Major Developments
The Medieval times were a time of many major developments across the globe and this web page will show you just a few of them, such as the Black Death, the Crusades, the Hundred Years’ War, and the Magna Carta, while also telling how they impacted the “Dark Ages”.
The Crusades
The Crusades were Holy Wars launched by the Christians against the Saracens. The cause of the Crusades was the Muslims having complete control over Jerusalem and other Holy lands. The word "crusade" literally means "going to the Cross” which is what the crusaders were doing in trying to get back the Holy Lands. The first Crusade lasted from 1095-1099 and was a grand success for the Christian armies; Jerusalem and other cities fell to the knights. The second Crusade, however, ended in humiliation in 1148, when the armies of France and Germany failed to take Damascus. The third ended in 1192 in a compromise between two great generals in King Richard 1 of England and the Muslim leader Saladin, who granted access to the Christians of the holy places. The fourth Crusade led to the sacking of Constantinople, which was the last remaining Roman Kingdom. The Children's Crusade of 1212 saw thousands of children rallying to take back the Holy Sepulchre but sadly ended with thousands of children being sold into slavery, lost, or killed. Other less disastrous but equally futile crusades occurred until the end of the 13th century. The Crusades had light and dark effects on the Middle Ages. In the point of light, the Crusades gave Europe hope at getting back at the Holy Lands. In the Dark version, many people died including children (Look to the Children’s Crusade).
The Magna Carta
The Magna Carta was a list of rights which limited the King’s power. This document was made because King John of England was not using his power wisely, raising taxes and building palaces for himself. The nobles, if provoked by the King, could take away his castles. King John himself was forced at sword point to sign the Magna Carta which shaped England’s government for the coming centuries. The Magna Carta was one of the few light points of the”Dark” Ages. It gave England a different government that was starting to look more like a democracy and is still evolving to this day.
The Hundred Years’ War
In the years 1337-1453 the Hundred Years’ War was fought between France and England. This long war started when Edward III of England claimed he was the heir to the throne of France but the French decided that Phillip, the last King's cousin, was the heir and named him King. The angered Edward III declared war on Phillip in 1337. The English won many of the first clashes but after nearly one hundred years a young French woman by the name of Joan turned the tide of the war and drove England out of France in 1453. After the war both of the countries' governments changed dramatically. In England the Parliament got more power because the king needed the Parliament's approval to pay for the war. As the Parliament gained more influence, the king lost more power. In France the opposite happened as the king's power grew. The relationship developed by the King between his nobles strengthened during the war and people started respecting the King more. This was definitely a dark time in medieval history as many people died in the war, but as most things it had light sections. The governments of France and England changed even more after the war to the modern governments they have today.
The Black Death
The Black Death; the worst sickness ever since we started writing down history. Half of Europe's population died and chaos struck out in the land. The plague arrived from the Black Sea in a ship, and with the sailors already infected, the plague spread like wildfire through the cramped villages and markets. Doctors tried but failed to find a cure and the plague raged for many years and ravaged villages, towns, and ports. Because of so many deaths the peasants and serfs wanted to be payed more which caused lords and ladies, kings and queens, to lose money faster. These economical downfalls made Europe an even more less populated continent. The plague eventually died out but left Europe in shock. The Black Death may have left only one light part of the “Dark Ages,” which was that doctors may have found a cure to fight off other later plagues.
Conclusion
These major events in history, I think, have been totally misconceived as very dark times and they deserve some credit. These events were in fact very light, and if they hadn't happened we wouldn't have the same world we have today.
By: Logan S.
Resources-www.BBC History.org
www.medieval-life-and-times.info
my textbook
Medieval History Times Information
The Medieval times were a time of many major developments across the globe and this web page will show you just a few of them, such as the Black Death, the Crusades, the Hundred Years’ War, and the Magna Carta, while also telling how they impacted the “Dark Ages”.
The Crusades
The Crusades were Holy Wars launched by the Christians against the Saracens. The cause of the Crusades was the Muslims having complete control over Jerusalem and other Holy lands. The word "crusade" literally means "going to the Cross” which is what the crusaders were doing in trying to get back the Holy Lands. The first Crusade lasted from 1095-1099 and was a grand success for the Christian armies; Jerusalem and other cities fell to the knights. The second Crusade, however, ended in humiliation in 1148, when the armies of France and Germany failed to take Damascus. The third ended in 1192 in a compromise between two great generals in King Richard 1 of England and the Muslim leader Saladin, who granted access to the Christians of the holy places. The fourth Crusade led to the sacking of Constantinople, which was the last remaining Roman Kingdom. The Children's Crusade of 1212 saw thousands of children rallying to take back the Holy Sepulchre but sadly ended with thousands of children being sold into slavery, lost, or killed. Other less disastrous but equally futile crusades occurred until the end of the 13th century. The Crusades had light and dark effects on the Middle Ages. In the point of light, the Crusades gave Europe hope at getting back at the Holy Lands. In the Dark version, many people died including children (Look to the Children’s Crusade).
The Magna Carta
The Magna Carta was a list of rights which limited the King’s power. This document was made because King John of England was not using his power wisely, raising taxes and building palaces for himself. The nobles, if provoked by the King, could take away his castles. King John himself was forced at sword point to sign the Magna Carta which shaped England’s government for the coming centuries. The Magna Carta was one of the few light points of the”Dark” Ages. It gave England a different government that was starting to look more like a democracy and is still evolving to this day.
The Hundred Years’ War
In the years 1337-1453 the Hundred Years’ War was fought between France and England. This long war started when Edward III of England claimed he was the heir to the throne of France but the French decided that Phillip, the last King's cousin, was the heir and named him King. The angered Edward III declared war on Phillip in 1337. The English won many of the first clashes but after nearly one hundred years a young French woman by the name of Joan turned the tide of the war and drove England out of France in 1453. After the war both of the countries' governments changed dramatically. In England the Parliament got more power because the king needed the Parliament's approval to pay for the war. As the Parliament gained more influence, the king lost more power. In France the opposite happened as the king's power grew. The relationship developed by the King between his nobles strengthened during the war and people started respecting the King more. This was definitely a dark time in medieval history as many people died in the war, but as most things it had light sections. The governments of France and England changed even more after the war to the modern governments they have today.
The Black Death
The Black Death; the worst sickness ever since we started writing down history. Half of Europe's population died and chaos struck out in the land. The plague arrived from the Black Sea in a ship, and with the sailors already infected, the plague spread like wildfire through the cramped villages and markets. Doctors tried but failed to find a cure and the plague raged for many years and ravaged villages, towns, and ports. Because of so many deaths the peasants and serfs wanted to be payed more which caused lords and ladies, kings and queens, to lose money faster. These economical downfalls made Europe an even more less populated continent. The plague eventually died out but left Europe in shock. The Black Death may have left only one light part of the “Dark Ages,” which was that doctors may have found a cure to fight off other later plagues.
Conclusion
These major events in history, I think, have been totally misconceived as very dark times and they deserve some credit. These events were in fact very light, and if they hadn't happened we wouldn't have the same world we have today.
By: Logan S.
Resources-www.BBC History.org
www.medieval-life-and-times.info
my textbook
Medieval History Times Information