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Period: 500 to 900
Recovery period after Rome's fall; Christian missionaries work in northern Europe
After the fall of Rome, manorialism, a system that described political and economic relationships between laborers and landlords, became the norm. This period of recovery also brought about many invasions, and few had time to learn how to read or write. Around this same time period, Christian missionaries were sent all around, and many people were converted such as the English, and Germanic kings. This is significant because it spread Christianity further north. -
Period: 800 to 814
Charlemagne's empire
Charlemagne was able to establish an empire that was somewhat large in Germany and France. Some even thought that a new Roman empire could emerge from it. However, the empire died with Charlemagne. This empire was significant because during the time of the empire, intellectual activity increase, and Charlemagne helped bring back church based education. -
1018
Beginning of Christian reconquest of Spain
Christian forces came into Spain in the early 11th century and conquered the city of Toledo, which was a great Muslim center. This reconquest was important because it would eventually allow the Christians to expel Muslim rulers in Spain, and would lead to other conquests. -
Period: 1070 to 1141
Peter Abelard
Peter Abelard was a scholar from Paris who wrote Yes and No. His work was important because he was working in an established and logical tradition, but also made logical contradictions that further moved the tradition to a more critical level. -
Period: 1096 to 1270
Crusades
The crusades lasted almost two centuries and each victory only provided a brief success. The crusades were very appealing to Christian men as they were promised forgiveness of their sins and entry into heaven if they died in battle, and many of them wanted to attack Islam. Their goal was to win back the Holy Lands, from the Muslims. The overall significance of these crusades was that they allowed the West to be exposed to economical and cultural influences from the Middle East. -
Period: 1150 to 1300
Gothic style spreads
During this time period, the Gothic style spread throughout Western Europe. This style of architecture featured tall church spires, and arches, and was most often used for churches and cathedrals although it could still sometimes be seen in palaces and other buildings. The Gothic style defines the western post classical culture and it shows how the western culture could find new ways to express themselves. -
Period: 1200 to 1274
Thomas Aquinas and flowering of scholasticism
Thomas Aquinas was a monk from Italy and was a leading figure in medieval learning. He felt that through reason, humans could know a lot about moral law, natural order, and the nature of God, and he wrote several Summas. During this time, scholasticism became the dominant philosophical approach and was based in universities. Much like was Aquinas believed, scholasticism was based on the use of logic to solve theological problems. This all greatly affected how medieval Europeans thought. -
1215
Magna Carta
the Great Charter, also known as the Magna Carta, was issued and signed by John, the king of England. This Charter was significant because represented the principle of mutual obligations and limits between rulers and feudal aristocracy, and confirmed feudal rights against monarchical claims. Now, the king could not do things such as proclaim new taxes without the permission of the lords, and had to be cautious in his dealings with nobles. -
Period: 1338 to 1453
Hundred Years' War
The Hundred Years' War was a conflict that lasted between France and England for over 100 years over territory in France England have control of, and claims of national states. The war hurt France greatly, despite that fact that they ended up winning, with the inspiring help from Joan of Arc. This war would bring about a lot of change and innovation in the years to come. -
Period: 1348 to 1380
Black Death (bubonic plague)
The Black Death came to Europe through trade from the Middle East and Asia. This plague was extremely significant because it greatly reduced the population of Europe, increased tension between social structures, and surprisingly accelerated the progress in the mining and manufacturing industry.
