The Downfall Of The Middle Ages :: essays research papers

The Downfall of the midriff AgesThere were many flat coats for the downfall for the Middle Ages, but themost crucial unitys were the decline of the feudalistic system, and the declination ofthe Churchs post oer the nation-states. In feudal society, everyone had adefinite place and a definite role, with the power resting in the hands of thelocal lords (instead of a primeval government). The lords, or nobles, lost powerafter the Crusades, when the Europeans came into contact with the more sophisticatedcivilizations of the Byzantine Empire and the Muslims. That spurred the growthof trade, which in turn gave rise to a money system. The money system in turncaused the birth of a middle class, which didnt fit anywhere into the feudalsystem. It was made up of the serfs and peasants that go away the feudal system insearch of making money in trade. For the middle class, the king grantedCharters, made a uniform law, started banking, offered protection, and spread outterritory. In retur n, the middle class payed taxes to the king. While t hismoney parsimoniousness grew, the feudal lords were put into an economic squeeze. As onemay see, that didnt earmark much of a place for the nobles, who were rapidlylosing power. Another thing that contributed to their way out of power was theenforcement of Common Law, which applied throughout the kingdom.     The effects of the Hundred Years warfare hastened the decline of the feudalsystem. The use of the longbow and firearms made the feudal methods of fightingobsolete. Monarchs replaced feudal soldiers with national armies made up ofhired soldiers. Finally, threats to the monarchy decreased as a result of thelarge number of nobles killed in the war.     Another major federal agent that contributed to the end of the Middle Ages wasthe declination of the Churchs power over the nation-states. Conflicts betweenthe papacy and the monarchy over political matters resulted people losing faith in the Church. Events like the Babylonian Captivity and the Great Schismfurther weakened the Churchs influence over the peole. Aside from that, peoplewere disgusted at the actions of the corrupt church officials. They would deposit the people money for all church services, and they also allowed churchpositions to be bought. The princely lifestyle of the clergy further erodedregard for the church. While many still believed that religion held all theanswers, others were beginning to put faith into reason and science. Theuncertainty of the existance of God made people question the Church. Perhapsone of the most vital blows to the Church was the printing of the Bible in the