Medieval Europe Essay Research Paper The Middle

Medieval Europe Essay, Research Paper

The Middle Ages was a period between 476 and 1300 in which there was great change and there was evidence of the first forms of modern civilization. European society gradually transformed from a Europe that was in anarchy during the Dark Ages to several national states. There were several signs of the roots of modern civilization forming. The power that once lay solely upon kings was no longer completely theirs but had to be shared with local rulers.

European society began to look back to classic ancient cultures of Rome, Greece and also the Islamic cultures.

Men began to emphasize scholasticism and universities, schools of thought and forgotten Roman principles. The Romance and Germanic languages began to flourish and had their own literature. Architecture moved away from Romanesque and towards Gothic building. The Church was the most influential force in Europe and was somewhat of a government because the majority of Europeans had it in common. In the Middle Ages the first signs of the declining power of the Church and Papacy. The rise of cities, towns and large centers of trade and commerce emerged. With this, the business class gained power as nobles lost it. All these changes would be the roots of modern civilization.

Most modern governments have a system in which the central figure in the government, be it a monarch or elected official has to share power with other branches of government. This first began because the feudal lords in Europe became too powerful for the king to dominate so he was forced to compromise and distribute power among nobles. This was the beginning of the sharing of power in governments that is put into practice nowadays.