Redefining The Middle Ages

[Tolkien R.R.J]

Part one (of two) I seek to argue the Middle Ages proper ended during the 14th century. The 14th century was the most transformative since the B.C/A.D divide and placed us on the path to modernity. This article explores the changes in the treatment of women, heretics, and witches, along with issues of racism and the plague. All these groups were negatively affected during and after the 14th century.

Redefining the Middle Ages by Jeb Smith


In this article, part two, I continue to advocate for a redefinition of the Middle Ages, arguing that the 14th century was a truly transformative period that marked the end of one era and the beginning of the early modern period. This section focuses on the transformation in politics.

From a traditional Christian and libertarian perspective, it marked the decay of society.
Redefining the Middle Ages Part 2 - Medieval Archives

 

[timf]

The idea of "dark ages" gained traction with so-called enlightenment thinkers who viewed the Christian era as a bleak wasteland interrupting the evolutionary trajectory of mankind from the great minds of the ancient world to their own "great minds".

 

[Jonaitis]

Lithuania was the last nation in Europe to officially adopt Christianity in the 14th century. I find that fascinating, because while there was so much happening within the European Christendom during this period, the Baltic nation remained staunchly true to their pagan roots. Despite this "conversion" many Lithuanians still remained pagan up to the modern age.

 

[DamianWarS]

Part one (of two) I seek to argue the Middle Ages proper ended during the 14th century. The 14th century was the most transformative since the B.C/A.D divide and placed us on the path to modernity. This article explores the changes in the treatment of women, heretics, and witches, along with issues of racism and the plague. All these groups were negatively affected during and after the 14th century.

Often overlooked in our Western vacuum is the fall of the Eastern Roman Empire which played an important role creating an eastern church diaspora of sorts and a giant download of Byzantine scholars and texts with it. This and the earlier printing press and subsequent critical Greek NT helped jump start the reformation movement something that was still brewing in 14th century. The printing press is invented mid-14th century but major cultural shifts and the reformation I think are too bound with the reformation that the place marker should be the 15th.