The Significant Change That Took Place in Medieval Europe - Essay Example

The significant change that took place in medieval Europe Name of Student: Institutional Affiliation: Instructor’s Name: Date: The Significant Change that took place in Medieval Europe The Europe medieval period is also called the Middle Ages and in most cases regarded as starting in the late 6th century. Researchers argue that this period lasted for about 1000 years.1” The societies of the medieval Europe were influenced by several factors. The most important factors were the spread of Christianity, feudalism and manorialism. The stability of Europe’s for many centuries were preserved by these social factors. The Barbarian raids were the most common during the early period of medieval; however, by the start of the second millennium, this barbarianism had ended. There were many changes during this period most of which were very significant to the people of Europe. Some of the most significant were towns which sprang and grew rapidly. As the towns grew rapidly, trade grew thus, increasing a desire for more knowledge of distant lands, and more of their exotic goods.2” This in turn encouraged the growth of education for more inventions through science. During this period, the desire was for the conquest of new territories. The trend during this period would help to bring to an end the medieval Europe’s longstanding systems of feudalism and menorialism. The changes also helped to spread the Black Death pandemic, and in the later stages also helped to end the ideas and attitudes of movements such as the Renaissance, the scientific revolution and the reformation. Christianity is one of the most significant changes that took place during the medieval era in Europe. Christianity became ancient Rome’s official religion in the fourth century. “By the fourth century, most of the people in Europe became Christians. As a matter of fact, Christian beliefs as a religion had many positive effects to the entire justice system, politics, social life’s, architecture and the arts as compared to the former traditional beliefs which were unfair in many ways especially to the justice system.3” However, Christian beliefs during this era provided the motivation for war, as well as justifications for some individuals prejudice and fears. There were a number of trends and significant events in Europe during this period that resulted in the social change. “The rapid growth of towns which led to growth in trade is one of the significant changes that took place during this period. Crusades which was the war between Muslims and christens is the other change that later own led to freedom of worship in Europe. These wars led to more discoveries in Europe as well as development of explorers and new ways of thinking which led to discoveries which helped Europe develop technologically. It was after these discoveries and explorations that Europe saw itself different from others worldwide by 1500 century”4. Christianity in Europe was essential change that took place in that it was further established in Europe when the western Empire ended. The relevance of the church and its ongoing force to humanity was kept alive by the western church which is currently known as the Catholic Church. It was essential change because Christianity influenced manorialism and feudalism and the building styles. It is the Christianity that enabled Europe to socialize with other nations across the world making them to colonize other states through the teachings of the bible. It was the Christianity that emerged during the feudal system in Europe that encouraged education in that the ability to address a series of theological and philosophical themes demanded literacy that would be provided by education. “This forced the creation of new syllabuses including everything that theological students needed to understand. The professionals who were trained later own became the ones that advocated for open education to all the persons in that they realized the importance of knowledge in rational thinking that would push Europe’s economy forward. In the past before Christianity was accepted, education was seen by emperors as a threat to their kingdoms especially in Rome. But when Christianity was accepted in all field, the competitive views within the boundaries of acceptable teachings was seen as a natural growth of scholarship and was treated as health.5” This is where the foundation of education in Europe was laid slowly giving people freedom to learn and express their views like never before. The first scholars who got an opportunity to learn in schools when Christianity was accepted in Europe later own positioned their own opinions in the context of other views. Contrary to the will of the Emperors when they gave an opportunity to the scholars to study, the scholastics did not rely on reason alone. They decided to show the mastery of past authorities and they clearly demonstrated their abilities to eliminate what was irrelevant. This created the onset of political unrest in Europe as the Emperors’ wanted to maintain their status quo. People were educated on their rights by these scholars who had been given an opportunity to study for church reasons. When people understood their rights, they were able to demand freedom from authoritarian leaders thus leading to early democracy in Europe. “From theological training which was aimed at teaching people in churches, the cathedral schools expanded to train students in the