Middle Ages for Kids

When the Roman Empire divided into two separate empires, the Eastern Roman Empire was called the Byzantine Empire. Even after the collapse of the Western Roman Empire including Rome in 476 AD, the Byzantine Empire continued to exist for 1000 years.

The Byzantine Empire ruled the majority of eastern Europe and southern Europe through the Middle Ages. Constantinople, the capital, was the largest and richest city in Europe at the time.

Emperor Constantine held power as an emperor in 306 AD. He made the Greek city Byzantium the capital of the East Roman Empire. The city was renamed Constantinople. Konstantin ruled the emperor for thirty years. Under Constantine, the empire will prosper and become strong. Konstantin also accepts Christianity, which will become an important part of the Roman Empire in the next 1000 years.

The peak of the Byzantine Empire occurred during the Justin dynasty. In 527, I became the emperor. Under the rule of Justinian I, the Empire won the territory and reached its power and wealth peak.

Justinian has also established many reforms. Great reforms are related to law. First, he reviewed all existing Roman laws. These laws have been documented for hundreds of years and are in hundreds of different documents. Then he rewrote the law into a book called "France's French Library" or "Justice Code"

Justinian also encourages art, including music, theater and art. He also funded many public works projects including bridges, roads, aqueducts and churches. Probably his most famous project is the beautiful and huge church, Aya Sophia, built in Constantinople.

In 1054 AD, the Catholic Church split. Constantinople became the Church of the Orthodox Church and no longer recognized Roman Catholic church.

In most of the Middle Ages, Byzantine Empire and Muslims contested the control of the eastern Mediterranean. This included asking the Pope and the Holy Roman Empire to seek help to regain control of the Holy Land during the first Crusades. For centuries they have fought with the Serge Turks and other Arab and Muslim troops. Finally, in 1453, Constantinople became the Ottoman Empire, followed by the end of the Byzantine Empire.

The Byzantine empire 's official language was Latin, and it was not until the year 700 that Emperor Hercules changed to Greek.

Emperor Justinian gave a woman the right to purchase and possess land. It greatly helped the widow after her husband 's death.

From the early Roman era to the collapse of the Byzantine Empire, Roman rule has had a major impact on Europe in the past 2000 years.

The city of Constantinople is today known as the biggest city of Istanbul, Turkey.

Another focus is the Roman Catholic church. This is the most powerful and wealthy institution in the Middle Ages. For those who like the story of a young hero, they are shocked by the story of the French teenager Joan of Ark, who inspired that angelic vision fight for her king in Orleans fight . The living in the fast growing city of Europe is gaining attention, and diseases that struck them like black death totally wiped out one-third of the population. Eventually, children will learn that suffocation of church and feudal society began to influence farmers, leading to the Renaissance uprising, war and new knowledge.

In the history of Europe, the Middle Ages (or Middle Ages) lasted from the 5th century to the 15th century. It began in the autumn of the Western Roman Empire and integrated in the era of Renaissance and Discovery. The medieval period was the middle of three traditional categories in Western history: the classical era, the medieval era, and the modern era. The medieval era itself was divided into the early, middle and late medieval times. Population decline, anti-urbanization, invasion, and people's movement that began in the late period of ancient times continued in the early Middle Ages. Large scale movement in immigration era including various german people formed a new kingdom in the legacy of the West Roman Empire. In the 7th century, North Africa and the Middle East, formerly part of the Byzantine Empire, were dominated by the Mayan Caliphate Islamic Empire after conquering the successors of Muhammad.