Overview of the Middle Ages | World History | Khan Academy

Summary

This video script provides an overview of the Middle Ages in Europe, spanning from the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 to the 15th century. It divides the period into the early, high, and late Middle Ages, highlighting key events like Charlemagne's reign, the Great Schism, and the Crusades. The script also touches on the rise of Islam, the fragmentation of the Holy Roman Empire, and the challenges of the late Middle Ages, including the Black Death and the Hundred Years' War, leading to the transition into the Renaissance and Age of Exploration.

Takeaways

• 🕰️ The Middle Ages in Europe are generally considered to span from the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 AD to the 14th and 15th centuries, marking roughly 1000 years of history.
• 🏰 The period is often associated with knights, castles, and chivalry, and is divided into early, high, and late Middle Ages, each with distinct characteristics and events.
• 📚 The early Middle Ages began with the fragmentation of the Western Roman Empire among Germanic kingdoms and saw the Eastern Roman Empire, centered in Constantinople, make some territorial recoveries.
• 👑 Charlemagne, king of the Franks, is a defining figure of the early Middle Ages, being crowned Holy Roman Emperor and unifying much of Western Europe, influencing the concepts of kingship and nobility.
• 🕋 The rise of Islam in the 7th and 8th centuries led to significant territorial expansions, including the conquest of the Middle East, Persia, North Africa, and parts of the Iberian Peninsula.
• 🌐 The high Middle Ages, from around 1000 to 1300, were marked by the fragmentation of Charlemagne's empire and the ongoing loss of territory by the Byzantine Empire to Muslim forces.
• 🔱 The Great Schism of 1054 represents a significant religious divide, separating the Latin Church based in Rome and the Eastern Greek Church based in Constantinople.
• ✝️ The Crusades, beginning in 1096, were military campaigns intended to reclaim land from Muslims, particularly the Holy Land, and led to the establishment of Crusader Kingdoms.
• 🗡️ The sack of Constantinople by Crusaders in 1204 marked a turning point, signaling the decline of the Byzantine Empire, which would eventually fall with the capture of Constantinople by the Ottomans in 1453.
• 🌾 The high Middle Ages experienced advancements in farming technology and favorable weather, leading to increased agricultural productivity.
• 😷 The late Middle Ages were marked by significant challenges, including the devastating Black Death pandemic, widespread famine, and prolonged conflict such as the Hundred Years' War.

Q & A

What is the time frame of the Middle Ages in Europe?

The Middle Ages in Europe roughly span from the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 to the 14th and 15th centuries, connecting the world of Rome in antiquity to the Europe of the Age of Exploration and the Renaissance.

How are the Middle Ages divided into sections?

The Middle Ages are broadly divided into three major sections: the early Middle Ages from the fall of the Western Roman Empire to around 1000, the high Middle Ages from 1000 to 1300, and the late Middle Ages leading up to the 15th century.

What major event marked the beginning of the early Middle Ages?

The early Middle Ages began with the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476, which led to the fragmentation of Western Europe among various Germanic kingdoms.

Who were some of the Germanic kingdoms that emerged after the fall of the Western Roman Empire?

After the fall of the Western Roman Empire, Germanic kingdoms such as the Visigoths, the Franks, and the Kingdom of Odoacer emerged.

What was the role of Charlemagne in the early Middle Ages?

Charlemagne, king of the Franks, was a defining figure of the early Middle Ages. He was crowned Holy Roman Emperor and unified much of Western Europe, laying the groundwork for the concepts of kings, castles, and knights.

How did the Eastern Roman Empire attempt to recapture territories after the fall of the Western Roman Empire?

Under Emperor Justinian, the Eastern Roman Empire, based in Constantinople, was able to recapture some territories that were formerly part of the Western Roman Empire, including parts of the Italian peninsula and North Africa.

What significant religious event occurred in 1054 during the high Middle Ages?

In 1054, the Great Schism occurred, which was a significant religious event marking the division between the Latin Church centered in Rome and the Eastern Greek Church centered in Constantinople.

