INDIVIDUALS VS SOCIETY IN THE MIDDLE AGES Essay -- Essays Papers

INDIVIDUALS VS SOCIETY IN THE MIDDLE AGES The feudal society of the Middle Ages, from 300 AD – 1300AD, created instability that resulted in civil wars and the Crusades. This culture is what caused the changes and development of individuals and their society. Feudalism was a type of government in which political power was treated as a private possession and was divided between many lords during the Middle Ages. Only nobles were to rule until knights could build up lordships. 1 Empires were becoming too vast and too complicated. They began to split in half and then subdivide again without stopping for long centuries until 1300. This brought about a decline in public spirit. Causes of destruction multiplied with the level of conquest. Emperors became worried about their personal safety and the public peace. 2 Aristocrats took responsibility for defense against invaders. A family that fought for a certain area became hereditary rulers of that area. This seemed to be the best way for them to preserve their wealth, standard of living, and political position in an unstable world. Kings were losing control, as political power had become private, heritable property for counts and dukes. The weakening of the kings gave the aristocracy the opportunity to gain the service of most knights. The knights were nothing by themselves. They had no prestige, no political power, not even much military significance. They had to have a lord to function effectively and they had to serve the lord regularly and faithfully. Members of the aristocracy gave loyalty and services only when he felt it was to his advantage. 3 Civilization was completely engulfed by the inflow of barbarous elements from outside, partly by penetration, partly by... ...ld 300-1300. 2d ed. Toronto, Ontario: MacMillan Company, 1968. 3. See Hoyt 4. See Cantor 5. See Cantor 6. Contamine, Philippe. War in the Middle Ages. New York, New York: Basil Blackwell Ltd, 1984. 7. "Medieval Crusades." The Crusades. 22 October 1999. http://www.Kent.pvt.k12.ct.us/Department/General_Studies/ contents.htm. 8. See Contamine 9. Peters, Edward. Europe: The World of the Middle Ages. Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey: Prentice Hall INC, 1977. 10. See Contamine 11. See Cantor 12. See Cantor 13. See Contamine 14. See Peters 15. See Contamine 16. See Contamine 17. Riley-Smith, Jonathan. The Crusades – A Short History. Great Britain: The Athlone Press Limited, 1987. 18. See Riley-Smith 19. See Riley-Smith 20. See Medieval Crusades 21. See Peters 22. See Peters