Middle Ages: the 16 main characteristics of this historical period

The history of humanity is rich and complex, full of great achievements and great losses.

The human being has evolved through time facing a great variety of vicissitudes, learning on his way about how the world works and building different interpretive models of this. There are four great ages into which we can divide history (five if we also consider prehistory): Ancient, Middle, Modern and Contemporary.

Of all of them maybe one of the most interesting is the Middle Ages. In this article we are going to briefly review the characteristics of the longest age in history, especially in regard to social and psychological levels.

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Delimiting the time period: the Middle Ages

We call the Middle Ages the historical period between the 5th and 15th centuries, being chronologically situated between the Ancient and Modern Age. This age in history is the longest ever so far (if we do not consider prehistory), and it is considered that it begins with the fall of the western Roman Empire (that of Rome) in 476.

Its end also coincides with the fall of the Byzantine Empire (formerly the Eastern Roman Empire) in 1453, although other authors date their end in the discovery of America (although discover would not be the exact word since civilizations already existed in it) by Christopher Columbus in 1492.

This long period of time encompasses a large number of events that marked the evolution of history in one way or another, Although the events that are taken into account have practically the European territory and part of the Asian. The Middle Ages can also be divided into different periods, being the High Middle Ages (which passed between the 5th and 10th centuries) and the Late Middle Ages (corresponding to the centuries between the 11th and XV).

During this stage there have been different advances and setbacks in different areas, different institutions, beliefs, cultures and even social classes being born and dying. Religion plays a primary role, as do the different political systems. It is also a time full of military conflicts (sponsored by political, religious and economic reasons), such as the Crusades or the Hundred Years War.

Although it is probably one of the most reviled times, many authors suggesting the existence of an involution in the human development, the truth is that although in many aspects there were important setbacks, different ways of interpret reality and progress was made in different areas, despite doing so very slowly compared to stages later.

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Characteristics of medieval society

The Middle Ages is a stage in which we can observe great divergences in a large number of parameters throughout its course. Likewise, there are many typical characteristics of this age that over time they have been changing and evolving (although some of them have remained during modernity and part of the contemporary age, and in fact they have only changed in the last centuries).

In this sense, focusing on social aspects and those of a more psychological nature, we can find the following distinctive elements.

1. The religious institution as a nucleus of power

One of the characteristics that probably stands out most of this stage is the great power and consideration that religion obtains. Religious beliefs become basic elements in the daily life of the population, as well as a way of keeping the population contained and circumscribed to a specific model of reality.

Religious institutions, and specifically the Catholic Church, acquire a preponderant role in society, being one of the few classes with access to education and with political power capable of surpassing that of the nobility, to the point of being a central axis of power in the Europe of the epoch.

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2. A theocentric world

Related to the above, we find ourselves in a stage in which the world was explained fundamentally from religious concepts, reality being the product of the will and divine creation. This made God at the center of everything, focusing society and much of the philosophical efforts in understanding the world through divinity.

3. Fear and obedience to dogmas

Another aspect of great relevance is the existence of a high level of fear in the population, mostly illiterate and with little knowledge regarding the functioning of the universe and the different phenomena natural. This also facilitated the ascription to the only prevailing explanatory model to which they had access, the religious, to the point of reaching attitudes of fanaticism and persecution of what deviates from him ..

The interpretation abounded that negative aspects of life or illness were consequences of demonic possessions, sorcery, or magic. It is also a time of a high level of distrust towards the strange and foreign, especially what was not understandable.

In the same way, the high lack of knowledge at the medical level and the emergence of large epidemics they were seen as divine punishments. Another frequent fear was that of the arrival of the end of time, experiencing the passing of this as something negative and worrying (especially around the year 1000 AD. C., due to the interpretation of the Bible).

4. The exacerbation of guilt, sin and virtue

Some fundamental concepts that governed the conduct of many during the time are guilt and sin. The fact of committing acts considered despicable for which they could be punished both in this life and especially after death permeated society. Containment and excessive control generated paranoid attitudes, occultism and persecution. On the other hand, an ideal of the virtuous human being was promoted as a role model, in such a way that behavior was very limited.

