Major Events & Their Impact
Introduction
You’re in a country living your life to the fullest. A trade ship just came in and while you were walking over there to see what kind of products there are, you see a ship full of dead bodies. Confusion enters your mind and you see a bunch of tiny little fleas flying all around the bodies on the ship. The smell is horrifying and you don’t know what to do but get out of that area. This example of the Black Death is one of the very memorial events that took place during these middle ages. Many people may call these years “Medieval times,” but some may call them “the Dark Ages” because of some of the scarring events that happened during this time. Despite of what people called this time of our history, the question is how were these events placed and what impact or changes did they make to the affected areas.
You’re in a country living your life to the fullest. A trade ship just came in and while you were walking over there to see what kind of products there are, you see a ship full of dead bodies. Confusion enters your mind and you see a bunch of tiny little fleas flying all around the bodies on the ship. The smell is horrifying and you don’t know what to do but get out of that area. This example of the Black Death is one of the very memorial events that took place during these middle ages. Many people may call these years “Medieval times,” but some may call them “the Dark Ages” because of some of the scarring events that happened during this time. Despite of what people called this time of our history, the question is how were these events placed and what impact or changes did they make to the affected areas.
![Picture](/uploads/2/7/6/2/27626773/121689483.png)
The Black Death (written by Allie C.)
The Black Death forever brought change to medieval Europe. The plague quickly began to spread through Europe due to the rat flea brought on the trade ships causing many to get very sick. This illness wiped out about one million people of the population leaving them dead within their cities. As many people became sick with this illness, many isolated themselves in their homes and in the homes of strangers in hopes to avoid this tragic illness. Many left their loved ones alone: Wifes leaving husbands, brother leaving brother, and parents leaving their own children. The black death caused people to lose faith in God and the church because even the priest were getting sick which made people believe they were being punished by God. This tragedy destroyed the feudal system and people were more equal than they had ever been. This goes to prove that The Black Death transformed Europe forever.
The Black Death forever brought change to medieval Europe. The plague quickly began to spread through Europe due to the rat flea brought on the trade ships causing many to get very sick. This illness wiped out about one million people of the population leaving them dead within their cities. As many people became sick with this illness, many isolated themselves in their homes and in the homes of strangers in hopes to avoid this tragic illness. Many left their loved ones alone: Wifes leaving husbands, brother leaving brother, and parents leaving their own children. The black death caused people to lose faith in God and the church because even the priest were getting sick which made people believe they were being punished by God. This tragedy destroyed the feudal system and people were more equal than they had ever been. This goes to prove that The Black Death transformed Europe forever.
![Picture](/uploads/2/7/6/2/27626773/712100745.jpg)
The Hundred Years’ War (written by Cynthia H. )
The Hundred Years’ War changed life in the empires forever. Since the Magna Carta did not affect the country at the time kings continued to rule as they did, but later faced dramatic political changes. The start of this event was in the year of 328 the king of France died who had no sons of his own. So two men claimed his throne: one was French, and the other was the king of England. In the end the Frenchman became king. This situation did not sit well with the England king. So a few years later he invaded France. This conflict between France and England lasted a long time. At first the English armies won most of the battles. After almost 100 years of fighting a teenage, peasant girl, Joan of Arc, rallied the French troops. A while later they captured and killed her, but it was too late. The French armies drove English out of their country in 1453. The governments of both countries were very different that they were before. The England Parliament's power grew in influence while the king lost power. On the other hand, the French king grew in power because of becoming more popular with his nobles during war; fighting created a bond between them having the nobles support him even after the war ended.
The Hundred Years’ War changed life in the empires forever. Since the Magna Carta did not affect the country at the time kings continued to rule as they did, but later faced dramatic political changes. The start of this event was in the year of 328 the king of France died who had no sons of his own. So two men claimed his throne: one was French, and the other was the king of England. In the end the Frenchman became king. This situation did not sit well with the England king. So a few years later he invaded France. This conflict between France and England lasted a long time. At first the English armies won most of the battles. After almost 100 years of fighting a teenage, peasant girl, Joan of Arc, rallied the French troops. A while later they captured and killed her, but it was too late. The French armies drove English out of their country in 1453. The governments of both countries were very different that they were before. The England Parliament's power grew in influence while the king lost power. On the other hand, the French king grew in power because of becoming more popular with his nobles during war; fighting created a bond between them having the nobles support him even after the war ended.
