MIDDLE AGES (GENERAL) Flashcards
(21 cards)
What is the Middle Ages?
A historical period of Western civilization that spans around 1,000 years between Antiquity and the Modern Age
When did the Middle Ages begin?
476 A.D. with the fall of the Western Roman Empire
What event marks the end of the Middle Ages according to some historians?
1453, the fall of the Byzantine Empire
What alternative year do some historians use to mark the end of the Middle Ages?
1492, the arrival of Columbus in America
What are the three stages of the Middle Ages?
- Early Middle Ages
- High Middle Ages
- Late Middle Ages
What characterizes the Early Middle Ages?
A long period of transition from the ancient world to the feudal world
What significant events occurred during the Early Middle Ages?
- Major invasions by Germanic peoples
- Fall of the Roman Empire
- Fragmentation into Eastern and Western Empires
- Emergence of Islam
What was established in the Eastern Empire during the Early Middle Ages?
The Byzantine Empire
What characterized the Western Empire during the Early Middle Ages?
- Formation of Germanic monarchies
- Origin of feudalism
- Ruralization of society
- Establishment of Christianity in Europe
What was a major development in the High Middle Ages?
Consolidation of feudalism with society organized around relationships of vassalage and serfdom
What economic changes occurred during the High Middle Ages?
- Increase in agricultural production
- Creation and growth of cities
- Emergence of the bourgeoisie
What types of art emerged during the High Middle Ages?
- Romanesque art
- Early Gothic art
What major events characterized the Late Middle Ages?
- Decrease in population due to plague
- Severe economic crisis
- Widespread political and social conflicts
What is Arabia?
A desert peninsula located in the Near East
What was Mecca’s significance in the 6th century?
An important city and religious center with more than ten thousand inhabitants
Who was Muhammad?
The prophet of Islam, born in 570 and orphaned as a child
What event marks the beginning of the Muslim era?
The Hijrah, Muhammad’s flight from Mecca to Medina in 622
What happened in the year 630 in relation to Islam?
Numerous tribes in Arabia converted to Islam and united under Medina’s authority
What are the five basic precepts of Islam?
- Profession of faith in Allah
- Obligation to pray five times a day
- Practice of almsgiving
- Fasting during Ramadan
- Pilgrimage to Mecca
What is the Koran?
The holy book of Muslims, structured in 114 chapters or suras
What does the Koran dictate regarding behavior?
- Allows polygamy
- Defines father’s authority in the family
- Prohibits drinking alcohol and eating pork
- Prohibits gambling
