WIRED Medievalist Professor Blew My Mind скачать в хорошем качестве

WIRED Medievalist Professor Blew My Mind

Join this channel to get access to more old school Metatron videos the algorithm wouldn't prioritize!    / @metatronyt   Also if you like what I do and wish to support my work to help me make sure that I can continue to tell it how it is please consider checking out my patreon! Unboxings are Patreon exclusives!   / themetatron   Link to the original video I'm responding to    • Medievalist Professor Answers Medieva...   The Middle Ages, spanning roughly from 500 AD to 1500 AD, marked a transformative period in human history that bridged the ancient world with the modern era. Following the collapse of the Western Roman Empire in 476 AD, Europe entered a period of profound change that would reshape its political, social, and cultural landscape for centuries to come. In the wake of Rome's fall, Europe fragmented into numerous kingdoms ruled by Germanic peoples who had once existed on the empire's periphery. These new rulers adopted many Roman customs and institutions, blending them with their own traditions to create unique hybrid cultures. The Frankish kingdom, established by Clovis I around 500 AD, emerged as one of the most powerful of these new entities, laying the groundwork for what would become medieval France and Germany. The Catholic Church emerged as the dominant institution of medieval Europe, filling the vacuum left by Roman administrative collapse. Monasteries became centers of learning and preservation of ancient knowledge, with monks meticulously copying manuscripts and maintaining the literary heritage of antiquity. The Church's influence extended far beyond spiritual matters, as bishops and abbots became powerful feudal lords and papal authority often superseded that of kings. Feudalism emerged as the prevailing social and political system, creating a hierarchical society based on land ownership and military service. At its apex sat the monarch, who granted land to noble vassals in exchange for military support and loyalty. These nobles, in turn, subdivided their holdings among lesser lords, creating a complex web of obligations that extended down to the peasants who worked the land. This system, though often oversimplified by historians, provided the basic framework for medieval society for centuries. The period witnessed remarkable technological innovations in agriculture, including the heavy plow, horse collar, and three-field rotation system. These advances led to significant population growth and the revival of urban life. Towns and cities, many built around cathedral construction projects or trading centers, became increasingly important from the 11th century onward. The rise of towns fostered the growth of a merchant class and the development of sophisticated banking and trading networks. The Middle Ages saw periods of both cultural flowering and devastating hardship. The Crusades, beginning in 1095 AD, brought Europeans into sustained contact with the Islamic world, facilitating the exchange of ideas, technologies, and goods. The 12th-century Renaissance saw the revival of classical learning and the birth of universities. However, the 14th century brought the catastrophic Black Death, which killed perhaps a third of Europe's population between 1347 and 1351 AD. Architecture reached new heights during this period, quite literally, with the development of Gothic cathedrals. These magnificent structures, with their soaring spires and intricate stained glass windows, represented not only technical achievement but also the medieval worldview that sought to direct human attention heavenward. Buildings like Notre-Dame de Paris and Chartres Cathedral remain testaments to medieval builders' skill and vision. The medieval period saw the birth of vernacular literature and the evolution of courtly culture. Epic poems like "Beowulf" and the "Song of Roland" celebrated heroic virtues, while troubadours composed elaborate love poetry that would influence European literature for centuries. In the courts, complex codes of chivalry developed, combining military prowess with increasingly refined social behavior. By the 15th century, the medieval world was transforming into what we now call the Renaissance. The invention of the printing press around 1440 AD, the fall of Constantinople to the Ottomans in 1453 AD, and the discovery of the Americas in 1492 AD marked the dawn of a new era. Yet the legacy of the Middle Ages endured in European languages, legal systems, educational institutions, and cultural practices.