Classical and Medieval History


This period is noted for the rise of the great classical civilizations which preceded the modern world. As with other divisions of history, the division into classical and medieval history using calendar years is arbitrary, but convenient. It is divided into four parts, Early classical, Late classical, early medieval, and late medieval.	Sapience Home Site Map About Sapience History Early Classical Late Classical Early Medieval Late Medieval

This period is noted for the rise of the great classical civilizations which preceded the modern world. As with other divisions of history, the division into classical and medieval history using calendar years is arbitrary, but convenient. It is divided into four parts, Early classical, Late classical, early medieval, and late medieval.

History

Early Classical(500 BC - 1 BC)

In the 5th century BC, the Greeks were resisting the Persian empire. In the 4th century BC, Alexander led the Macedonians to conquer the Persian empire and most of the middle east. In the 3rd century BC, this empire had broken up, but pieces of it remained important, while significant empires were beginning in India and China. In the 2nd century BC, the Romans began to expand, and during the 1st century BC, conquered Greece, Egypt, and much of Europe, and the Roman republic became the Roman Empire.

Late Classical (1-500 CE)

In the first century CE, the new religion of Christianity developed. In the second century CE, it continued to grow and expand. In the third century CE, Manicheanism was established. In the fourth century CE, the capital of the Roman Empire was moved to a new city formerly named Byzantium, but later called Constantinople, and the Roman empire was divided. In the fifth century CE, the Western Roman empire declined and was beset by various tribes, largely of Germanic origin.

Early Medieval (501 - 1000 CE)

During the 6th century, the Western Roman empire continued to decay and was overrrun by tribes largely of Germanic origin and affiliations, although the Eastern Roman empire survived and attempted reconquest of the West more than once. China was ruled by the Sui dynasty. During the 7th century, the new religion of Islam originated in Arabia and began spreading rapidly by conquest into the Levant, Mesopotamia, Egypt, and Northern Africa. In China, the Sui dynasty was followed by the T'ang. Buddhism entered Indonesia. During the 8th century, the Abbasid Caliphate came to rule most of Islam from Persia, while another branch penetrated into Spain. About the same time, Charlemagne conquered most of north Central Europe and briefly established a medieval Christian empire, while the Byzantines were on the defensive against the growth of Islam. In China, the T'ang dynasty reached its height. During the 9th century, Islam reached cultural heights, while Charlemagne's empire broke up. Norsemen from scandinavia were raiding Europe, contributing to social chaos. In China, the T'ang dynasty declined. During the 10th century, Western Christendom centered in Rome remained the chief unifying influence in western Europe, though it never had the political or military strength of the Roman empire. Islam was culturally far more advanced than medieval christendom. In China, the Song dynasty came to power.

Late Medieval (1001 - 1500 CE)

During the 11th century, Western medieval civilization continued to develop. The Norman conquest of England substantially influenced later history, and toward the end of the century, the Crusades, an attempt by Western Christendom to liberate israel from the control of Islam, began. In the 12th century, the first universities were founded in western Europe. The crusading movement reached its height and had partial success, but created lasting hostility with eastern Europe and the Islamic peoples. In the 13th century, the crusading movement began to decline, but dealt a serious blow to the Byzantine empire. The Mongol peoples began to conquer Central Asia, China, and eastern Europe. In the 14th century, the "Black death" (plague) seriously beset European civilization, but awareness of Asia began to become of interest to European peoples. Russia grew under Mongol, or Tatar rule. In the 15th century, European civilization began to recover and take new interest in the learning of antiquity, which had been preserved by the Byzantines and Islamic peoples, in the Renaissance. Russia achieved independence from the Tatars. The Byzantine empire was conquered by Islamicized Turks from central Europe. The great age of European sea exploration of the world began with the discovery of the Americas and a sea route around Africa to India.