![Picture](/uploads/2/7/6/2/27626773/1396142682.png)
The Magna Carta(written by Seth D.)
The Magna Carta required a king for certain rights. Among these rights was habeas corpus . This means that you could not just keep people in jail for no reason. The words “habeas corpus” means “you have the body”. Before the the king could send anybody to prison they had to go in front of a jury trial to decide if they are innocent or guilty. The most important thing about Magna Carta is that the king had to obey the law, along with the people. The basic principle of the English Government is that everyone must follow the law. This helped the English to find more ways to limit the king’s power.There was a council of nobles developed to give advice to the king. As time went on it eventually turned into Parliament . This is the law made by England that governs it today. The king could do very little without the support of Parliament by the late middle ages. Over many years the English worked very hard to make sure that everybody was treated fairly. One way they controlled this was freeing the judges of royal control. A lot of the people thought the judges that the king hired would only agree with him, so this wouldn’t be fair.This was the key step to democracy for England.
The Magna Carta required a king for certain rights. Among these rights was habeas corpus . This means that you could not just keep people in jail for no reason. The words “habeas corpus” means “you have the body”. Before the the king could send anybody to prison they had to go in front of a jury trial to decide if they are innocent or guilty. The most important thing about Magna Carta is that the king had to obey the law, along with the people. The basic principle of the English Government is that everyone must follow the law. This helped the English to find more ways to limit the king’s power.There was a council of nobles developed to give advice to the king. As time went on it eventually turned into Parliament . This is the law made by England that governs it today. The king could do very little without the support of Parliament by the late middle ages. Over many years the English worked very hard to make sure that everybody was treated fairly. One way they controlled this was freeing the judges of royal control. A lot of the people thought the judges that the king hired would only agree with him, so this wouldn’t be fair.This was the key step to democracy for England.
![Picture](/uploads/2/7/6/2/27626773/940095346.jpg?285)
The Crusades(written by Liam H.) The Crusades were a series of wars that the Muslims, the Jews, and the Christians had over the sacred land of Jerusalem. For the Christians it was the place where Jesus was crucified and went to heaven. To the Muslims it was where Muhammad ascended to heaven. For the jews, it was a site of the ancient Solomon had built. All of these reasons were based on their religious beliefs, which made this time full of tragedies. The first one started when a group of Arabs took control of jerusalem. the pope acted by calling for a small army to retake the land. Many people volunteered to go on the crusades including knights, peasants, and families. They travelled all the way to jerusalem most times only to be slaughtered and killed.
Conclusion
By showing you events such as The Magna Carta, The Crusades, The Hundred Years’ war, and The Black Death,we have uncovered the truth behind if these times were really “the Dark Ages.” The Black Death definitely made these the dark times due to the loss of many lives and dead bodies throughout the cities. These events show that the feudal system was destroyed which caused chaos between many people because the lack of government officials. The Dark Ages was definitely a suitable name for these times of the Middle Ages.
By showing you events such as The Magna Carta, The Crusades, The Hundred Years’ war, and The Black Death,we have uncovered the truth behind if these times were really “the Dark Ages.” The Black Death definitely made these the dark times due to the loss of many lives and dead bodies throughout the cities. These events show that the feudal system was destroyed which caused chaos between many people because the lack of government officials. The Dark Ages was definitely a suitable name for these times of the Middle Ages.
RESEARCH RESOURCES:
1. Burstein, Stanley M., Shek, Richard. World History Medieval to Early Modern Times. USA: Holt, Rhinehart and Winston, 2006.Print.
2. Class lecture, Mrs.Oliveria
3. ISN page 79
1. Burstein, Stanley M., Shek, Richard. World History Medieval to Early Modern Times. USA: Holt, Rhinehart and Winston, 2006.Print.
2. Class lecture, Mrs.Oliveria
3. ISN page 79