What was Europe like in the Middle Ages?

For most of the Middle Ages, European society was almost entirely rural, with a very simple social structure: nobles at the top, peasants at the bottom, and very few people in between. During the later part of the period, however, trade expanded and towns becoming larger and more numerous.

What was the era after the Middle Ages in Europe called?

By 1300, there were some 15 cities in Europe with a population of more than 50,000. In these cities, a new era was born: the Renaissance. The Renaissance was a time of great intellectual and economic change, but it was not a complete “rebirth”: It had its roots in the world of the Middle Ages.

Why did the Middle Ages end in Europe?

There were many reasons for the downfall of the Middle Ages, but the most crucial ones were the decline of the feudal system and the declination of the Church’s power over the nation-states. The money system in turn caused the birth of a middle class, which didn’t fit anywhere into the feudal system.

What disasters struck Europe in the late Middle Ages?

Much of the evidence used to support this view was based on the series of apparently great disasters that struck Europe in the 14th century: the Mongol invasions, the great famine of 1315, the Black Death of 1348 and subsequent years, the financial collapse of the great Italian banking houses in the early 14th century.

What happened in Middle Ages?

The Late Middle Ages was marked by difficulties and calamities including famine, plague, and war, which significantly diminished the population of Europe; between 1347 and 1350, the Black Death killed about a third of Europeans.

What was the social order in Europe during the Middle Ages?

After the rank of king, the hierarchy was the nobles, the knights, the clergy (religious people), the tradesmen and the peasants. One of the most unifying elements of the Middle Ages was the Roman Catholic Church.

Is there a difference between the Middle Ages and medieval periods?

Many scholars call the era the “medieval period” instead; “Middle Ages,” they say, incorrectly implies that the period is an insignificant blip sandwiched between two much more important epochs.

Why is it called the Middle Ages and not Renaissance?

Many scholars call the era the “medieval period” instead; “Middle Ages,” they say, incorrectly implies that the period is an insignificant blip sandwiched between two much more important epochs. The phrase “Middle Ages” tells us more about the Renaissance that followed it than it does about the era itself.

What were the effects of the Black Death in Europe?

Victims could go to bed feeling healthy and be dead by morning. The plague killed cows, pigs, goats, chickens and even sheep, leading to a wool shortage in Europe. Understandably terrified about the mysterious disease, some people of the Middle Ages believed the plague was a divine punishment for sin.

What was the role of the Catholic Church in medieval Europe?

The Catholic Church in the Middle Ages After the fall of Rome, no single state or government united the people who lived on the European continent. Instead, the Catholic Church became the most powerful institution of the medieval period.