liberal arts and law while preparing the way for scientific and medical studies to produce professionals for the growing wealth and complexity. This is a clear indication that the change from traditional beliefs to church beliefs was the most significant change that took place in Europe during the middle ages in that it led to education of laymen which resulted to political and justice system freedom.6” The change from Dark ages to development of Christianity through the construction of churches was a significant change as compared to other changes like classism that took place in Europe during medieval period. “This is because whereas Christianity advocated for freedom and education, classism was more focused on control of wealth and division of human labour. It is the classism developed during medieval Europe that led to utilitarianism which resulted in revolutions in Europe.7” “The spread of Christianity across Europe during the medieval Europe led to collapse and disintegration of the old political structures. Some geographical areas like Scandinavia, parts of Russia, and Ireland were all brought to a single cultural continuum because of the spread of Christianity. This enabled people to work together and minimize the wars in that they all learned the teachings of the Jesus Christ that made them to feel as one. The older political boundaries were therefore brought down by the spread of Christianity thus enhancing trade all over Europe replacing the older intellectual order with expanding cultural frontier. The spread of Christianity during this period was therefore more significant as it opened trade, socialisation, led to democracy and encouraged education as compared to the former authoritarian leadership of rulers in Rome. From the sixth century onwards, the rulers used Christianity to bring the hostile people from the East into the political and cultural orbit through the use of missionaries. The threats presented to the Empire by dangerous people like Balkans was brought to an end by Christian missionaries who influenced them to change their culture by peaceful means. This minimized wars in Europe which had been fought for more than 200 years.8” Since the teachings of Christianity were based on the book, the rulers were left with no options than to give the saves and the Balkans an opportunity to study. Literacy in some societies were not yet present until the spread of Christianity was unstoppable hence, Christianity was a more significant change during this period as it forced the rulers to give the slaves a chance to learn opening up education in Europe. It was after all the communities accepted Christianity that the governments were able to collect tax from the citizens which were used to build charges and holes which were used to educate young people. The spread of Christianity also boosted the developments of towns and cities in Europe. In the past, people were not allowed to stay in the cities which were preserved for the rulers and high-class individuals. Rome was the largest city followed by London and Paris and all of them were the main centres of trade. The population increased during this period in the cities because the graduates from the universities were already making great discoveries in the field of medicine which came up as a result of Christianity. Such students especially those who were doing masters used the church buildings to study hence the spread of Christianity was the most significant change during this period. All the rulers in Europe were known drown from the churches and a good example was Charlemagne who was crowned the Holly Roman Emperor during charismas in 800. He was confirmed the most powerful king in the Christian world by the pope. In conclusion, many changes took place in medieval Europe but the most significant change was the spread of Christianity. This is because Christianity opened up education in Europe; it also minimized the wars in that people followed the teachings of Jesus Christ who advocated for peace and love to fellow humans. Change from traditional beliefs to Christian beliefs also changed the political orientations of individuals in Europe which resulted in freedom and democracy. The discoveries and inventions made during this period made possible by learning in former theological schools led to development of trade and later civilizations at large. Bibliography Baskin, Judith Reesa, and Kenneth Seeskin. 2010. The Cambridge guide to Jewish history, religion, and culture. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Dales, Richard C. 1992. The intellectual life of western Europe in the Middle Ages. Leiden: E.J. Brill. Kaufmann, J. E., H. W. Kaufmann, and Robert M. Jurga. 2004. The medieval fortress: castles, forts and walled cities of the Middle Ages. Cambridge, MA: Da Capo Press. Mattern, Joanne. 2013. Medieval times: England in the Middle Ages. http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&scope=site&db=nlebk&db=nlabk&A N=666385. Nauert, Charles Garfield. 2006. Humanism and the culture of Renaissance Europe. Cambridge: Cambridge university press. Nicolle, David, and Adam Hook. 2011. European medieval tactics. Oxford: Osprey. Peters, Edward. 1980. Heresy and authority in medieval Europe documents in translation. Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press. http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&scope=site&db=nlebk&db=nlabk&A N=173 97. Schultz, Kevin M. 2010. Hist. Boston: Wadsworth, Cengage Learning. Read More