The development of Western Civilization is considered to be of great value for the world history as this culture refers to the most significant cultures being connected with such social issues as ethical values, religious and political systems, social norms heritage. This civilization underwent a number of stages in its historical formation. The period of Middle Ages taking place in 1300-1500 CE appeared to be one of the most important stages in Western civilization history leaving impact on its cultural position and social perception.
The period of Renaissance and its role in Western culture were thoroughly investigated throughout centuries. It is important to stress that the period of 1300 up to 1500 CE covered a number of huge historical events. Thus, the Constantinople fall and the America discovery referred to this stage of western culture history. The significance of this time is connected with its name of Dark Ages being explained by the great number of barbarians’ invasions and the loss of classical civilization wealth. This period is well known because of the Roman Catholic Church domination and the promotion of its teachings. Formal education in western culture was provided by the church which influenced even some aspects of political sphere.
Before 1300 EC Western Civilization experienced the prevailing form of government, feudalism. The position of the states was unstable until the monarchy formations at the beginning of 1300. The social life of Middle Ages in western civilization can be characterized by the establishment of political and social classes such as clergy, nobles and common people.
In the development of art and literature the period of Middle Ages is closely connected with the formation and promotion of European literature. Western culture was characterized by the creation of epics, ballads, sagas, etc. It is important to stress that such outstanding art representatives as Chaucer and Dante refer to the Western civilization of Middle Ages. Besides, it should be noted that such art forms as sculpture and painting began to develop at this very stage. Such music forms as secular and religious started to develop in Western culture of that time.
The empire of western civilization was merely focused on France and Italy cultural issues. The technological development and scientific researches were focused on the principles of Christianity spreading. Western culture of this period sponged the main positions of the Christian church and religion promotion.
It is necessary to underline the fact that to the significant representatives of Middle Ages in western civilization one can refer the following outstanding masters of art: Michelangelo, Raphael, Leonardo, Leonardo da Vinci, Sandro Botticelli and many others. (Perry, 2006)
Gradual formation of western medieval cultural positions disclosed the principle conceptions of that period such as law equality and civil rights ideas. The population referring to western civilization managed to experience the establishment of procedural justice and the initial signs of democracy as the social form dominating in modern western world. The analysis of western civilization of 1300-1500 EC showed that the period of Renaissance and Middle Ages appeared to leave a significant print in the world history. The greatest historical events and the outstanding representatives of that epoch reflect the atmosphere of that period allowing to evaluate its role for the modern world. It should be stressed that a number of concepts developed in Middle Ages are faced by modern western civilization and throughput the world.
References
Perry, Marvin. Sources of the Western Tradition: From the Renaissance to the Present. University of Virginia. Houghton Mifflin. 2006.