Other History Classical and Medieval history is the natural continuation of antiquity, particularly the early 1st Millennium. The flow of events is continued in the modern period, specifically the 16th century. These events are frequently reinterpreted. There have been continued studies in the 17th century and 18th century. There have also been studies in the 19th century, including the early 19th century, early mid 19th century, mid 19th century, mid 19th century, late mid 19th century, and late 20th century. In the 20th century, the early 20th century, early mid 20th century, mid 20th century, late mid 20th century, and late 20th century have produced various developments in classical and medieval history. Recent and present developments are considered in the early 21st century, including the early 2000s. The late 2000s including events of 2006, 2007, 2008, and 2009 can possibly be connected. Studies will be continued into the future. The near future including next month, next quarter, and next year can be considered. The middle future and far future can be connected. Sociology As with history in general, the examination of peoples of the world, communities, and social structure and change gives weight and substance to Classical and Medieval history. Institutions As with history in general, religion, government, economics, education, and families can be applied to classical and medieval history.	Links to other sites About.com Ancient history Ancient History Medieval History sourcebook The Labyrinth Medieval History: Teachernet HistoryWiz- Middle Ages and Early Modern history Survey of Digital Resources on the Classical world Ancient History - Infoplease 1 - 999 AD Infoplease 1000 - 1899 AD Infoplease Major Historical events I World History before the Common Era Major Historical events 0 BC - 1500 AD
Culture This can be used to examine early classical, late classical, early medieval and late medieval times. Behavioral culture can be considered and applied to early classical, late classical, early medieval, and late medieval periods. Cultural events such as holidays, gatherings, disasters, and miscellaneous events can be considered. Recreation and entertainment such as sports, games, theater, dance, and music is possible to trace somewhat in this period. Occupations are significant. Service related occupations including institutional services, business and commercial services, sports, recreation, and entertainment, and social and medical services can be connected. Industrial occupations were limited. Communication-related occupations and transportation-related occupations were limited. Building-related occupations and food-related occupations can be connected. Customs such as institutional customs, social interaction customs, dress and adornment customs, living and dwelling customs, and vital customs will be important. Conceptual culture is also important. Philosophy including philosophical schools and doctrines, special topics, aesthetics, ethics, metaphysics, epistemology, and logic is applicable to this period. Applied science can also be considered. Applied social science had not yet developed but can be applied. Accounting existed, but the modern form originated very late in this period. Information science had not developed but can be applied. Medical science was generally primitive, by modern standards. Navigation was difficult. Engineering developed to some extent. Measurement developed considerably during this period. Mathematics developed significantly. Statistics was mostly unknown. Geometry was developed. Analysis was invented, but lost and forgotten. Algebra developed in this period. Arithmetic was most important. Mathematical foundations had not been developed. Literature with its divisions of literary works, types and genres, literary forms, and oral tradition is important. Graphic arts are useful. Computer graphics and photography had not yet been devised. Printmaking, painting, and drawing are useful. Language is also important. Languages of the world, including Indo-European languages, Afro-Asiatic languages, Asiatic languages, African lanuages, and American Indian languages, writing, and linguistics can be used. Material culture is important. Miscellanous artifacts such as sculpture, musical instruments, medical technology, weaponry, and toys are also important. Communication technology including written and graphic communication is useful. Transportation technology including water transportation, land transporation, and packaging is important. Clothing and dress is also important. Foodstuffs including prepared dishes, processed and preserved foods, and raw agricultral products are useful. Building technology including outdoor structures, complete buildings, furnishings, building parts, and materials is important. Industrial technology including tools, fuels, chemical technology, machinery, and other technology can be considered. Anthropology This can be used to examine early classical, late classical, early medieval, and late medieval periods. Particular groups are also significant. Human geography including European geography with the Balkans, Italian, Iberia, Northwest Europe, Island Europe, Scandinavia, Eastern Europe, and Central Europe can also be considered. Asian geography with Southwest Asia, the Near East, Asia Minor, Arabia, Transcaucasus, and Iranian Highlands, Central Asia, South Asia , Southeast Asia, East Asia, and North Asia is important. African geography including Northern Africa, Eastern Africa, Western Africa, North Central Africa, South Central Africa, and Southern Africa can be connected. North American geography including Northern North America, Middle North america, and Southern North America can be connected. South American geography is also important. Oceanic geography is less connected. Human ecology for this period includes human impact on the environment. Relationships with other life forms and the effect of the environment on people can be considered. Physical anthropology in this period is more important for the study of human dispersion and racial variation and less for human origins. Demography including birth, migration, death, population size and structure, and population change will also be useful. Studies of social foundations including social presentation, social interaction, social control, social group behavior, and group types are significant. Personal studies Biography is extremely important, but there are so many prominent people who lived in this period that an alphabetical list of them hinders more than helps. These can be examined by looking at the early and late classical and early and late medieval sections. Psychology including social psychology, personality, disorders, developmental psychology, behavior patterns, mind, and behavioral elements is also at too fine a level to be very useful. Studies of the human body including form and appearance, life cycle, diseases, function, and human body systems are generally at too fine a level to be very useful. Science Biology is also useful in examining certain events. Biohistory is indirectly useful, and less for information on Precambrian, Mesozoic, or Paleozoic times, than Cenozoic life. Ecology is a little more useful than systematics, organism biology, cell biology, and molecular biology. Earth science is better connected to terrestrial events. Geohistory, physical geography, atmospheric science, hydrospheric science, and geology may be useful at times. Astronomical events are a little more useful, with local and stellar astronomy more useful than galactic astronomy or cosmology. Chemistry and physics are at too low a level of studies to be very useful.

Other History

Classical and Medieval history is the natural continuation of antiquity, particularly the early 1st Millennium.

