The Deserving Titles for the Middle Ages

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After the collapse of the Roman Empire, Europe remained split into two parts: Western Europe and Eastern Europe. Eastern Europe then after developed into the Byzantium Empire and left Western Europe in a period of slow development called the Middle Ages. The Middle Ages occurred around 500 A.D. to 1400 A.D. The Middle Ages were split into several different time periods called the Early Middle Ages, the High Middle Ages, and the Late Middle Ages, each period contributing to the tension or progress of the Middle Ages. The Middle Ages is deserving of the titles Age of Feudalism due to this governing style influencing the social order of the society and the Dark Ages because this time was plagued with disease and destruction, however, the Middle Ages is most deserving of the title Age of Faith due to the indomitable influence of the Roman Catholic Church on political and social issues throughout the Western Europe.
The Middle Ages deserve the title Age of Feudalism because feudalism influenced social roles of each individual in a manor for several hundred years. Feudalism was a politcal system where each indivdual was responsible for contributing to the manor but still recieved a service in return, a give and take relationship. For example, the feudal obligations between a vassal(knight) and a lord was that the lord provided vassals land(fief) and protection and a vassal would provide the lord military protection and loyalty (doc 4). Also it was impossible to move up or down ranks in the feudal system, serfs and peasants were bounded to their land (OI). Another example of how feudalism provided responsibility in each individual on the manor is in the Homage Oath taken by John of Toul, he swore to uphold his responsibilities of pro...

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...ad a great amount of power socially and politically, enough for people to abandon the feudal system and join the Crusades and for societies to side with the church on matters because it's God's will and what God wanted. The faith that people had in the church and God was prevalent throughout all periods of the Middle Ages and did not wane at any point making the Age of Faith the best title for the Middle Ages.
It is evident that the Western Europe during the Middle Ages was ridden with tension yet many events had influenced the people. The Middle Ages deserve the titles of Age of Feudalism for its influence on the social hierarchy and the Dark Ages since it held back development, however due to the church having ultimate power over the decisions of everyone in Western Europe, this suggests that the Middle Ages deserves the title Age of Faith the most.
Amy Vo

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