The Dark Ages that followed the fall of the Roman Empire was a period of instability and chaos. Gone was the strong central government that held much of Europe together. Rome’s “fall” owed to numerous invasions and complex internal problems that combined brought the collapse of Roman authority. The “house” built during the Rome’s dominance was “trashed”. It would take hundreds of years for stability to return to Europe. After the Dark Ages followed a period called the Middle Ages where Europe again got its “house” back in order. The Middle Ages can be characterized as a period of renewal and growth in Europe affecting monarchies, economies, and ultimately representative government.
Out of the chaos of the Dark Ages after the fall of the Roman Empire, feudal monarchs build the foundations for strong national governments. With Church power clearly emanating from Rome it is furthest away from Church authority that the greatest opportunities to establish hegemony existed. Accordingly, monarchs in England and France are the first to increase their royal power. William of Normandy becomes known as “the Conqueror” taking control of England in 1066. While Hugh Capet, originally viewed as weak by French nobles, is elected to the throne in 987. Over time each of these rulers established a strong government. In both cases it was based on establishing hegemony, which refers to setting standards, and having a stable tax base. Both were essential for Europe’s renewal after the Dark Ages, and promoted growth. Meanwhile, the stability monarchs sought was supported by their vassals – the nobles beneath them, who each develop manors within their fiefdoms so that they may also promote stability.
While manors provided for stability and the basic needs of Europe’s population, the political, social, and economic focus later shifts from the manor to the town. Due to new farming technologies and increased trade serfdom slowly comes to an end as a “Middle Class” is created. This is the first step as seen in many civilizations: farming technology advances to allow for both trade and specialization in other fields. New technologies such as the horse-drawn plow and the three-field planting system allow fewer people to produce the food necessary to support the entire population. Excess labor is then used for the production of goods that may be traded and the economy develops. Nobles grant charters allowing the establishment of towns which further promotes trade. The towns then grow in importance as commercialism undermines feudalism. Towns develop to replace the manor in importance as guilds and the “Middle Class” become more powerful. The growth of the middle class will prove to be very important to the renewal of Europe. As guilds and the middle class become more powerful new ideas about government and law develop throughout Europe.
Finally, the new ideas for representative government (and law) are what develop. Again it is in England and France where unified kingdoms are first established that representative government is eventually realized. Representative governments allow for the monarchy to share decision-making responsibilities with representatives of the greater population. This would prove to be an evolution where gradually more and more power is shared. In England this evolution can be seen in contrasting William the Conquer’s Domesday Book for tax collection with King John’s signing of the Magna Carta which established formal rights for nobles and the creation of the Great Council with its power over raising taxes; importantly, this would pave the way for advances for commoners too. In France the similar developments of law and growth are evident in Louis IX’s expanded royal courts, and pronouncement officially ending the feudal practice of serfdom. His strong centralized monarchy would pave the way for Philip IV’s establishment of the Estates General in 1302. By then it is evident that Europe had seen much renewal and growth since its Dark Ages.
The renewal and growth affecting monarchies, economies, and ultimately representative governments in Europe during the Middle Ages characterizes the period. 6, 4, 7, 5, 12, 10, 1, 3, 8, 11, 2, 9