Introduction: Medieval **** history is marked from the fall of Western Roman Empire in 476 CE to the fall of Eastern Roman Empire and Constantinople in 1453 CE. This ** has a span of 1000 years.
The middle age is divided into 3 phases, which are as follows: Early Middle Age: It beg,an around 500 CE and ended around 1050 CE. It is called the ‘Dark age’ because of the confused and chaotic state of affairs that existed in Europe then.
High Middle Age: The ** from 1050 CE to 1300 CE. This ** witnessed advancement in terms of agriculture, improvement in the standard of living and Education along with political stability. Towns and Universities emerged. The authority of the Pope increased.
Later Middle Age: The ** from 1300 to 1453 CE. This ** witnessed further development of towns and cities and decline in the power of feudalism and **. A new entrepreneurial and intellectual class emerged. They challenged the State and the **.
Due to the fall of Roman Empire, there was political and social instability in Europe. The ** filled the gap and emerged as a powerful authority. It brought the required stability and order. It patronized many scholars and boosted missionary activities.
Manorial system was an important institution of the high middle ages. Under this system, the serfs worked in agricultural estates cantered around a ‘Manor’ owned by a Lord. The serfs were not slaves. They too owned a piece of land. But they were under the control and jurisdiction of a Lord. They worked in the Lord’ fields as well as their own and paid taxes to the Lord. The serfs commonly undertook activities like grazing, collection of *** Wood, fishing and cultivation together. It was like a closed community living. During the later high middle ages, the condition of the serfs improved. They paid rent instead of giving duties or services to the Lord.
A class of nobility emerged during this **. They involved themselves in cultural and political activities. The ** controlled the local skirmishes and battles. So the Nobles became free to develop the ideals of Knighthood. This led to the development of etiquette. The attitude towards ***** also changed.
In the Manorial system, the serfs started to pay the rents. So the coins or currency replaced barter trade. Currency helped the revival of trade and commerce. It led to the advancement of networks of roads and river transport system. City-states like Pisa, Venice and Genoa became flourishing trade centres. Cities like Paris, London and Cologne doubled their population. There was increase in the demand for country side goods, which strengthened the economic life of the people. Sophisticated urban life was an important characteristic of this **. There developed a business class.
This class established trade guilds to protect its own interests and made many rules for business transactions. There were two classes among the clergy the higher class and lower class. The higher clergy led a luxurious life, while the lower clergy lived with limited requirements and humility. So there developed great disregard for the higher clergy.
