Return to the Middle Ages

Two of my professors this semester described the Middle Ages as a period of decay. Each time they did, I was annoyed because I find the history of the Middle Ages truly fascinating. The Middle Ages does not consist only of the Black Death, violence, Joan of Arc and Robin Hood. It is not at all a period of linear decay; in fact, it laid the foundations of our modern world. I believe its history also holds the key to understanding several contemporary issues.

It is a shame that the Middle Ages are rarely talked about in America (at least outside the history department) — Columbus' "discovery" itself was possible only because of progress made during the Middle Ages. Great improvements in ships, clocks and the introduction of the compass gave birth to the Age of Exploration.

The term "Middle Ages" is quite misleading. It was coined during the 15th century by Flavio Biondo. Before, history was often divided into six ages, to recall God's creation of the world in six days. The term "Middle Ages," however, implies the flawed idea of 1,000 useless years of stagnation stuck between Antiquity and the Renaissance.

The foundations of modern states were built during this time. During the High Middle Ages, a period of steady growth between the 11th and the 14th centuries, the kings of England, France and Spain consolidated their power. In particular, the Hundred Years War, from 1337 to 1453, forced the kingdoms of France and Britain to develop their administrative and financial institutions. The rediscovery of Roman law and Greek philosophy led to early theories on sovereignty: The king is emperor in his kingdom.

It is quite interesting that Wilson School Dean Anne-Marie Slaughter '80's theories insist so much on the role of networks in our contemporary world because networks definitely characterized the Middle Ages. The organization of the kingdoms rested upon networks of kinships and vassals. The medieval issue of state centralization versus decentralization has also returned in modern debates.

Even our conception of the family was influenced by the Middle Ages. Marriage was progressively institutionalized and became a sacrament during the 11th century. Piety increased starting from the 7th century with the cult of the Virgin Mary and the saints as well as pilgrimages. Christianization contributed to increase the power of aristocrats sincing they often build churches and monasteries on their own lands.

Most European cities were shaped during the High Middle Ages. Urbanization and rural-urban migration did not start with the 19th century but with the demographic "boom" of the 11th-14th century. New businesses such as the textile industry gave birth to proto-industrialization, and trade was booming. During the 11th century, the first universities and large libraries opened. The construction of cathedrals fostered jobs and art in the cities.

Though the Middle Ages were violent — for instance, the castles were frequent stakes for war during the 11th century — attempts were made to limit this violence. Beginning in 1027, bishops decided that battles should not take place during certain periods of the liturgical calendar. And in Britain of course, the 1215 Magna Carta was passed to prevent other forms of violence.

Just like today, the Middle Ages were a period of strife over Jerusalem. There were in fact eight crusades between 1095 and 1270. Interestingly enough, these crusades led to a change in the concept of the "jihad,"which is still controversial today. Since the sovereign had to defend the sacred land of Jerusalem, the "jihad" evolved from being merely one of the missions of the prince to his principal occupation.

While the Muslim civilization was way ahead of the West during early Middle Ages, the Westerners had much to learn from the East in terms of philosophy, science and technology. Roman numerals were replaced by the decimal number system. Translations from Arab to Latin, particularly in Toledo and Sicilia, led to the rediscovery of Aristotle.

Also, we shouldn't forget what the Middle Ages brought to literature. Love and chivalry appeared as the main themes of the "Roman courtois" of the 11th century. The "chanson de geste," such as the Song of Roland, emphasized epic deeds. Of many literary devices employed, allegory was prominent. Dante's "Divine Comedy" is an example.

I hope this brief overview may give some notion of why the Middle Ages matter, as well as some incentive to study this period, that can shed light on so many of our modern problems. Soleine Leprince, a visiting student, is a History and International and Public Affairs major from Paris, France. She can be reached at leprince@princeton.edu.