The Middle Ages

The period from about 500 to 1400 in Europe is known as the Middle Ages, or the medieval period. It began with the fall of the Roman empire and ended with the Renaissance, when a revival of art and learning swept through Europe.

The medieval period was an age of wars and conquests. Some wars were fought to gain more territory, while others were wars of religion, fought between people of differeing faiths in age when religion dominated most people’s lives. At this time, China’s civilization was far in advance of the rest of the world. Africa and America saw the emergence of strong, well-organized empires based on trade, while the spread of Islam from Arabia across the Middle East and into North Africa and Spain brought a new way of life to a vest area.

During the middle Ages, ordinary people lived simply, as farmers in villages or as craftworkers in towns. Many built their own houses, made their own clothes and grew their own food. Poor people obeyed local landowners or lords, who in turn served a more powerful king or emperor. The rulers ordered castles and palaces, temples and cathedrals to be built. These huge stone buildings often took many years, and even centuries, to construct.

Few people travelled far from their homes. Those who did venture into foreign lands included merchants, soldiers and a few bold explorers who wrote accounts of their travels. Few people could read or write, and learning was passed down by word of mouth. In Europe, the monasteries were centres of learning, while in Asia the Chinese and Arabs led the way in the studies of science and technology, medicine and astronomy.