MIDDLE AGES OR MEDIEVAL TIMES OR DARK AGES

Are you ready to continue learning History? I know you are and I am happy to know you are enjoying so much this part of Social Science.

The Middle Ages or Medieval Times was a long period of History. From the year 500 AD to the year 1,500 AD that's 1,000 years!!! This period covers from the fall of the Roman Empire to the rise of the Ottoman Empire but some historians say that it's until the discovery of America in the year 1,492. We are not going to argue for 8 years, are we?

In any case this was a time of castles and peasants, guilds and monasteries, cathedrals and crusades. Great leaders such as Joan of Arc and Charlemagne were part of the Middle Ages as well as major events such as the Black Plague or the rise of  Islam.

After the fall of the Roman Empire in Europe there was no central government recording the events that it's why part of this period is also called the Dark Ages. A lot of the Roman culture and knowledge was lost like art, technology, engineering, science...

Among the people I like to point out for you is Marco Polo. He was a merchant and explorer that travelled to the Far East and China. He established the Silk Road that was the route followed to go from Europe to China. It was called the Silk Road because silk was mainly brought from China.

Here you have a video where you can watch most of what I have just told you. I hope you enjoy.

In your book pages 86 - 87 the Middle Ages is more centred in Spain. During this period Muslims came to the Iberian Peninsula and they conquered the south and called it al-Andalus. In the north there were Christians kingdoms.

In al-Andalus there were Christians and Muslims. People built many mosques and palaces like the mosque of Córdoba or the Alhambra in Granada. There were a lot of artisans and merchants but also many scientists like doctors, astronomers or mathematicians. 

In the Christian kingdoms, the kings and nobles lived in castles. They had soldiers and servants. Most poor people were peasants that cultivated the land and lived around the castle. The church was very important. They built many churches and cathedrals. There were many priests and monks that lived in monasteries. Pilgrimages were very popular in this period. The best well-known here is the Camino de Santiago to visit st James's tomb.

I am going to upload another video of the Middle Ages that may help you to understand this period.