the middle ages

THE BEGINNING

In the 3rd century A.D, large groups of Huns, Magyars, Bulgars, Avars, and Slavs started migrating into Roman settlements. At first, the Romans were agreeable, giving them land in exchange for peace.  During the 4th century A.D, however, many tribes began opening hostilities. Some settlements gave in to these tribes, while others kept fighting.

Eventually, however, most of the tribes adopted Roman customs. An important example is the Franks, who invaded Gaul and aspired to the Roman lifestyle. They transformed their language into what we know today as French.

The Huns constantly raided Roman towns, as most of the generals were defending Rome instead of Gaul and Spain. They were led by the ruthless Attila the Hun. Even so, they were defeated by the Roman general Aetius.

The Goths, who until that point were friendly, breached the Danube River on September 4th, 476 AD. They then slaughtered the last Western Roman Emperor, Romulus Augustus. This heralded the end of the Ancient World, and the beginning of the Middle Ages.

THE EARLY MIDDLE AGES

The fall of the Romans was problematic for everyday people. It wasn’t often safe to travel alone or cart merchandise. This time was therefore dangerous for newly conquered areas. In the generation after the fall of the Romans, schools and libraries broke down, causing many people to forget (or never learn) how to read or write. Therefore, people who could read or write (such as bishops or priests) were revered and sometimes feared.

THE HIGH MIDDLE AGES

During this period (the 11th, 12, and 13 centuries) the world began to recover from Rome’s fall.  Many innovations were made, such as the invention and usage of gun-powder by the Asian people.  European warfare adopted this technique shortly afterwards.  William the Conqueror was crowned king of England during this period, in 1066.

Before the Conqueror was king, Viking attacks ravaged England.  They were eventually defeated, though. The defeat of the Vikings and the “Warm Period” that followed was the cause of a large increase in population. The Crusades (religious wars) were  organized by the Pope in this period. They caused thousands of deaths, but allowed innovations from the East to filter through to the West.

THE LATE MIDDLE AGES

This is the period between the 14th and 15th centuries.  During this period, the innovations of the previous epoch vanished.  “The Little Ice Age” caused famine, which was followed by the bubonic plague (also known as the Black Death.)  It killed 1 in 3 of the people it infected.  Pneumonic plague was a variation of this; it occurred when the Black Death spread to the lungs.  Afterwards, the peasants would often revolt against their leaders. 

Becoming a knight

            If chosen to be a knight, the young boy would start out as a page. But, at the age of six, the young knight would not be a page just yet. At the age of seven, the boy would go to a relative or friends castle to learn how to become a page. If the page was good, after a couple of years, he would become a squire. Though, to become a squire, the young king would at least have to be thirteen.
Then, later, when they have become a knight, the castle has a big
celebration. Before the man becomes knight, the worthy king taps the knight on the shoulder with the new man’s sword. That is when the knight would be able to go into battle.

  Dec. 2008 http//.medeivality/history.html/
Bingham, Jane.  Usborne World History Medieval World.  Dubai:  Usborne Publishing Ltd, Usborne House, 1999.
Jordon, William Chester, chief editor.  The Middle Ages, A Watts Guide for Children.   Franklin Watts, Grolier Publishing, 1999.