5. The Inquisition and the persecution of witchcraft

Perhaps one of the most hated and feared figures of the Middle Ages is that of the Inquisition, which is responsible for the persecution of what was considered heresy (such as positions diverging from official dogmas) and of the witchcraft.

In this last aspect, the witch hunt stands out, as something that generated a great level of persecution and suffering to a large part of the population. A large part of the illnesses, diseases and catastrophes were associated with the use of magic and sorcery, often blaming specific sectors of the population or people with specific characteristics marginal. Likewise, said persecution was used as a political tool to eliminate adversaries and to maintain a tight control of the population.

6. The progress of science and scholasticism

Although in this regard many people consider that the Middle Ages is a black point in scientific progress, the truth is that despite the fact that scientific knowledge and its expansion were very slow, there were also numerous advances.

Although it is true that in medieval Europe the copying and transcription of the classical figures of the antiquity, research being something secondary and generally linked to the study of zoology or to the spirituality, the scientific advances of the Arab world should not be ignored and that later they would be introduced little by little.

A particularly relevant aspect is the movement known as Scholastica, which emerged in the 13th century. This current combined theology with classical philosophy in order to coordinate faith and reason. Although in this relationship faith was always above, the truth is that it allowed the promotion of reasoning and reflection, and from it emerged relevant figures of philosophy such as Santo Tomás de Not here.

7. Great social differences

In addition to religion, another of the great identifying factors of this era is the division into three great social classes (nobility, clergy and peasantry) and the existence of a great difference between the attributions, roles and rights of each of they.

The peasantry brought together the majority of the population, their rights being minimal or non-existent. Their role focused on providing and producing food by working the lands of their lords, being the working class that actually sustained society. The rights of this sector of the population were minimal and were part of the underprivileged, often being abused by other social classes and having to pay taxes.

The nobles were the highest class, being within the privileged classes and benefiting from special rights. Most of them did not work, and used to run land and businesses. They enjoyed positions of power and had access to education. They were also part of the army, generally as high command. In the feudal stage, they were the owners of the lands that the peasants worked, these being their vassals. Above them was the king (although during feudalism it was not uncommon for some feudal lords to have greater power than this).

By last, the clergy also enjoyed a special position. It was also a privileged class, which did not pay tribute and had access to positions of great power. It is the class with the highest level of education at the time. It was not uncommon for families to send some of their children to. Although at first they dedicated themselves solely to prayer and study, over time they would also dedicate themselves to the work of their lands (with the well-known Ora et labora of the rule of Saint Benedict).

Another social group that is often ignored when talking about social class is the one with the slaves. Although they already existed in the Ancient Age, they were still seen as little more than properties that they could use at the whim of their “masters”.

8. A position of birth

The social position that each one occupied was determined by his origin and family of birth, with the sole exception of the clergy. Someone born of noblemen was noble and a son of peasants would be a peasant his whole life, not existing in principle the possibility of changing social position.

The exception was the clergy, it being possible that those who entered it assumed a higher social position and changed their social status. In fact, among the lower classes it used to be one of the only ways to access education.

9. The figure and the role of women

Another aspect of great relevance to take into account is the role of women in the Middle Ages. This consideration varied throughout this period, but as a general rule, women were below men and were subordinate to them. The idealization of feminine beauty and romanticism also emerged, giving rise to the literary figure of the "roman courtois".

Likewise, the women of this period had a function and a role centered on the home and on reproduction, although in the case of the peasantry they also worked in the fields. Socially, single women were frowned upon and three basic paths were often considered to exist: marriage, church, or prostitution. As for the married woman, she owed obedience and submission to her husband.

However, with the passage of time, great female figures emerged among the nobles and women who were dedicated to the Church, many being named saints or having great influence. There were also great queens with an influential role in political life, albeit often indirectly. During the Inquisition, likewise, there was a greater prevalence of persecution of the figure of the witch, generally lonely women or widows.

10. Treatment of ethnic and religious diversity

As we have mentioned, during the Middle Ages the existence of a high level of fear and even psychoticism stands out, as well as a great distrust towards the strange. This was reflected in the fact that people who did not comply with the standard model of behavior or its customs or factions did not adhere to what was considered normal were persecuted and even attacked.