What were the Crusades and why were they significant during the high Middle Ages?

The Crusades were a series of religious wars initiated by Western Europe to reclaim land from the Muslims, particularly the Holy Land. They were significant as they further expanded the division between the East and West and led to the establishment of Crusader Kingdoms.

What major event in 1204 marked a turning point for the Byzantine Empire?

In 1204, the Crusaders sacked Constantinople, taking it from the Byzantines. This event is considered the beginning of the end for the Byzantine Empire.

What challenges characterized the late Middle Ages in Europe?

The late Middle Ages were marked by challenges such as the Black Death, which killed an estimated 50 million people, or about 60% of Europe's population at the time. There were also periods of famine and the Hundred Years' War between France and England.

How did the fall of Constantinople in 1453 signify the end of an era?

The fall of Constantinople in 1453 to the Ottomans marked the end of the Byzantine Empire and is considered the formal end of the Middle Ages, leading into the Age of Exploration and the Renaissance.

Outlines

00:00

🏰 Introduction to the Middle Ages

This paragraph introduces the Middle Ages in Europe, a period spanning roughly 1000 years from the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 AD to the 14th and 15th centuries. It highlights the transition from the ancient world of Rome to the Europe of the Renaissance and Age of Exploration. The Middle Ages are divided into three sections: the early, high, and late Middle Ages, with the early period marked by the fragmentation of the Western Roman Empire into various Germanic kingdoms and the Eastern Roman Empire's continued existence. Key figures like Charlemagne, who unified much of Western Europe and was crowned Holy Roman Emperor, are mentioned, setting the stage for the themes of the Middle Ages, including the rise of the Holy Roman Empire, the influence of Islam, and the cultural and political shifts of the time.

05:05

🛡 The High Middle Ages and the Crusades

The second paragraph delves into the high Middle Ages, a period of relative prosperity and territorial expansion for the Holy Roman Empire under Charlemagne's successors. It discusses the fragmentation of Charlemagne's empire and the ongoing territorial losses of the Byzantine Empire to the Muslim empires, particularly the Seljuk Turks. The Great Schism of 1054, which divided the Christian Church into the Roman Catholic Church and the Eastern Orthodox Church, is noted as a significant event. The paragraph also covers the Crusades, a series of military campaigns initiated by Western Christians to reclaim land from Muslims, leading to the establishment of Crusader Kingdoms. The sack of Constantinople by the Crusaders in 1204 is highlighted as a pivotal moment marking the decline of the Byzantine Empire. Despite the tensions and conflicts, the high Middle Ages are recognized for advancements in farming technology and increased agricultural productivity.

10:05

🗡 The Late Middle Ages and the Transition to Modern Europe

The final paragraph addresses the late Middle Ages, characterized by significant challenges and the emergence of a Europe that would transition into the Renaissance and the Age of Exploration. The map of Europe by the 14th century shows the Iberian Peninsula largely reclaimed from Muslim rule and the majority of the Byzantine Empire under Ottoman control, with Constantinople's fall in 1453 marking the end of the Byzantine Empire. The Black Death of 1347, which is estimated to have killed 60% of Europe's population, and the Hundred Years' War between France and England are mentioned as key events that contributed to the hardships of the period. The paragraph concludes by setting the stage for the end of the Middle Ages and the dawn of new historical eras.

Keywords

💡Middle Ages

The Middle Ages, also known as the medieval period, spans approximately 1000 years from the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 to the beginning of the Renaissance in the 14th to 15th centuries. It is a crucial era that bridges the classical world and the modern era. In the video, the Middle Ages are divided into three sections: early, high, and late, each characterized by significant historical events and developments.

💡Western Roman Empire

The Western Roman Empire refers to the western half of the Roman Empire, which fell in 476 AD, marking the beginning of the early Middle Ages. The fall of this empire is a pivotal point in the script, as it led to the fragmentation of Western Europe into various Germanic kingdoms, setting the stage for the medieval period.

