The Middle Ages
The Middle Ages is the name given to the period falling between the end of the Western Roman Empire. It was marked, at least in retrospect, by a sharp decline in civilization in the wake of the Western Empire, only to be “rediscovered” during the Renaissance. The term is problematic for a few reasons. First, it only applies to Western Europe, excluding the Islamic and Byzantine Empires (the latter being a remnant of the Roman Empire – the Eastern half). Second. It is not at all settled that there was necessarily a terminal decline so much as an evolution of what we might call civilization. But a working definition of the period as the years between the mid fourth century AD, when the Germanic tribes sacked Rome, and the late 15th century, when the Reformation was occurring in Europe, should place the period sufficiently accurately.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
2 comments:
Talk of "decline in civilisation" during the Middle Ages must surely be restricted to Europe, given advances in Arab science and culture, Mayan astronomy and Chinese inventiveness during the period. Furthermore, this was the Golden Age of Irish history, due to the development of literature, art, religion and constant communication with European allies.
Hi Culloty. Thanks for your comment! I tried to make it clear to readers that the definition above applied to Western Europe
First, it only applies to Western Europe, excluding the Islamic and Byzantine Empires (the latter being a remnant of the Roman Empire – the Eastern half).
Other pages also will examine in more detail, the significant contributions that the Islamic world and the East contributed to the world at that time.
I hope you will continue to comment on these posts and make suggestiona for improvements.
Abercromby
Post a Comment