Eleanor Janega - The Middle Ages: A Graphic History (Introducing)

Its difficult to say when the Medieval Period ended because, when it did, no one had invented the concept of modernity yet. Historians sometimes date it to when Europeans went to the Americas; some to the Renaissance in Italy; others to the rise of Martin Luther (14831546), around 1517. No matter the dates, we are talking about a thousand years worth of history, progress, art, politics, and life. Its also when Europe became a force in the world, and began to catch up with the empires of Asia and Africa.

The term medieval best applies to Europe, because not every part of the world experienced a move away from an ancient to a more modernized culture in that era. Historians sometimes talk about medieval China, often meaning the period up until the Song Dynasty was established in 960, which means that China became modern about 600 years before Europe did bureaucratic state system, gunpowder, and international exports.

On the Yucatan peninsula, Mayan civilization experienced both their classic and post-classic periods, building impressive temple complexes that still stand today, and creating a complex society with mercantile, scholar and warrior classes and a thriving trade in cocoa, jade, and obsidian.

In India, the Rashtrakuta Empire was mining diamonds, building huge temple complexes, and trading for pearls and Italian wines.

The term medieval is confusing even within Europe. People in what we now call the Byzantine Empire would have told you that they were the Eastern Roman Empire. Their proof was in their intact state, their elaborate public chariot races, and the huge swathes of Roman land that they were still ruling over from Constantinople.

When we talk about something being medieval it can be confusing, because we are talking about a period of time, but not everyone across Europe during those dates had similar experiences. To make it more confusing, historians subdivide the Middle Ages into three categories: the Early (6th10th century), High (10th13th century), and Late (13th through the 15th century). So, the Middle Ages are a period of about a thousand years, between the fall of the Roman Empire and the dawn of the Modern era in Europe, with three time periods within it.

However, just because we dont have a written record of something, doesnt mean it wasnt worth recording. Not everyone has the room to keep admin records, journals, or outdated laws for a thousand years. Even for scientific studies conducted now, destroy dates are often only a decade. Survival rates for things like fiction books can also be low. Some popular books from the 20th century survive in lower rates than medieval popular romances.

Just like you clean out your closet periodically, sometimes archives and libraries get rid of documents they dont find useful. Sometimes like when Henry VIII (14911547) dissolved the monasteries in England, Wales, and Ireland masses of documents are destroyed. We also lose things during wars. Ways of keeping records also change. In 1,000 years could we study your Instagram profile or will you have deleted it?

Rome in 476 wasnt the grand conqueror it had been. Rome had ditched Britannia, lost huge parts of what is now France, and already divided itself into two parts: Western Rome (where ground was being lost) and Eastern Rome (which we now call the Byzantine Empire). Barbarians (who the Romans defined as anyone who wasnt Roman) had been picking away at Roman territory since they started moving to Europe about 100 years earlier, what we call the Age of Invasions.

A large contingent of historians think that the fall of Rome was brought about by the Germanic barbarians arrival. Barbarians started showing up and settling in Roman land, leading to pressure on the military, a shrinking tax base, and general disillusionment with Roman government. What was the point of paying taxes if the army didnt even keep barbarians off your lawn?

Other historians think that Rome fell because it was already experiencing a weakening of its core. Sometimes this is blamed on the rise of Christianity and a waning of traditional Roman values and introduction of new theoretical leaders in the Church. Others point to corruption and the general willingness of the Praetorian Guard to just kill any emperor they werent feeling. Others point to economic issues from overexpansion and reliance on slave labor.

The first post-Roman ruler of the Italian peninsula, Theoderic the Great (454526), was a product of the Eastern Roman Empire, an Amal who had been raised as a hostage at the court in Constantinople.

After a lavish Roman education, the Emperor Zeno (42591) sent Theoderic to the Italian peninsula to overthrow Odoacer, which he accomplished by killing him at a dinner.