Why Study Medieval History?

Many institutions of the modern world began in the Middle Ages.

Loosely defined as the period between the fall of the Western Roman Empire and the beginning of the Renaissance, the Middle Ages are considered the transitional period between the ancient and modern world. Historians study Medieval history to understand this transition.

Significance

Nascent forms of several institutions that continue to shape our world came into being during the Middle Ages including the first universities, the first hospitals and even the first banks. Legalized by the Roman Emperor Constantine in the 4th century, Christianity spread across Europe, becoming a unifying force on a continent otherwise divided by culture and politics.

Influences

The Crusades brought Europeans into contact with Arabic advances in mathematics, science, engineering and architecture as well as knowledge from classical antiquity preserved by the Arabs. This knowledge shaped the Church and eventually gave birth to the interest in art, philosophy and humanities that characterized the Renaissance.

Literature

Some of the important works of literature created in the Middle Ages include "Beowulf," the "Divine Comedy," the "Song of Roland," the "Canterbury Tales," "Mio Cid" and "Le Morte d'Arthur." These works give insights into the thoughts and concerns of Medieval people, but also help scholars understand the development of modern languages including English, Italian, French and Spanish.

Politics

Important political and economic developments in the Middle Ages include the rise of centralized governments, the development of money-based economies and the first documents limiting the authority of the monarchy such as the Magna Carta.

References

• Encyclopedia.com: Middle Ages
• "The Middle Ages: An Illustrated History"; Barbara Hanawalt; 1999
• "The Middle Ages"; Morris Bishop; 2001