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Related ResourcesGetting Started in Medieval StudiesTimelinesA Medieval Atlas Test Your KnowledgeDefining the Middle AgesPart 7: Make Your ChoiceThe viewpoints examined in the previous pages are by no means the
only ways to look at the Middle Ages. Anyone studying a smaller
geographical area, such as Great Britain
or the Iberian Peninsula, will
much more easily discover start- and end-dates for the era. Students
of art, literature, sociology, militaria, and any number of subjects
will each find specific turning points pertinent to their topic of
interest. And I don't doubt that you, too, will see a particular
event that strikes you as possessed of such towering importance that
it defines the beginning or end of the medieval era for you.
The comment has been made that all historical eras are arbitrary definitions and, therefore, how the Middle Ages is defined really has no significance. I believe that the true historian will find something lacking in this approach. Defining historical eras not only makes each era more accessible to the newcomer, it helps the serious student identify interrelated events, recognize patterns of cause and effect, understand the influence of a period's culture on those who lived within it and, ultimately, find a deeper meaning in the story of our past. So make your own choice, and reap the benefits of approaching the Middle Ages from your own unique perspective. Whether you are a serious scholar following the path of higher education or a devoted amateur like me, any conclusions you can support with facts will not only have validity but will help you make the Middle Ages your own. And do not be surprised if your view of Medieval times changes over the course of your studies. My own outlook has certainly evolved in the last 25 years, and will most likely continue to do so as long as the Middle Ages continues to hold me in its thrall. Sources and Suggested ReadingInventing the Middle Agesby Norman Cantor Writing from experience and with authority, Cantor makes the evolution of modern scholarship in medieval studies accessible and entertaining. Also see your Guide's Top Picks in General Histories
Defining the Middle AgesPart 1: IntroductionPart 2: Stuck in the Middle Part 3: Empires Part 4: Christendom Part 5: Europe Part 6: An Age of Ages Part 7: Make Your Choice Related ResourcesGetting Started in Medieval StudiesTimelinesA Medieval Atlas Test Your Knowledge |
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