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==Introduction to the Middle Ages==

==Introduction to the Middle Ages==

The “Middle Ages” is the period from the fall of the western Roman empire to the intellectual and cultural revival known as the “Renaissance”.  As a rough approximation, the dates of the Middle Ages are from A.D. 500 to 1500, even though the Renaissance really began hundreds of years earlier than 1500 and Rome fell before 500.  

The “[[Middle Ages]]” is the period from the fall of the western [[Roman empire]] to the intellectual and cultural revival known as the “[[Renaissance]]”.  As a rough approximation, the dates of the Middle Ages are from A.D. 500 to 1500, even though the Renaissance really began hundreds of years earlier than 1500 and Rome fell before 500.  

Both the beginning and end of the Middle Ages occurred in what is now Italy, and it was Italian humanists (non-religious intellectuals) who wanted to criticize the thousand years that separated the Roman empire from the Renaissance.  By A.D. 1500 the humanists revered and esteemed the classical Greek and Roman civilizations of the ancient world, and revived the approach taken by those ancient civilizations.  The humanists viewed the mostly quiet religious activity between A.D. 500 and 1500 as a waste of time, and mischaracterized the period as one of darkness and ignorance.  However, it is true that not much was accomplished intellectually or culturally between about A.D. 500 and 1000.

Both the beginning and end of the Middle Ages occurred in what is now [[Italy]], and it was Italian humanists (non-religious intellectuals) who wanted to criticize the thousand years that separated the Roman empire from the Renaissance.  By A.D. 1500 the humanists revered and esteemed the classical Greek and Roman civilizations of the ancient world, and revived the approach taken by those ancient civilizations.  The humanists viewed the mostly quiet religious activity between A.D. 500 and 1500 as a waste of time, and mischaracterized the period as one of darkness and ignorance.  However, it is true that not much was accomplished intellectually or culturally between about A.D. 500 and 1000.

Recall that the Germanic tribes destroyed the Roman empire in the west in the A.D. 400s, and in particular Alaric the Visigoth sacked Rome in A.D. 410.  Many of the Germanic tribes eventually converted to Christianity, but their own customs made the social organization of the Roman empire impossible to maintain.  The networks of roads, water, shipping and agriculture that flourished during the Roman empire began to decay.  There was little scholarship or artistic activity either.  Basically, little was accomplished for hundreds of years in western Europe.  Except for the Carolingian court of Charlemagne discussed below, there was no kingdom in Europe from the fall of Rome to A.D. 1000.

Recall that the [[Germanic tribes]] destroyed the Roman empire in the west in the A.D. 400s, and in particular [[Alaric]] the [[Visigoth]] sacked [[Rome]] in A.D. 410.  Many of the Germanic tribes eventually converted to [[Christianity]], but their own customs made the social organization of the Roman empire impossible to maintain.  The networks of roads, water, shipping and agriculture that flourished during the Roman empire began to decay.  There was little scholarship or artistic activity either.  Basically, little was accomplished for hundreds of years in western Europe.  Except for the Carolingian court of [[Charlemagne]] discussed below, there was no kingdom in Europe from the fall of Rome to A.D. 1000.

Christianity and its new network of churches helped filled the void.  Also, a new method developed for protecting private property and encouraging farming on a local level rather than through a centralized empire:  feudalism.  It arose independently in western Europe and Japan.

Christianity and its new network of churches helped filled the void.  Also, a new method developed for protecting private property and encouraging farming on a local level rather than through a centralized empire:  [[feudalism]].  It arose independently in western Europe and [[Japan]].

Under decentralized government in the Middle Ages, a huge church-state network called “Christendom” held influence over all of Europe.  Christendom consisted of a religious hierarchy known as the sacerdotium and a secular (non-religious) hierarchy known as the imperium.  These corresponded to man’s spiritual needs and his worldly or temporal needs.  In western Europe, the pope of the Roman Catholic Church ruled over the religious side and an emperor ruled over the secular side, but they were constantly cooperating or arguing with each other.  Emperors tried to control church officials and vice-versa.  The Church even had its own armies and cities, and a powerful pope named Innocent III even asserted the right to resolve disputes between kings.  The pope would excommunicate (kick out of the Church) kings to show his disapproval, and at times even attempted to remove kings from power.  This all makes for interesting reading and debate.

Under decentralized government in the Middle Ages, a huge church-state network called “Christendom” held influence over all of Europe.  Christendom consisted of a religious hierarchy known as the [[sacerdotium]] and a secular (non-religious) hierarchy known as the [[imperium]].  These corresponded to man’s spiritual needs and his worldly or temporal needs.  In western Europe, the pope of the [[Roman Catholic Church]] ruled over the religious side and an emperor ruled over the secular side, but they were constantly cooperating or arguing with each other.  Emperors tried to control church officials and vice-versa.  The Church even had its own armies and cities, and a powerful pope named [[Innocent III]] even asserted the right to resolve disputes between kings.  The pope would [[excommunicate]] (kick out of the Church) kings to show his disapproval, and at times even attempted to remove kings from power.  This all makes for interesting reading and debate.

   

   

There were other threats to peace.  Foreigners from Asia known as “Mongols” were vicious warriors who seemed invincible.  And there was terrible disease:  the Bubonic Plague was probably the worst disease in all of history, killing a large percentage of the European population.

There were other threats to peace.  Foreigners from Asia known as “[[Mongols]]” were vicious warriors who seemed invincible.  And there was terrible disease:  the [[Bubonic Plague]] was probably the worst disease in all of history, killing a large percentage of the European population.

But before we reach those topics, there is something else of enormous importance that happened in the early part of the Middle Ages:  Islam began.  It attracted Arabs at first, and then spread as far away as Spain in the West and Southeast Asia in the East.  Islam may even surpass Christianity as the world’s most popular religion in the 21st century, despite Christianity being nearly 50% older than Islam.

But before we reach those topics, there is something else of enormous importance that happened in the early part of the Middle Ages:  [[Islam]] began.  It attracted [[Arabs]] at first, and then spread as far away as [[Spain]] in the West and [[Southeast Asia]] in the East.  Islam may even surpass Christianity as the world’s most popular religion in the 21st century, despite Christianity being nearly 50% older than Islam.

==The Rise of Islam==

==The Rise of Islam==