The Middle Ages Essay

The Middle Ages, written by Morris Bishop in 1968, gives us a perfect insight into this infamous period in history. Specifically, I read of battles and the lives of nobles. The title of "knight" was initially a title that was respected and earned. A special ceremony was performed, which was performed by the church as they gained more and more power over the kings. The primary weapons used by knights were swords, lances, and maces. The mace in particular was popular with men among the church. The mace gave them the loophole they needed to fight without shedding blood! The main piece of armor was the helmet. Although it provides the much needed protection, it also caused a lot of harm. It was quite easy for a knight to suffer from head stroke and various other ailments as a result of wearing the 90-pound helmet. Probably the most important tool of a knight was his noble steed. If the knight had his weapons, armor, and a prized stallion, he was set for battle. Mostly, battles in the Middle Ages took place among the intricate strongholds of the castle. Castles in this time were built with war always in mind. The goal

Religion played a prominent role during this time; the church was able to entice people into fighting by promising rich heavenly rewards. Once a group of crusaders took the famous city of Jerusalem, mass killing ensued as they praised God for their victory. Many groups of knights emerged after this. Among them were the Templars, the Teutonics, and the Knights of St John of Jerusalem. After the initial first crusades, many took a disastrous turn. Due to the chaotic and unorganized armies as well as disease, the crusades were mostly unsuccessful. Although their goals were not accomplished, the crusades did have some positive results. Europe's economy improved as trade became common, and an increased interest in learning promoted new discoveries and