roman emperor Romulus Augustus in 476AD are popular starting points. There is even less agreement on the date of the end of the Middle Ages. The Turkish capture of Constantinople or the end of the Anglo-French Hundred Years' War (right, both 1453), the invention of the printing press by Johann Gutenberg (around 1455), the fall of Muslim Spain or Christopher Columbus's voyage to America both 1492, the Protestant Reformation starting 1517 are all possible end-dates. |
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What makes an event in the past historically significant?
The list of dates and events above are all historically significant. But what makes something ‘significant’. I find it useful to think of the following:
Profundity– how deeply people’s lives have been affected?
Quantity– how many lives have been affected?
Durability– for how long have people’s lives been affected?
Relevance– is something still significant to our present lives?
The list of dates and events above are all historically significant. But what makes something ‘significant’. I find it useful to think of the following:
Profundity– how deeply people’s lives have been affected?
Quantity– how many lives have been affected?
Durability– for how long have people’s lives been affected?
Relevance– is something still significant to our present lives?
Activity
Using the template timeline of the middle ages to help you, research and add three additional events and explain their significance. You can download the document here.
Consider using three of the following events:
Tarik-Ibn-Ziyad begins the Muslim conquest of Spain.
Charlemagne is crowned as the first Holy Roman Emperor.
The Eastern Church and the papacy in Rome split.
William of Normandy conquers England
The Third Crusade pits Richard I against Saladin
Cantons Uri, Schwyz and Unterwalden oath of the Confederation
The Hundred Years’ War begins.
The Black Death hits Europe.
Consider using three of the following events:
Tarik-Ibn-Ziyad begins the Muslim conquest of Spain.
Charlemagne is crowned as the first Holy Roman Emperor.
The Eastern Church and the papacy in Rome split.
William of Normandy conquers England
The Third Crusade pits Richard I against Saladin
Cantons Uri, Schwyz and Unterwalden oath of the Confederation
The Hundred Years’ War begins.
The Black Death hits Europe.