From what period in human history was the Middle Ages and is there a difference between the Medieval Ages vs the Middle Ages?
The human race has come a long way dating thousands of years from the Ice Age and the Stone Age. We have evolved over millions of years through different periods in time.
The Middle Ages and Medieval Ages are words used when discussing a particular period in human history. Do these words refer to the same historical period?
Well, yes, the Middle Ages and the Medieval Ages refer to the same period. The Middle Ages lasted for centuries and during this time, various historical events occurred. Some of the events reshaped the entire population of a continent and ambitious empires were out to conquer the few and spread their religion.
We have highlighted some of the historical events that occurred during the Middle Ages in this article, so continue reading to get to know more.
The Middle Ages
The Middle Ages or Medieval Ages is a pivotal period in European history. The Medieval Ages lasted for centuries, approximately lasting from 500 AD to the 1500s.
Tons of events occurred during the Middle Ages. Historically, the medieval period is subdivided into three periods; the Early, High, and Dark Ages.
During the medieval ages, Europe suffered a decline in population and cities were invaded leading to mass migration of different tribes. This began in the late antiquity and lasted into the Early Middle Ages.
Mass migration on the continent led to the rise of new kingdoms in Western Europe. The new kingdoms emerging in Western Europe were predominately of Germanic people.
Europe was not the only continent to experience invasions. North Africa and the Middle East were invaded by the Arabs in the 7th century.
The Byzantine Empire or the Eastern Roman Empire thrived in the Eastern Mediterranean. The empire controlled the region and made secular laws through the Code of Justinian, according to Wikipedia.
During this time, Christianity expanded across Europe, becoming the main religion, while Islam was the religion in North Africa and the Middle East.
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The Medieval Ages
The Medieval Ages are the same as the Middle Ages. Historically, there are alternative starting and end points regarding the timespan of the Medieval Ages.
Some historical accounts suggest that the Medieval Ages lasted approximately from 500 AD to 1500 AD, while others believe it lasted from 476 AD to 1600 AD.
The Medieval era is mainly centred on European history. The medieval period was a time for new kingdoms to emerge on the continent. Mass migration and the ambition to conquer others were also very common during this period.
Major European territories such as East and West Francia became what we know today as modern-day Germany and France.
The Medieval Ages is also referred to as the Medieval Times. This was the period for many historical events on the continent of Europe, North Africa and the Middle East.
The medieval age was the period that saw Renaissance scholars thrive. It was also the period when European cultural relationships became stronger with the rise of new kingdoms.
According to historians, the medieval age was a time when people were involved in advanced culture and flourished in areas like arts, literature, medicine, and science.
Although it was a period of mass migration and empire conquest, the medieval era was the starting point for breakthroughs in science and medicine. Historians believe that the medieval ages paved the way for the beginning of the Renaissance era.
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Middle Ages vs Medieval Ages: Key Differences between the Middle Ages and the Medieval Ages
The Middle Ages or the Medieval Ages was a period in European history to described the period of the fall of the Western Roman Empire from the 5th century to the 15th century.
The medieval era was marked by mass migration, the rise of new kingdoms, the spreading of Christianity across Europe, and social, cultural, and political changes.
The era was also marked by the establishment of feudalism and the occurrence of the Crusades.
The Middle Ages and the Medieval Ages refer to the same historical era. The word “Medieval” is from the Latin word “medium aevum”, which means the Middle Ages.
Historically, the medieval period is subdivided into three periods; the Early, High, and Dark Ages.
Middle Ages vs Medieval Ages: The Catholic Church in the Middle Ages
The Middle Ages or the Medieval Ages was a period in European history to describe the period of the fall of the Western Roman Empire from the 5th century to the 15th century.
When the Roman Empire fell, no government or state made efforts to unite people who lived on the continent. The Catholic Church emerged as the most powerful institution in Europe after the fall of Rome.
Kings and queens ruling over kingdoms in Europe built an alliance with the Catholic Church.
The Church was in the position of power to choose leaders. For example, the Frankish king Charlemagne was named the Emperor of the Romans in 800 CE by Pope Leo III. Charlemagne became one the most powerful leaders in all of Europe.
The commoners across the continent had to pay 10% of their earnings to the Church each year. The Church benefited from the taxes they collected as they were exempted from taxation.
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Middle Ages vs Medieval Ages: The Crusades
In the late 11th century, the Roman Catholic Church started to send Crusades into the Holy Land to kick out the Muslims. The Crusades were known for their distinctive coats with red crosses to depict their faith as Christians.
The Crusades were protected by the Church and they believe that their service will atone for their sins and by fighting for the Church, they are guaranteed eternal life.
The Crusades started in 1095 after a Christian army was summoned by Pope Urban. They were ordered to fight to reclaim the Holy Land.
In 1099, the Crusades fought against Muslims in Jerusalem and gained control of the city. They reclaimed the Holy Land, which provided the opportunity for groups of pilgrims from Western Europe to visit Jerusalem.
Many Christians were killed on their way to the Holy Land as they crossed Muslim-controlled territories.
Over a hundred later, Hugus de Payens who was a French knight established a military order with eight acquaintances that became the Knights Templar. They were recognized and supported by the Church and the Pope.
The Knight Templar was dissolved by Pope Clement V in 1312.
Historians believe that no one won the Crusades. It was an era of conflict that led to thousands of people losing their lives in a foreign land.
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Middle Ages vs Medieval Ages: The Black Death
We previously mentioned that the population of Europe declined during the Middle Ages. This was because of a rare deadly disease known as the Black Death.
The Black Death disease ravaged Europe from 1347 to 1350. During this time, about 20 million people died- which was about 30% of the population of the entire continent.
The deadly disease was brought into Europe after about 12 ships docked at the Sicilian port of Messina. Sailors who suffered from the disease were covered in black boils and symptoms of the deadly plague included vomiting, fever, diarrhoea, and severe aches and pains.
The Black Death swept across Europe, killing both humans and animals. Farmers lost their livestock and this led to a shortage in the supply of agricultural products.
This was a period of panic across Europe. Most people believed that the Black Death was punishment for their sins. Other left populated cities where the disease can be easily transmitted and fled to places in Eastern Europe with smaller populations.
Conclusion
The Middle Ages and the Medieval Ages refer to the same historical period in human history.
Although it was a tough time to live in Europe, the Medieval era was marked by mass migration, the rise of new kingdoms, the spreading of Christianity across Europe, and social, cultural, and political changes.
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References
- Wikipedia: Middle Ages
- History.com: Middle Ages