For example, ethnic minorities were persecuted and treated like animals (people of color, in fact, were primarily slaves). People with religions other than the official one were also persecuted or forced to convert, as in the case of the Jews (who were frequently blamed for diseases and other disasters and attacked and murdered in the Jewish quarters). The same happened with the Muslim minority of the European territories (although in different periods and territories there was also a peaceful coexistence).

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11. Sex, a taboo

The treatment of sex is also a particular aspect of the Middle Ages. Sex was something that was officially hidden socially and not talked about. It was seen as something reserved for mere reproduction, and it was also highly scripted and standardized. Practices like anal sex were the sin of sodomy, for example.

However, it was common to resort to the services of prostitutes and for men (especially nobles) to have one or more mistresses. Female sexuality was something ignored and not valuedNot being their enjoyment something contemplated not even by the female sector itself. In them, adultery had severe penalties that could include sandwiching.

Regarding sexual diversity, homosexuality and other behaviors different from heterosexuality it was considered an aberration and was officially persecuted especially in the stage in which the Inquisition existed, considering the sin of sodomy as serious and being able to carry severe consequences to those who are accused of such action.

12. Cultural creation

Although scientific knowledge was not particularly remarkable at the time, the truth is that cultural creation had great representatives in the Middle Ages.

Although in general almost all cultural aspects were centered on religion, in the case of architecture we find great advances through the centuries, giving rise to different architectural styles such as Romanesque and Gothic. Music was also important at this time, and literary creation (although with exceptions, people generally worked with pseudonyms).

13. The origins of the bourgeoisie

Most of the European population lived in the countryside during the Middle Ages. However, over the centuries, little by little and to a greater extent, the number of inhabitants of the boroughs increased. Likewise, they began to generate different trades to the work of the field and that were of great relevance for society, such as merchants and artisans.

These professionals little by little organized themselves into guilds, and with the passage of time they would end up generating a new social class: the bourgeoisie. This new class was not among the privileged classes, but it tended to concentrate a large amount of money and little by little it would become a basic element of the economy. Unlike the peasants, the bourgeoisie were much more likely to prosper and change their social position.

14. The education

Another characteristic aspect of the time is education. It was a minority thing, being permissible only for the nobility and the clergy in most cases. The methods used did not usually take into account the existence of individual differences in abilities, and the methodology was not adapted to the students. The contents treated were subject to the official dogmas, being the clergy the main one in charge of educating the few who could do it. Mainly rote learning was carried out.

Likewise, the first universities (some of them in our territory) also emerged as such from monastic schools. Grammar, Medicine or Law were, together with Theology, some of the subjects covered.

15. Treatment of mental illnesses and disorders

The disease was something extremely feared in the Middle Ages, with poor medical development. In many cases there was a quasi mystical conception of the functioning of the body, and a simple cold or cut could be fatal. Exploring the inside of a human body was a crime and was harshly persecuted, which made many illnesses untreatable and unclear.

Many other disorders were poorly managed and even the treatment used could make the condition worse. The clearest example is the use of bloodletting or leeches, frequently used to purify the blood. What was not known was that this also greatly weakened the patient, which could worsen his condition and lead him to death more easily.

Although medicinal properties of some plants were known, their use was not frequent. In fact, many people with such knowledge were charged and burned or hanged on charges of witchcraft.

Also in this sense, it highlights that hygienic conditions were minimal, with a large number of lice, bed bugs, fleas and creatures with the potential to spread different diseases. This generated great plagues, including the Black Death..

Special mention should be made of the treatment of mental disorders. Initially there was a charitable treatment, but over the centuries certain disorders were considered as demonic possessions or effect of witchcraft, not being strange the presence of exorcisms, torture or even burning at the stake to free the soul of the person from spirits evil.

16. The soul and the body

At this stage, it was considered that the human being was configured by soul and body, including the soul what we now consider mind. Sensations or thoughts were acts of the spirit.

Conceptions coexisted both dualists as monists about it. The existence of differences between people at the level of characteristics of the soul is also explored.. Emotions, motivation and other relevant aspects for psychology would be worked on by authors like Juan Luis Vives at the end of this age.

Bibliographic references:

• Regales, A. (2004). The current mentality and the medieval mentality in the light of literature. Communications. University of Valladolid.