HISTORY, Mediaeval. Definition.— Me diaeval history may be defined as the middle period between ancient and modern history. Some scholars have wished to do away with the term entirely and to use only two divisions, ancient and modern. In fact, in Oriental his tory there is no mediaeval period. But most students prefer to keep to the threefold division for European history. This is due largely to the fact that the medireval period can be pre sented with greater unity than either ancient or modern.
Mediaeval history began with the disintegra tion of the Roman Empire in the 5th century, the ruin of Paganism and the migrations. Without arguing the merits of the various dates which may be assigned for the end of the Mid dle Ages (q.v.), we shall here discuss the his tory to about 1500 A.D. During this period of 1,000 years, the most marked characteristic is the dominant influence of the Church. The most important peoples are the Germanic races, who emerged slowly from barbarism, and gradually assimilated some of the features of the Roman civilization. Based upon the ruins of the older rose a new civilization which caused a radical transformation in political, social and religious ideals.
Contrast Between Romans and Germans. — The Romans had a highly developed and very complex civilization. From their Greek sub jects, they had acquired the knowledge of art, literature, science and philosophy. Under the Roman peace, an active commerce had grown up throughout the empire, supplying to each province the products of all the others. In law and administration the Romans had reached such excellence that we still imitate them. Moreover, Christianity had become the state religion.
The Germans were barbarians, having the virtues and vices of their savage state, and resembling, in many respects, the North Ameri can Indians. But they were a vigorous race, with a great capacity for learning. Some of them had been converted to Christianity before they entered the Roman Empire, but most of them were still pagans.
Migrations,- The Roman Empire had for centuries held the barbarians in check, by the prestige of its name, by the payment of tribute or by the policy of exciting dissension among its enemies. This last is well summed up in the Roman proverb, Divide et impera, which may be paraphrased, divisions and strife among those whom you fear and thus rule over In the latter part of the 4th century, however, the terrors inspired by the advance of the Huns (q.v.) into Europe, the knowledge of the weakness of the Roman Empire and their own desire for more fertile lands, caused the Visigoths (q.v.) to enter upon their great migra tion. Their example was followed by other German tribes and the movement continued throughout the 5th and 6th centuries. By the year 600 all the European portion of the West ern Empire, except a few positions in Italy, was held by the Germans.
During the period of the migrations there was some destruction of life and property, but _ the amount of the damage varied ; it was great in northern Africa and Britain; slight in Gaul. And nowhere were the conquered inhabitants either exterminated or driven out. The Ger man invaders were relatively few in number, and in many sections they found unoccupied lands sufficient for their needs. The conquerors and the conquered lived in constant contact . with one another, and the resultant civilization was partly Roman and partly German. See MIGRATIONS.
Fusion of the Two Civilisations.— The 7th and 8th centuries were the period of fusion. By the year 800 the terms Roman and Barbarian were no longer used. The inhabitants formed a single people, with a civilization much lower than the Roman but much higher than that of the Germans when the latter had entered the empire. In this new composite civilization the Roman influence was greater in language, me chanical arts, business arrangements and munic ipal, intellectual and ecclesiastical affairs. The German influence was greater in military mat ters and judicial procedure.