What was it like in the Middle Ages of Europe?

[moravianhawk]

Medieval times lasted for 1000 years, and are divided into three distinct periods: early medieval era (500-1000AD), high middle ages (1000-1315), and late middle ages (1315-1450/1500). The development of Europe also varied considerably; and while Italy was experimenting with Renaissance, England was still deeply medieval experiencing Tudor Gothic.
If you take into consideration only one epoch like the High Middle Age, which coincide with the "Golden Age of Feudalism" dominated by Gothic culture; this is the most dominant period of the Medieval Europe. Almost all European nations consider these centuries as really golden era, where best cathedral were built, where foundation of present states were set up, and where every major city in Europe can trace its roots. This view is common among Czechs, French, Danish, Hungarians, Belgians, Danish, Catalans, Serbs, and Germans; and they also idealized this time.
Culture of the medieval Europe was deeply influenced by Christianity. Christianity dictated art, painting, architecture, and literary production. Entire artistic output was either financed by church, or produced for the Church and larger Christian community. Church together with city walls and town hall became a symbol of prosperity of the time.
European economy was based on agriculture and majority of people lived in the villages where people derived their livelihood from farming. Cities were small but enabled an exchange of the goods on a local market. By 1100, the farmer did not need to walk more than two to four hours to the nearest market to sell his product, and economy became fully coin based operated. During the Gothic era, cities with universities, royal courts, multiple monasteries, and large markets started to expand; and several became medieval cosmopolitan metropolises with tens or even hundreds of thousands people (Paris, Prague, Vienna, Milano, Venice, Genoa, Rouen, Bruggs, Ghent,..). These metropolises became the economic, social, educational, and cultural hub of the medieval Europe.

One of the typical feature of the Medieval era was a fragmentation of the power, and deep decentralization of the state. Some countries like Germany, Poland, and Italy felt apart into many small principalities. Larger states became dynastic monarchies as was the case of France, Bohemia, Hungary, England, and Aragon. France had the most sophisticated political system in the medieval era, and its political structure was copied across Europe. At the center of the monarchy was a royal court, church was the spiritual pillar of the society, while nobility and knights were the defender of the crown and church. This group represented small chunk of population, while significant masses were just serf bound by feudal obligation to the land. The rich, the upper clergy and nobility lived well; but the masses, including poor knights and parish priests lived in deep poverty. The living standard did not started to grow for masses until 15th century. The medieval culture and philosophy did not understand a concept of a comfortable and acceptable living standard, because the medieval piety sought for a reward in the afterlife.