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Middle Ages Dbq

Decent Essays

Many people cannot agree on whether the European Middle Ages were “Dark Ages” or an “Early Renaissance”. A Dark Age is a time during which a civilization undergoes a decline, while a Renaissance is a new period of growth or activity. Even though there is an equal amount of evidence for both the Dark Ages and the Early Renaissance, some pieces were more effective than others. The European Middle Ages were an Early Renaissance because citizens started to begin new lives as different roles, the feudal system was slowly being forgotten, and the Magna Carta was published. In the European Middle Ages, citizens began to start new lives with commerce and industry rather than military headquarters and administrative centers. One reason that most …show more content…

The feudal system was a system which the government made to organize the people in certain social classes, and it was unfair because the citizens were not treated the way that they should be. Once the feudal system was slowly fading away, “Astute lords granted charters exempting city dwellers from feudal obligations…” (Document 1). What this means is that as long as the people paid taxes, they did not have to follow the feudal system. The people that lived in the feudal system in the lower social classes hated it though. So along with this, many of these people fought in the Crusades because Pope Urban promised “All who die by the way, whether by land or by sea, or in battle against the pagans, shall have immediate remission {forgiveness} of sins…” (Document 3). Pope Urban’s promise attracted them because even though the lower social class men and women were stuck in the system, they were able to die freely. Without the feudal system, lives were easier because the people were able to be whatever they had wanted without others getting in the way. Eventually, everyone was …show more content…

The Magna Carta is a document written in 1215 to protect the citizens’ rights and properties against an oppressive king. But, the reason why the Magna Carta is so important is because it’s rules are so strong, it even has some influence on us today. Some rights from the Magna Carta are embedded into the Constitution and the Bill of Rights because “The colonists believed they were entitled to the same rights as Englishmen, rights guaranteed in the Magna Carta.” (Document 2). Americans used the Magna Carta during the American Revolution to inspire and justify action in liberty’s defense, and from this, they had thought that these rights were wonderful. On the other hand, the Magna Carta was extremely helpful towards the people longer ago because there were many kings who took their power for granted, for they took many of the citizens’ rights and things that they owned! Without the Magna Carta, kings and rules would possibly still be treating their citizens with no

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