The flow of events is continued in the modern period, specifically the 16th century. These events are frequently reinterpreted. There have been continued studies in the 17th century and 18th century. There have also been studies in the 19th century, including the early 19th century, early mid 19th century, mid 19th century, mid 19th century, late mid 19th century, and late 20th century. In the 20th century, the early 20th century, early mid 20th century, mid 20th century, late mid 20th century, and late 20th century have produced various developments in classical and medieval history. Recent and present developments are considered in the early 21st century, including the early 2000s. The late 2000s including events of 2006, 2007, 2008, and 2009 can possibly be connected.

Studies will be continued into the future. The near future including next month, next quarter, and next year can be considered. The middle future and far future can be connected.

Sociology

As with history in general, the examination of peoples of the world, communities, and social structure and change gives weight and substance to Classical and Medieval history.

Institutions

As with history in general, religion, government, economics, education, and families can be applied to classical and medieval history.

Culture

This can be used to examine early classical, late classical, early medieval and late medieval times.

Behavioral culture can be considered and applied to early classical, late classical, early medieval, and late medieval periods. Cultural events such as holidays, gatherings, disasters, and miscellaneous events can be considered. Recreation and entertainment such as sports, games, theater, dance, and music is possible to trace somewhat in this period. Occupations are significant. Service related occupations including institutional services, business and commercial services, sports, recreation, and entertainment, and social and medical services can be connected. Industrial occupations were limited. Communication-related occupations and transportation-related occupations were limited. Building-related occupations and food-related occupations can be connected. Customs such as institutional customs, social interaction customs, dress and adornment customs, living and dwelling customs, and vital customs will be important.

Conceptual culture is also important. Philosophy including philosophical schools and doctrines, special topics, aesthetics, ethics, metaphysics, epistemology, and logic is applicable to this period. Applied science can also be considered. Applied social science had not yet developed but can be applied. Accounting existed, but the modern form originated very late in this period. Information science had not developed but can be applied. Medical science was generally primitive, by modern standards. Navigation was difficult. Engineering developed to some extent. Measurement developed considerably during this period. Mathematics developed significantly. Statistics was mostly unknown. Geometry was developed. Analysis was invented, but lost and forgotten. Algebra developed in this period. Arithmetic was most important. Mathematical foundations had not been developed. Literature with its divisions of literary works, types and genres, literary forms, and oral tradition is important. Graphic arts are useful. Computer graphics and photography had not yet been devised. Printmaking, painting, and drawing are useful. Language is also important. Languages of the world, including Indo-European languages, Afro-Asiatic languages, Asiatic languages, African lanuages, and American Indian languages, writing, and linguistics can be used.

Material culture is important. Miscellanous artifacts such as sculpture, musical instruments, medical technology, weaponry, and toys are also important. Communication technology including written and graphic communication is useful. Transportation technology including water transportation, land transporation, and packaging is important. Clothing and dress is also important. Foodstuffs including prepared dishes, processed and preserved foods, and raw agricultral products are useful. Building technology including outdoor structures, complete buildings, furnishings, building parts, and materials is important. Industrial technology including tools, fuels, chemical technology, machinery, and other technology can be considered.

Anthropology

This can be used to examine early classical, late classical, early medieval, and late medieval periods. Particular groups are also significant.

Human geography including European geography with the Balkans, Italian, Iberia, Northwest Europe, Island Europe, Scandinavia, Eastern Europe, and Central Europe can also be considered. Asian geography with Southwest Asia, the Near East, Asia Minor, Arabia, Transcaucasus, and Iranian Highlands, Central Asia, South Asia , Southeast Asia, East Asia, and North Asia is important. African geography including Northern Africa, Eastern Africa, Western Africa, North Central Africa, South Central Africa, and Southern Africa can be connected. North American geography including Northern North America, Middle North america, and Southern North America can be connected. South American geography is also important. Oceanic geography is less connected.

Human ecology for this period includes human impact on the environment. Relationships with other life forms and the effect of the environment on people can be considered.

Physical anthropology in this period is more important for the study of human dispersion and racial variation and less for human origins. Demography including birth, migration, death, population size and structure, and population change will also be useful. Studies of social foundations including social presentation, social interaction, social control, social group behavior, and group types are significant.

Personal studies

Biography is extremely important, but there are so many prominent people who lived in this period that an alphabetical list of them hinders more than helps. These can be examined by looking at the early and late classical and early and late medieval sections. Psychology including social psychology, personality, disorders, developmental psychology, behavior patterns, mind, and behavioral elements is also at too fine a level to be very useful. Studies of the human body including form and appearance, life cycle, diseases, function, and human body systems are generally at too fine a level to be very useful.

Science

Biology is also useful in examining certain events. Biohistory is indirectly useful, and less for information on Precambrian, Mesozoic, or Paleozoic times, than Cenozoic life. Ecology is a little more useful than systematics, organism biology, cell biology, and molecular biology. Earth science is better connected to terrestrial events. Geohistory, physical geography, atmospheric science, hydrospheric science, and geology may be useful at times. Astronomical events are a little more useful, with local and stellar astronomy more useful than galactic astronomy or cosmology. Chemistry and physics are at too low a level of studies to be very useful.

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