💡Eastern Roman Empire

The Eastern Roman Empire, also known as the Byzantine Empire, continued after the fall of the Western Roman Empire and had its capital at Constantinople. It played a significant role during the Middle Ages, especially in the context of the Crusades and the Great Schism. The empire's eventual decline and fall in 1453 is a key event that signifies the end of the Middle Ages.

💡Charlemagne

Charlemagne, king of the Franks, is a defining figure of the early Middle Ages. He was crowned Holy Roman Emperor in 800 AD and is known for unifying much of Western Europe. The script highlights his empire's influence on the development of ideas about kingship, castles, and knighthood.

💡Holy Roman Empire

The Holy Roman Empire was a multi-ethnic complex of territories in Western and Central Europe. It originated from the coronation of Charlemagne and continued until 1806. The script discusses its fragmentation and the role of various Holy Roman Emperors in the political landscape of the Middle Ages.

💡Islam

Islam's expansion during the 7th and 8th centuries is a significant aspect of the early Middle Ages. The script mentions the conquest of much of the Middle East, Persia, North Africa, and parts of Spain by Islamic forces. This expansion had profound effects on the geopolitical and cultural landscape of the time.

💡Great Schism

The Great Schism refers to the division between the Latin Church, centered in Rome, and the Eastern Greek Church, centered in Constantinople, which occurred in 1054. This event is highlighted in the script as a major factor contributing to the East-West division during the high Middle Ages.

💡Crusades

The Crusades were a series of religious wars initiated by Western European Christians to reclaim the Holy Land from Muslim rule. The script discusses the Crusades' impact on the relationship between the Byzantine Empire and Western Europe, as well as the establishment of Crusader Kingdoms.

💡Black Death

The Black Death was a devastating pandemic that swept through Europe in the 14th century, killing an estimated 50 million people, or about 60% of the population. The script describes the Black Death as a hallmark of the late Middle Ages, contributing to the period's harsh living conditions.

💡Hundred Years' War

The Hundred Years' War was a prolonged conflict between England and France from 1337 to 1453. The script mentions this war as part of the tumultuous events of the late Middle Ages, which contributed to the hardships faced by the people of Western Europe.

💡Renaissance

The Renaissance marks the transition from the Middle Ages to the modern era, characterized by a resurgence in art, science, and learning. The script notes the Renaissance as the period following the Middle Ages, which brought about significant cultural and intellectual changes in Europe.

Highlights

The Middle Ages in Europe span roughly 1000 years from the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 to the 14th and 15th centuries.

The Middle Ages are divided into three major sections: the early, high, and late Middle Ages, each with distinct characteristics and historical events.

The early Middle Ages begin with the fragmentation of the Western Roman Empire among Germanic kingdoms such as the Visigoths and the Franks.

The Eastern Roman Empire, with its capital at Constantinople, attempted to recapture lost territories under Emperor Justinian.

Charlemagne, king of the Franks, is a defining figure of the early Middle Ages, unifying much of Western Europe and being crowned Holy Roman Emperor.

The notion of Holy Roman Emperor as a protector of the Pope and a continuation of the Roman Empire legacy emerges during Charlemagne's reign.

Islam's rapid expansion in the 7th and 8th centuries led to the conquest of much of the Middle East, Persia, North Africa, and Spain.

The high Middle Ages are characterized by the fragmentation of Charlemagne's empire and the rise of the Kingdom of France and the Holy Roman Empire.

The Byzantine Empire's continuous loss of territory and the Great Schism of 1054 between the Latin and Greek Churches are significant events of the high Middle Ages.

The Crusades, beginning in 1096, aimed to reclaim land from Muslims, particularly the Holy Land, and led to the establishment of Crusader Kingdoms.

The sack of Constantinople by the Crusaders in 1204 marked a turning point and contributed to the decline of the Byzantine Empire.

Agricultural advancements and favorable weather during the high Middle Ages led to increased productivity and a high point in medieval Europe.

