Changes

*Aftermath of the Roman Empire

*Aftermath of the Roman Empire

*Carolingian Empire

*Carolingian Empire

*Vikings

*Vikings

*Crusades

*Crusades

*Renaissance of the 12th century

*Renaissance of the 12th century

*Italian city states and [[Hanseatic League]]

*Italian city states and [[Hanseatic League]]

 

*Hundred Years' War

*Hundred Years' Wars

 

*Crisis of the later Middle Ages

*Crisis of the later Middle Ages

Warfare was endemic to the period, often on a very small scale. When at war, medieval rulers typically depended on troops paid from their own resources, supported by soldiers provided by their vassals. This meant that only limited number of troops could be raised, and difficulties in logistics and communications further limited this number. For this reason, warfare was often conducted by raids through enemy territories and sieges of important towns or castles. Open field battles between armies were quite rare.  

Warfare was endemic to the period, often on a very small scale. When at war, medieval rulers typically depended on troops paid from their own resources, supported by soldiers provided by their vassals. This meant that only limited number of troops could be raised, and difficulties in logistics and communications further limited this number. For this reason, warfare was often conducted by raids through enemy territories and sieges of important towns or castles. Open field battles between armies were quite rare.  

Notable conflicts of the era were between the [[British|English]] and the [[French]] in the [[Hundred Years' Wars]], the conquests of [[Charlemagne]], and several peasant revolts.

Notable conflicts of the era were between the [[British|English]] and the [[French]] in the [[Hundred Years' War]], the conquests of [[Charlemagne]], and several peasant revolts.

==Economy==

==Economy==

Small economies of scale developed throughout the Middle Ages, in the form of [[vassalage]] between a lord and his clients.

Small economies of scale developed throughout the Middle Ages, in the form of [[vassalage]] between a lord and his clients.

==Religion==

==Religion==

A long period of missionary activities, as well as the support of the Carolingian Empire, meant that by the year 1000 AD, Christianity was again the dominant religion in Europe. A division occurred in 1054 AD, however, when the Church broke up into a Catholic western part and an Orthodox eastern part.

A long period of missionary activities, as well as the support of the Carolingian Empire, meant that by the year 1000 AD, Christianity was again the dominant religion in Europe. A division occurred in 1054 AD, however, when the Church broke up into a Catholic western part and an Orthodox eastern part.

The Church had many roles that now are usually filled by the state. For instance: until the end of the middle ages, the Church was the only organization that had any say in the institution of [[marriage]]. The Church decided who could marry whom, how the marriage had to take place, and how a marriage could be ended. No city, no state, and no king had the final say concerning the institution of marriage.

The Church had many roles that now are usually filled by the state. For instance: until the end of the Middle Ages, the Church was the only organization that had any say in the institution of [[marriage]]. The Church decided who could marry whom, how the marriage had to take place, and how a marriage could be ended. No city, no state, and no king had the final say concerning the institution of marriage.

==Later Perceptions of the Middle Ages==

==Later Perceptions of the Middle Ages==

*Renaissance: the ''medium aevum''

*Renaissance: the ''medium aevum''

*Enlightenment: dark superstition

*Enlightenment: dark superstition

*Romanticism: the glorious past

*Romanticism: the glorious past

*Modern times: academic study and prejudices

*Modern times: academic study and prejudices

*Now: renewed interest?

*Now: renewed interest?

==Further reading==

==Further reading==

* Bishop, Morris. ''The Middle Ages'' (2001) [http://www.amazon.com/Middle-Ages-Morris-Bishop/dp/061805703X/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1248890127&sr=1-2 excerpt and text search]

* Bishop, Morris. ''The Middle Ages'' (2001) [https://www.amazon.com/Middle-Ages-Morris-Bishop/dp/061805703X/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1248890127&sr=1-2 excerpt and text search]

* Cantor, Norman. ''The Civilization of the Middle Ages'' (1994) [http://www.amazon.com/Civilization-Middle-Ages-Completely-Expanded/dp/0060925531/ref=sr_1_16?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1248890317&sr=1-16 excerpt and text search]

* Cantor, Norman. ''The Civilization of the Middle Ages'' (1994) [https://www.amazon.com/Civilization-Middle-Ages-Completely-Expanded/dp/0060925531/ref=sr_1_16?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1248890317&sr=1-16 excerpt and text search]

* Contamine, Philippe. ''War in the Middle Ages'' (1991) [http://www.amazon.com/War-Middle-Ages-Philippe-Contamine/dp/0631144692/ref=sr_1_33?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1248890388&sr=1-33 excerpt and text search]

* Contamine, Philippe. ''War in the Middle Ages'' (1991) [https://www.amazon.com/War-Middle-Ages-Philippe-Contamine/dp/0631144692/ref=sr_1_33?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1248890388&sr=1-33 excerpt and text search]

* Hanawalt, Barbara. ''The Middle Ages: An Illustrated History'' (1999) [http://www.amazon.com/Middle-Ages-Illustrated-History-Histories/dp/0195103599/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1248890127&sr=1-4 excerpt and text search]

* Hanawalt, Barbara. ''The Middle Ages: An Illustrated History'' (1999) [https://www.amazon.com/Middle-Ages-Illustrated-History-Histories/dp/0195103599/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1248890127&sr=1-4 excerpt and text search]

* Holme, George, ed. ''The Oxford History of Medieval Europe'' (1992) [http://www.questia.com/read/74359550?title=The%20Oxford%20History%20of%20Medieval%20Europe online edition]

* Holme, George, ed. ''The Oxford History of Medieval Europe'' (1992) [http://www.questia.com/read/74359550?title=The%20Oxford%20History%20of%20Medieval%20Europe online edition]

*Jordan, William Chester, ed. ''The Middle Ages: An Encyclopedia for Students'' (4 vol 1996)

*Jordan, William Chester, ed. ''The Middle Ages: An Encyclopedia for Students'' (4 vol 1996)

* Southern, Richard W. ''The Making of the Middle Ages'' (1961) [http://www.amazon.com/Making-Middle-Ages-R-Southern/dp/0300002300/ref=sr_1_9?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1248890127&sr=1-9 excerpt and text search]

* Southern, Richard W. ''The Making of the Middle Ages'' (1961) [https://www.amazon.com/Making-Middle-Ages-R-Southern/dp/0300002300/ref=sr_1_9?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1248890127&sr=1-9 excerpt and text search]

*Jordan, William Chester. ''Europe in the High Middle Ages'' (2004) [http://www.amazon.com/Europe-High-Middle-Penguin-History/dp/0140166645/ref=sr_1_32?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1248890388&sr=1-32 excerpt and text search]

*Jordan, William Chester. ''Europe in the High Middle Ages'' (2004) [https://www.amazon.com/Europe-High-Middle-Penguin-History/dp/0140166645/ref=sr_1_32?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1248890388&sr=1-32 excerpt and text search]

* Strayer, Joseph R. ''Western Europe in the Middle Ages: A Short History'' (1955) [http://www.questia.com/read/11306783?title=Western%20Europe%20in%20the%20Middle%20Ages%3a%20A%20Short%20History online edition]

* Strayer, Joseph R. ''Western Europe in the Middle Ages: A Short History'' (1955) [http://www.questia.com/read/11306783?title=Western%20Europe%20in%20the%20Middle%20Ages%3a%20A%20Short%20History online edition]

== See also ==

== See also ==

*[[Middle Ages Painting]]

*[[Middle Ages Painting]]

== External links ==

== External links ==