Lecture Six: Middle Ages6.1. Brief Introduction to Middle Ages (5-15 century)The Middle Ages of Western Europe are commonly dated from the end of Western Roman Empire (476 A.D.) in the fifth century until the Renaissance in the 15th century. Chinese history does not have the term to match the similar period, but we usually refer to this from the end of the Warring States Period ( 475 B.C.—221B.C.) ,beginning of the feudalist society to the early years of 20th century, the last feudal dynasty.As is well-known universally as the Dark Ages ___ a dark period of time, notorious for autocracy, conquest, conspiracy, violence and slow social and intellectual development in both China and the West.In the West, Roman Empire ‗s disruption was contributed to the barbaric intrusion and settlement, which almost put an end to the total collapse of European culture. The feudal system of Western Europe appeared in response to this situation. A new social order emerged，in which all members of society were tied to one another through mutual obligations. The basis for the new culture that accompanied this social system was a mixture of Germanic, Christian, and Roman traditions. Chivalry system (骑士制度) also came into being in the Middle Ages of Europe, which was reinforced in the course of European feudalization.The feudal system in Western European states was featured by the feoffer system（采邑制）. Either the emperor, or a king, or a duke washonored as the highest ruler, the rest of the chief aristocrats were made to pledge loyalty to him in exchange for feoffer., falling into as such the vassals(诸侯) to the highest ruler. This is the complete feudal hierarchy in Western Europe.Early Germanic kings tried to bring stability to their lands with the use of written law codes. Kings also encouraged intellectual activities that flourished with their patronage and participation.In Anglo-Saxon England, the blending of customary law with the other traditions planted the seeds of constitutional government.On the continent, under Frankish rulers, this blending of tradition was most successful. The reign of Charlemagne (查理曼/查理大帝（Charlemagne或Charles the Great，742-814）or the Great Barbaric Charlemagne made great contributions to bringing European culture during his reign in administrative management, jurisdiction, culture and education. As such, he addressed respectfully as the Father of Europe. Around 800 A.D. The Frankish King, brave and battlewise, (法兰克国王), later was crowned by The Pope(罗马教皇) whose reign lasted 44 years, during which he launched 55 wars against the Lombard(伦巴德人), the Saracen(撒拉森人)and Saxon(萨克森人). By the time he ascended to the throng, the Frankish Kingdom covered most parts of what is today France, Belgium, Switzerland, Netherlands and Germany, but at its heyday with the expanded territory to most parts of Europe. He is said tohave taken up the responsibility under the guidance of Angel to protect Christendom.) saw the cooperation between church and state that gave his dynasty great legitimacy. This peace and prosperity of newly consolidated and centralized kingdoms was short-lived by the invasions of new peoples in the 10th century.In the High Middle Ages(中世纪中期), after the year of 1000, advances in agricultural technology led to :(1).population growth(2).cities growth⑶.fortified houses the nobility constructed across Europe and resisted the centralizing tendency of kings.⑷.flowering of the intellectual life.⑸.the expansion of the church‘s strength, exercising authority over secular matters featured by Theocracy.⑹resistance to this interference led to criticism of the church.⑺. The growing threat of the Muslin Empire led to a call for the crusadesto the church, and many Europeans traveled to faraway lands in defense of Christianity.In fact in the early period of Middle Ages (5--11century) of Western Europe, Christian activities made great contributions to the Western European culture. Christianity is one of the leading successors of classical cultures. Objectively speaking it promoted the renaissance of WesternEuropean culture, paved the way of the education in medieval Western Europe, and spurred the cultural communications between the European peoples.6.2. The Influence on Europe and the World.The modern civilization born in Modern Europe exercised great impact on the world. The then Ideas of human rights, democracy, legal system, republic, and science, etc, were universally accepted by the world people and brought new orientation for the entire world. And the Geographical Discovery tied the East and West to an integrated world and made it easier for the global development. Modern European civilization derived from the Middle Ages actually was on the basis of the ruins of Roman Empire. The Germanic kings established an unique series of systems that mingled Germanic elements and Roman elements, which was embodied in the feudal system of Western Europe as a whole.6.3. Representative Chinese Philosophies and Their Figures6.3.1. Fan Zhen(范缜450—515 A.D.南北朝时代)Born into a humble and poor family in Henan（范缜，字子真，祖籍顺阳，今河南淅川境内人).A famous materialist thinker and outstanding atheist in the Northern and Southern Dynasties.6.3.1.1. His Philosophical ideas(1). Opposing to the indestructibility of god.Actually he opposed the destructibility that Buddhism had broughtabout to the society as a result of the fact that emperors and aristocrats cherished personal faith in Buddhism at the expense of the interests of the people.（2）.Refutation of “The Six Divisions in the Wheel of Karma”The then prime minister Xiao Ziliang(萧子良)questioned Fan Zhen：―君不信因果，世间何得有富贵，何得有贫贱？‖回答说：―人之生譬如一树花，同发一枝，俱开一蒂，随风而堕，自有拂帘幌坠入茵席之上，自有关篱墙落于粪溷之侧。
