Middle Ages

Question 1

When were the middle Ages seen as “dark ages”?

Answer 1

• Humanism (14th century)
• Renaissance
• Enlightment
• Industrialization, Capitalism

Question 2

When were the middle Ages seen as “Better Past”?

Answer 2

• Romanticism
• 20th century nazi germany
• late Modern era

Question 3

What is the “Little Divergence”?

Answer 3

• a period of economic growth within europe (1300-1800) - during which the North Sea area developed into the most prosperous & dynamic part of the continent

Question 4

What is the “Great Divergence”?

Answer 4

A period starting in 1800 - where global inequality began - because western countries started to overcome restrains of economic market growth

Question 5

What implications arise from applying a global history perspective on the middle Ages?

Answer 5

• rewriting middle ages with global sources - overcoming the eurocentric focus on this historical period
• overcoming and questioning biases - and narratives about this period - “dark ages” and “better past”
• Questioning the term “middle Ages “ - Debate - a. implies “middle” in between - irrelevant, discrimination of this period as “without history and progress” b. empowering for some africa for example
• race was also present in the middle Ages - not something aroused in Modernity

Question 6

What is the main finding/point that Geraldine Heng concludes in her book “The invitation of race in European Middle Ages”?

Answer 6

Usually race is connected to the modern ages - racial formation is twinned with conditions of labour and capital in modernity, such as the rise of capitalism, modern state and nationalism, colonialism and imperialism
- but Race was already relevant in the Middle Ages

Question 7

What are the main critics on race theorys views on the middle ages (by Geraldine Heng)?

Answer 7

• The Middle Ages are considered as somehow outside real time
• the race theory is unable to step further tan the Renaissance - the Middle Ages are the blind spot of race theory