Ever wanted to learn about medieval times? Well, keep reading to discover more about the Medieval Era and its long and storied history.
What Was the Medieval Era?
The medieval era, also known as the Middle Ages, was the millennium (one thousand years) from 500 AD to 1500 AD in Europe. In other words, this period spans the years from the fall of the Roman Empire to the rise of the Ottoman Empire.
During the medieval era, a great deal of development and progress happened across the world in many different areas. In particular, the medieval era is often associated with castles and royalty, cathedrals and monasteries, and important figures like Joan of Arc and Charlemagne. The Middle Ages was also the time when major historical events like the Black Death occurred.
Additionally, it is also worth noting the difference between the terms “Middle Ages”, “Medieval Era”, and the “Dark Ages”. While the first two terms can be used interchangeably, the Dark Ages specifically refers to the first half of the medieval era – 500 AD to 1000 AD. This name comes from the fact that not a lot of information was documented about that era of history compared to other times, so historians were in the “dark” about the Medieval Era.
Key Events of the Medieval Era
Here are a few major events that took place during the Medieval Era:
- In 476 AD, the Roman Empire fell. This signaled the start of the Medieval Era.
- In 800 AD, then-King of the Franks Charlemagne was crowned the Holy Roman Emperor. Charlemagne, who went on to unite most of Western Europe, is considered the father of both the French and German monarchies.
- In 832 AD, Vikings from Scandinavia (modern Denmark, Sweden, and Norway) began invading Northern Europe, which lasted till 1042 AD.
- In 1066 AD, the French Duke William of Normandy conquered England in the Battle of Hastings, becoming the first King of England.
- In 1096 AD, the First Crusade – a war between Muslims and the Holy Roman Empire over the Holy Land – broke out. The Crusades continued for the next 200 years.
- In 1215 AD, England’s King John signed the Magna Carta; it remains one of the world’s most important legal documents to this day.
- In 1337 AD, Marco Polo began his journey to explore Asia.
- In 1347 AD, the Black Death began, eventually killing around half of Europe.
- In 1431 AD, Joan of Arc was executed aged just 19.
- In 1444 AD, Johannes Gutenberg of Germany invented the printing press, marking the start of the Renaissance.
- In 1453 AD, the Ottoman Empire captured the city of Constantinople, bringing about the end of Byzantium (the Eastern Roman Empire).
Learning History with Mind Muzic
To discover more about the world’s major historical events from the Medieval Era to the Cold War, look no further than Mind Muzic! At Mind Muzic, we pride ourselves on our high-quality, music-based online lessons that discuss historical figures, civilizations, and more. If you’re keen to find out more about Mind Muzic and our lessons, please get in touch with us!