The late Middle Ages are marked by the Black Death, which devastated Europe's population, and a series of famines and conflicts.

The Hundred Years' War between France and England (1337-1453) exemplifies the turbulence of the late Middle Ages.

The fall of Constantinople in 1453 to the Ottomans and the end of the Byzantine Empire signal the close of the Middle Ages.

The transition from the Middle Ages to the Renaissance and the Age of Exploration is marked by significant cultural and technological changes.

Transcripts

- [Instructor] Growing up we all have impressions of

the Middle Ages, we read about knights in shining armor,

castles with moats and towers, but when were

the Middle Ages?

The simple answer, the Middle Ages in Europe

are the roughly 1000 years from the fall of the Roman

Empire and to be particular the fall of the Western Roman

Empire, the Eastern Roman Empire continues on for most

of the Middle Ages, but it starts in roughly 476

and it continues on for 1000 years as we get

into the 14th and 15th centuries.

And it's really the time period that connects the world

of Rome, Europe during antiquity and it connects it

to the Europe that begins to emerge in the 14th, 15th,

and 16th centuries.

The Europe of the Age of Exploration, the Europe

of the Renaissance.

Now what we're going to do in this video is we're going

to look at maps of the various time periods

of the Middle Ages.

The Middle Ages are broadly divided into three major

sections, the early Middle Ages, from the fall of

the Western Roman Empire to about the year 1000.

The high Middle Ages, which was a high point

for the Middle Ages in Europe which goes from about what

the year 1000 to the year 1300, and then the late

Middle Ages, which gets us to the 15th century and it's

considered not that pleasant of a time to live in Europe.

So let's just start with what Europe looked like right

after the fall of the Western Roman Empire.

So as you can see here, this map is referring to the time

period between 476 when Odoacer takes over Rome and 493.

And you can see the Eastern Roman Empire is still here

but the Western Roman Empire is now fragmented

amongst many Germanic kingdoms, you have the Visigoths,

you have the Franks, you have the Kingdom of Odoacer.

With the fall of Rome we are entering into the early

Middle Ages.

Now the Eastern Roman Empire which considers itself

the Roman Empire its capital at Constantinople

under Justinian has a little bit of a last horah

and is able to recapture the Italian peninsula so it's

able to recapture some of the territory that was formally

part of the Western Roman Empire, some of the territory

in North Africa that you don't see on this map.

But for the most part Western Europe stays under the control

of various Germanic kingdoms.

So here we have fast forwarded to the year 814 which would

be right around here on our timeline.

And you can see a major event has occurred either on the map

or on this timeline.

You have Charlemagne king of the Franks crowned Holy

Roman Emperor.

On the map, you can see Charlemagne's empire right over here

he has conquered Northern Italy, much of what we consider

modern day France, much of what we consider modern day

Germany, Switzerland, the Netherlands, and Belgium.

Charlemagne is really one of the defining figures of

the Middle Ages and especially the early Middle Ages.

As you can see, he's able to unify much of Western Europe.

A lot of our ideas about kings and castles and knights begin

to emerge around the time of Charlemagne.

This notion of being a Holy Roman Emperor because he's able

to provide protection to the Pope.

The Pope says hey I'm going to say that you are continuing

on the legacy of the Roman Empire.

Now as we'll see and we cover in much more detail in other

videos, the title of Holy Roman Emperor or Emperor

of the Romans, does not continue on with Charlemagne's

descendants, but when you get to 962, Otto who is a German

king is crowned Holy Roman Emperor again and you continue

to have Holy Roman Emperors all the way until 1806.

Now another major feature of the early Middle Ages

and you can see it on this map, is that Islam in the 7th

and 8th centuries comes out of Arabia and is able to

conquer much of the Middle East, Persia, North Africa,

which you don't see on this map, and much of what we

consider today to be modern day Spain and you can see it,

do you see the Caliphate or Cordova right over here.

You see the Abbassids here in the east who also controlled

much of North Africa.

Now let's fast forward to the high Middle Ages.

