Middle Ages DBQ

Words: 573
Pages: 3

Olivia Wright
Mrs. Adams
World History Honors
2/8/16

Middle Ages DBQ

From A.D. 500 to 1400, Europe went through a period of advancement in art and architecture, feudalism, terror, disease, and faith. This period is commonly referred to as the Middle Ages. The Middle Ages brought an epidemic that killed roughly one-third of Europe's total population, renewed faith in God, and advancements in art, architecture and science. Some say that it is very hard to label the Middle Ages, because there isn’t just one word to describe it. Though it is a highly exaggerated time in history, it had the early, high, and late Middle Ages. The Dark Ages, Age of Feudalism, and Age of Faith have completely different meanings but come to describe one period in time - the Middle Ages.
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The years 500 to 1400 pretty much sums up the full Middle Ages or Medieval period. Customarily “Dark Ages” is associated with the early part of that period due to the absence of any form of organized political structure beyond the local or manorial level, and the lack of a defining cultural theme. The later Medieval period with its Crusades, gothic cathedrals, and universities made this time not as dark.
The Middle Ages should be labeled as the Age of Feudalism because this decentralized system dominated and influenced the political, economic, and social aspects of Western Europe. The basic government and society in Europe during the middle ages was based around the feudal system. Small communities were formed around the local lord and the manor. The lord owned the land and everything in it. He would keep the peasants safe in return for their service. The lord, in return, would provide the king with soldiers or taxes. There was a hierarchy of rulers; Kings, Bishops, Barons, Lords, and then Peasants and