The Best Titles and Descriptions for the Middle Ages

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The years between 500 A.D. and 1400 A.D. were most commonly known as the Middle Ages. The Middle Ages was a time period where several events had occurred, each supporting a different label for this era. The Middle Ages deserve the titles of the Age of Feudalism and the Dark Ages because people needed stability and relied on higher government officials for protection, and there were many wars and there was no organized government. However, the Middle Ages can be best described as the Age of Faith because the Church had power over every citizen. Although there are more labels to describe the time period, these were the best titles to describe Europe after the fall of the Roman Empire.
The Age of Feudalism describes the Middle Ages because people needed some organization in their society. The fall of the Roman Empire had left the government in an unstable position, and people needed protection from their lords. The start of feudalism would make it easier for the king because he would not have to rule over a large territory because the area would be under the control of several nobles. This was a political system in which each class on a manor would have to provide something for the society in order to receive assistance in return. A manor consisted of several villages where the lord had overlooked each area. For example the vassal had to provide loyalty and military service, and received protection and land from their lord (Doc. 3). Feudalism not only worked between lords and vassals, but between each class (except merchants). Take for instance, John of Toul is sending his knights to the count and countess of Champagne in order to protect them, and he had received land from them (Doc 2). Another example was the Salisbury oath, wh...

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...orced Christian faith (OI). The monasteries were also significant because the monks and nuns, who had worked in there, had treated the ill, educated children, and spread Christianity (Doc 8). They had to follow a strict life were they had to give up all possessions and take the vows of purity, chastity, and poverty (Doc 8). This was the time when religion had dominated all aspects of people’s lives. Although the Middle Ages can be classified as the Dark Ages because of the Vikings’ invasions, and the corruption of the church, there were also achievements in education after the Crusades; therefore it was not so “dark.” Also, feudalism had failed to continue because nobles had wanted more power; therefore the Age of Faith is the label that best describes the Middle Ages because it was the most important factor at the time, and the pope had control over all people.

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