So here we are in the year 1135 on our timeline that would

be right about, let's see this is 1100, that would be 1150

1135 would put us right around here.

And you could already see some interesting things on

this map, the Holy Roman Empire under Charlemagne is now

fragmented, the Western third is now the Kingdom of France,

the Eastern 2/3 are still considered the Roman Germanic

Empire or the Holy Roman Empire.

And even though it looks fairly unified in this map,

over different periods of time it's really a bunch of

fragmented Germanic kingdoms nominally under this Holy

Roman Empire sometimes it's a little bit more unified

under a stronger Holy Roman Emperor.

Now the other things that you see and we saw it on the last

map is that the Byzantine Empire is continuing to lose

territory and you can see the Muslim empires in this case

it's the Seljuk Turks are able to take even more territory.

Now one of the things that has happened by the time we look

at this map and it's not clear by looking on the map

is that you have in 1054 the Great Schism between the Latin

Church centered at Rome and the Eastern Greeks Church

centered at Constantinople and we have a whole series

of videos on that and all of the factors that led to it.

But as we get to the time of this map one of the things

that the high Middle Ages is most known for,

the Great Schism or the East-West Schism is one of the them,

the Schism between what eventually becomes the Roman

Catholic Church and the Eastern Orthodox Church, but what

the high Middle Ages are also known for are the Crusades.

As already mentioned you see how the Seljuk Turks are able

to take much of Anatolia, much of the peninsula from

the Byzantine Empire.

And the West decides to send what will eventually be called

Crusaders to help regain land from the Muslims.

And so that's where you see the Crusades beginning in 1096

at the very end of the 11th century.

You can see the multiple crusades that occur over roughly

the next 200 years.

And the Crusaders were trying to reclaim land from

the Muslims and especially the Holy Land, much of which

is below the map where you can't quite see it over here.

But it turns out that when they are able to reclaim some

of that land they don't give it back to the Byzantines

they set up what are known as Crusader Kingdoms and you can

see some of them right over here in this bluish color.

So once again you had this East-West Schism and the Crusades

are further expanding the division between east and west.

And that really becomes significant in 1204 when

the Crusaders themselves sack Constantinople,

take Constantinople from the Byzantines, so that's in some

ways the point of no return.

The Byzantines are eventually able to take Constantinople

back but this is really the beginning of the end

for the Byzantine Empire.

Now even though the high Middle Ages are known for this

tension between east and west The Great Schism, even though

it's known for the Crusades, most of which were fairly

unsuccessful despite being very very very bloody

for the Crusaders, the high Middle Ages were considered

a high point for the Middle Ages.

Farming technology coupled with better weather actually

significantly increased agricultural productivity

at this time.

But then roughly in the year 1300, historians consider

ourselves moving into the late Middle Ages.

So you can see here in this map by the late Middle Ages,

Europe is starting to resemble the Europe that we know

in later periods once we get into the Renaissance

and the Age of Exploration.

By this point, much of the Iberian Peninsula has been

reclaimed from Muslim rule although you still have

Muslim rule in Granada.

Most of the Byzantine Empire has now been taken over

by the Ottomans, save Constantinople, Constantinople

eventually falls in 1453.

This map right over here is roughly what Europe looked like

in the 14th century.

So this period right over here, Constantinople falls in 1453

ending the Byzantine Empire formally.

And what the late Middle Ages is most known for is being

not that pleasant of a time to live in Europe.

In 1347, you have the Black Death, which by some estimates

kills 50 million people in Europe, which is roughly 60%

of the population at the time.

It's also a time of famine, the weather cycles get worse

and even before the Black Death you have a significant

famine occurring in the 14th century.

You can see right over here between 1337 and 1453

you have the Hundred Years' War between France and England

which lasts over 100 years, once again not a pleasant time

to live in especially Western Europe.

But as we get into the end of the 15th and especially

into the 16th century, historians consider that to be

the end of the Middle Ages and we start getting into

the Age of Exploration and the Renaissance which we will

discuss in future videos.