Main Ideas
When did the Middle Ages begin?
476 or fall of the Roman Empire
What were the two major religions in the Middle Ages?
Christianity and Islam
Who were the majority of the population?
peasants
How many people knew how to read?
very few
Where can we find the most important pieces of art from the Middle Ages?
religious buildings
When did the Middle Ages end?
1492 or the arrival of Columbus in America
What new religion began during the Middle Ages?
Islam
The clergy were dedicated to ...
prayer
Where did monks live?
monasteries
What two styles of art developed in the Middle Ages?
Romanesque and Gothic
Where did the majority of people live during the Middle Ages?
rural areas
Islam came from the teachings of ...
the prophet Muhammad
Who held more authority/power than the nobility?
the monarchy
What began to grow in the 11th century?
main form of Gothic building
cathedral
What replaced the Roman Empire in Europe?
kingdoms
In Christian areas, who had the greatest political influence?
the pope
Name 2 things the nobility were in charge of in medieval society.
defense during war and conquest of new territory
What role did monks have in society?
to copy, write, and translate books
How can you describe Romanesque churches?
simple, plain, sturdy, big
What was the center of life in medieval societies?
religion
What religious group held social power in medieval Europe?
the clergy
What two things did peasants have to do?
work the land of the nobility and pay taxes to the clergy
What did urban development and activity create?
universities
How can you describe a cathedral?
tall and decorated