Gothic Cathedrals
Gothic Cathedrals were an architectural feature added to the Dark Ages in 1144, therefore, making the dark ages a little light than what we would expect. Cathedrals are a beautiful representation of God’s church. The Cathedrals were made to make you feel closer to God, to feel in his presence and to be in awe of its pure beauty. Though we have the technology today, they didn't making it harder to create such a heavenly vision. In the Middle Ages, they had to use things like limestone to create a glue like substance to bond the stone together. They made the glass with Suger, melting it to hot liquid and drying to a beautiful colored, window. To hold up the cathedral they used wood. The flying buttresses, and the arches are made out of wood to make things like windows, and doors. Mortar was used as a slow-drying cement, used to hold the stone together (as well as the limestone). The cathedral seated the Bishop, and was most of the time a school, and a church. The cathedrals are also known for the relics. Relics are an item that was worn, touched, or even seen by a saint. Gothic Cathedrals are a Vision of heaven, and are around today to amaze people the same way they did in 1144.
China's Golden Age
Education was more popular, and cities were busy. In the years 960-1279 China was in the Song Dynasty. In this time many useful inventions were made, it was a great time for China. It was “light”. Agriculture was improved during this time as well as in the Tang dynasty. China had made the first paper money in 1024, paper, porcelain, woodblock printing and gunpowder were all invented, mathematicians had invented fractions, the lunar calendar was perfected, this time was considered “The Golden Age of Chinese Paintings.” Then around 1270, Genghis Khan defeated China, along with many other places. In 1271, a famous visitor came to China and wrote a famous book about Chinese culture, this visitor was Marco Polo. He stayed there for a year. A couple years later a tragedy strikes China showing that it wasn't perfect and all “light” there, although there were many light things and it wasn’t overall “dark” in this time. They had made improvements in many things and it was a light time. The Black Death or bubonic plague started in China; it had killed many people in China it later spread to Europe through trade routes. After China healed from this they had begun a new dynasty known as the Ming Dynasty. In the Ming dynasty (started in 1368) there was lots of growth as a civilization, also in this time there was less contact with other civilizations.
-Haley J
Japan in the Middle Ages
The Middle Ages is often called the “classical” time, its history was broken up into different periods, the first period of this time was the Asuka. The Asuka period started in 538 AD and ended in 710 AD. In this time, new laws were made and Buddhism came to Japan. The next period is called Nara, it was in the 8th century AD, this time was often called the “Golden Age of Japan.” There was mythology found from this time explaining Japan's history. The final period in “classic” Japanese history is the Heian; it started in 794 and ended in 1185. There was lots of art made in this time. In the middle ages Japan made lots of “light” improvements, but it wasn't perfect, in the twelfth century civil wars broke out.
-Haley J.
-Haley J.
Islamic Achievements
In the Middle Ages there were many improvements in other cultures besides Europe, like in Islamic countries. The middle ages were the Golden Ages for Islamic countries (8th century- 13th century). Islamic art was also made in this time, the Qur'an stated to not draw human figures so many geometrical shapes were drawn and made into great art. Islam had great literature like A Thousand And One Nights, this book included Aladdin and the Magic Genie and other stories! People in Islam had great philosophy it was a mix gathered from Ancient Greece, India, and China. Islam made great improvements with medicine like they mixed good tasting syrups with medicine so the medicine was taken, they also made their doctors pass an exam before they could treat patients. It was a “light” time in Islam altogether. Islam had made many great improvements that even help us to this day.
Haley J.
Haley J.
Castle Construction
Castles are much different from our modern image of them. Their main purpose was not for luxury, but for combat. Castles took long periods of time to construct, depending on the material used to build them and how elaborate they were. Building a castle required many materials and lots of workers to build it. Originally they were made of wood, but they were later made of stone because it didn’t burn down as easily as wood, and they lasted longer. Once a noble or king had gathered the workers and supplies, they would design their castle to be as prepared and capable as possible for defending the castle from attackers.
There were many different mechanisms that were used for protecting a castle, such as murder holes, drawbridges, arrow loops, and heavy wooden doors. Murder holes were openings in the ceilings, and when attackers walked through, things such as boiling hot water, hot coals, and even dead cats, would be dropped on top of them. Drawbridges were bridges that were placed over a moat, which was water that surrounded the castle. The drawbridges could be let down and risen up, so that they can lift the drawbridge up to prevent their enemy from entering the castle. Arrow loops were windows that were built so the archers could easily shoot anywhere on the ground around them , and it was a narrow window so they couldn’t be shot with an arrow as easily. There were many heavy wooden doors in the castle that were difficult for the attacker to get through. Although they were mainly used for military combat, they also had many rooms for other purposes, such as a great hall. Although castles were magnificently built, they eventually failed with the introduction of gunpowder and cannon, however there are many castles standing today.
-Chloe L.
There were many different mechanisms that were used for protecting a castle, such as murder holes, drawbridges, arrow loops, and heavy wooden doors. Murder holes were openings in the ceilings, and when attackers walked through, things such as boiling hot water, hot coals, and even dead cats, would be dropped on top of them. Drawbridges were bridges that were placed over a moat, which was water that surrounded the castle. The drawbridges could be let down and risen up, so that they can lift the drawbridge up to prevent their enemy from entering the castle. Arrow loops were windows that were built so the archers could easily shoot anywhere on the ground around them , and it was a narrow window so they couldn’t be shot with an arrow as easily. There were many heavy wooden doors in the castle that were difficult for the attacker to get through. Although they were mainly used for military combat, they also had many rooms for other purposes, such as a great hall. Although castles were magnificently built, they eventually failed with the introduction of gunpowder and cannon, however there are many castles standing today.
-Chloe L.
Monasteries, Universities, and Learning
In the 800s, Charlemagne decided that they needed education in Europe. He then made a law that said that every cathedral and monastery must have a free school available for any boy who wanted an education. Some of the subjects that they learned were grammar, Latin, astronomy, and mathematics. Girls were not allowed to attend school, unless they were the daughter of someone rich and powerful. Even then, they were only allowed to take certain courses. When they were 14 or 15, some students went to an university.
Monasteries were very important during the Middle Ages. They served as a farm, an inn, a hospital, a school, and a library. The first medieval monastery was founded in 529 A.D. by Saint Benedict. There were different types of monasteries, and they all followed different rules and ways of living. Monasteries had important roles in education. Many classic writings would have been lost if monks did not copy literature. They provided education for boys who wanted to become priests or have active lives in the world. Monasteries also key records of events in medieval history.
-Chloe L.
Monasteries were very important during the Middle Ages. They served as a farm, an inn, a hospital, a school, and a library. The first medieval monastery was founded in 529 A.D. by Saint Benedict. There were different types of monasteries, and they all followed different rules and ways of living. Monasteries had important roles in education. Many classic writings would have been lost if monks did not copy literature. They provided education for boys who wanted to become priests or have active lives in the world. Monasteries also key records of events in medieval history.
-Chloe L.