Welcome…
TO THE MIDDLE AGES!
Just the Facts!This time periods has been called many things:-The Middle ages-The Dark Ages-The Medieval Period
The Middle Ages took place between 600 and 1450 CE-In Europe, between Roman/Byzantine Empire and Modern Age
Was it dark Everywhere?
NO!
•Outside of Europe, this era was an age of Enlightenment! •Even within Europe many new ideas were being introduced.
Then why would it be called the Dark Ages?
• Simply put, Europe was not as prosperous as they were before this time?
• Many major governments collapsed throughout the world, and new powers took over.
Let’s start with Europe!
• After the fall of the Roman Empire Europe broke into small groups, leading to:– Less trade– Fewer, less advanced cities– Fewer, less advanced people
• On the Upside, smaller governments meant wars! Which meant longer life!– From 28 to 30!
What type of government did they have?
• I’m glad you asked.
FUEDALISM!
k…what’s that?
• Feudalism is a form of stratified society!
Stratification
• At the Top was the King
• Next came Nobles or Lords
• Knights
• Lastly, the Peasants– Also known as 7th graders…
How it worked• Kings would give out the land
• Nobles would rule the land
• Knights would protect the land
• Peasants would work the land
• No mobility
Light in the Dark Ages
• Thomas Aquinas – Five Proofs
1. Motion (To move, something must start it)2. Cause (The Creator creates creations creatively)3. Necessary Being (must be necessary to exist) 4. Graduation (something can’t be better than nothing)5. Design (Something had to make everything)
– Catholics loved him. • Johannes Gutenberg– Moveable type printing press
Islam (thought we were done, didn’t you!)• During the middle ages lots of interesting stuff
happened.
Oh, you want more?
• Well, lets see:– Muhammad was born and later starts a major
religion and political movement– Islamic dynasties follow in his wake
1. Umayyad's2. Abbasid's 3. Seljuk Turks4. Ottomans5. Moguls
Some of these Dynasties did awesome things!
• Like the Abbasid’s (who used a Feudal system) – These guys (and gals) make a GIANT empire in around
100 years! – Major trading routes through Asia, Africa and Europe– Made Arabic the major language of trade, science,
literature, philosophy, and poetry– Created the House of Wisdom
• Filled with information fromaround the world, all translatedto Arabic!
CHA-CHA-CHA-CHINA!• China also had a feudal system– Instead of feudal lords…we called them warlords ಠ_ಠ
• Tang Dynasty rebuilt Chinese government– Ruled over 80 MILLION people • There were only 240 million people ON EARTH!
Mo’ China• Song Dynasty (this is when it gets awesome)– In the 1000’s, the Song changed the world after inventing
gunpowder
– In the 1100’s, China was producing more iron than Europe … in the 1700’s
– They made iron plows that allowed for more food to be planted and supported, causing the population to EXPLODE (much like gunpowder)
– They had such a huge trade network that they actually ran out of metal coins. • This caused them to invent and
use paper money!
Reigns down in Africa
• From 750 to 1500, Muslim kings ruled major African cities south of the Sahara, such as Timbuktu.
• One of these guys was Mansa Musa. Had so much gold he would hand it out to people as he traveled.– Currently Day worth of $400 Billion– Bill Gates is worth $61 Billion
Development• Civilizations began around the Nile river and coastal
water
• Salt mines helped African Kingdoms grow
• Trade helped solidify relationships with Europe and Muslims
• Islam gradually spread to Africa where a majority of the population began to convert to Islam.
Japan?
• During the Middle Ages, Japan was an isolationist nation.
• Japan also had a stratified society:– Emperor• Samurai–Farmers
oTowns people
Yes, Japan
• The middle age brought about the beginning of a structured Japanese society, a centralized nation state.
• Buddhism was introduced to the Island• By the beginning of the 700’s, Japan adopted a
constitution that valued the government, and the Emperor.
• After many rebellions, the feudalsystem took over in Japan leading tothe creation of Medieval Japan
AND SAMURAI!
