Medieval Europe (5th–15th century) is the bridge between ancient Rome and the Renaissance. Questions in RRB exams focus on kingdoms, crusades, feudalism, church power, and landmark events that shaped modern Europe.
1. Timeline at a Glance
| Year |
Event |
| 476 AD |
Fall of Western Roman Empire |
| 800 AD |
Charlemagne crowned “Emperor of the Romans” |
| 1066 |
Battle of Hastings – Norman conquest of England |
| 1095-1291 |
Eight Crusades |
| 1215 |
Magna Carta signed |
| 1337-1453 |
Hundred Years’ War |
| 1347-1351 |
Black Death (≈25 million dead, 30-50 % of Europe) |
| 1453 |
Fall of Constantinople – end of Middle Ages |
2. Political Powers & Kingdoms
| Kingdom / Empire |
Founder / Famous Ruler |
Capital / Key City |
Unique Fact |
| Franks |
Clovis I (481–511) |
Paris |
First Germanic king to convert to Christianity |
| Carolingian Empire |
Charlemagne (768–814) |
Aachen |
Revived Latin learning; crowned on 25 Dec 800 |
| Holy Roman Empire |
Otto I (962) |
Rome & Aachen |
Continuation of Carolingian idea; lasted till 1806 |
| Norman England |
William the Conqueror (1066) |
London |
Domesday Book – first complete census (1086) |
| Byzantine Empire |
Justinian I (527–565) |
Constantinople |
Code of Justinian – basis of civil law |
| Caliphates (in Spain) |
Abd-ar-Rahman I (756) |
Córdoba |
Europe’s largest library (9th c.) |
3. Feudal System – 4-tier Pyramid
| Rank |
Duty |
Grant |
| King |
Land dispenser |
Divine right |
| Lords / Nobles |
Military service |
Manor & serfs |
| Knights |
Protection |
Fief (estate) |
| Serfs |
Farming |
Tiny plot & “protection” |
Key term: Investiture – ceremony where vassal pledged loyalty.
4. Church & Monasticism
- Only universal institution after Rome’s fall.
- Papal States – territories ruled by Pope from 756 (Donation of Pepin).
- Cluny Reform (910) – ended corrupt lay investiture.
- Great Schism 1054 – Christianity split into Roman Catholic & Eastern Orthodox.
- Inquisition (1231) – Pope Gregory IX against heresy; used torture.
Monastic Orders:
| Order |
Founded |
Founder |
Rule |
| Benedictine |
529 |
St. Benedict |
“Ora et labora” (pray & work) |
| Franciscan |
1209 |
St. Francis of Assisi |
Poverty & preaching |
| Dominican |
1216 |
St. Dominic |
Scholastic learning |
5. Crusades – 8 Expeditions
| No. |
Years |
Target |
Outcome |
| First |
1096-99 |
Jerusalem |
Captured; 4 Crusader states formed |
| Second |
1147-49 |
Edessa |
Failed |
| Third |
1187-92 |
Richard I vs. Saladin |
Truce – Christians kept coast |
| Fourth |
1202-04 |
Constantinople |
Sacked; Latin Empire (1204-61) |
| Children’s |
1212 |
— |
Thousands died or enslaved |
| Last |
1270 |
Tunis |
King Louis IX of France died |
Result: Trade revival, cultural diffusion, decline of feudalism (knights never returned).
6. Medieval Economy & Society
- Three-field system – 33 % more yield than 2-field.
- Guilds – controlled price & quality; stages: apprentice → journeyman → master.
- Commercial Revolution – 11th–14th c.; fairs at Champagne (France).
- Hanseatic League – 100+ north-European cities; monopoly on Baltic trade (c. 1356-1669).
7. Learning & Literature
| Centre |
Founder / Patron |
Contribution |
| University of Bologna (1088) |
Students’ guild |
First university; law |
| University of Paris (1150) |
Royal & papal charter |
Theology & scholasticism |
| Oxford (1167) |
Henry II |
Model for Cambridge (1209) |
| Thomas Aquinas (1225-74) |
— |
Summa Theologica – faith & reason |
8. Architecture
| Style |
Years |
Features |
Example |
| Romanesque |
950-1200 |
Rounded arch, thick walls |
Speyer Cathedral, Germany |
| Gothic |
1140-1500 |
Pointed arch, flying buttress, stained glass |
Notre-Dame, Paris (1163) |
9. Wars & Battles
| Battle / War |
Year |
Winner |
Significance |
| Tours |
732 |
Charles Martel |
Halted Muslim advance into Europe |
| Hastings |
1066 |
William of Normandy |
Anglo-Norman culture in England |
| Agincourt |
1415 |
England (Henry V) |
Long-bow victory; France lost 6000 knights |
| Orleans |
1429 |
France (Joan of Arc) |
Turning point in Hundred Years’ War |
10. One-liner Revision Facts
- Medieval period = “Middle Ages” between ancient & modern.
- Clovis I → first king of Merovingian dynasty.
- Charlemagne’s empire covered modern France, Germany & N. Italy.
- Feudal contract = mutual duties between lord & vassal.
- Manorialism = economic self-sufficiency of estates.
- Tithe = 1/10 of produce paid to church.
- Magna Carta (1215) = limited English king’s power; foundation of parliament.
- Black Death bacterium = Yersinia pestis; spread via Silk-Road & fleas on rats.
- Joan of Arc canonised 1920; French national heroine.
- Fall of Constantinople 1453 → Ottoman Turks; scholars fled to West → Renaissance.
11. Quick-Reference Tables
Table-1: Kings & Popes
| Ruler / Pope |
Reign |
Achievement |
| Pepin the Short |
751-768 |
Donated land → Papal States |
| Charlemagne |
768-814 |
Crowned Holy Roman Emperor |
| William I |
1066-1087 |
Domesday Book |
| Pope Urban II |
1088-1099 |
Launched First Crusade |
| King John |
1199-1216 |
Signed Magna Carta |
| Pope Gregory XI |
1370-1378 |
Ended Avignon Papacy |
| Richard the Lion-heart |
1189-1199 |
Third Crusade hero |
Table-2: Medieval Inventions
| Item |
Century |
Region |
| Heavy plough |
6th |
Slavic & German |
| Horse collar |
9th |
Europe |
| Stirrup |
8th |
Adopted from Asia |
| Windmill |
12th |
England & France |
| Spectacles |
1280s |
Italy |
| Mechanical clock |
1280s |
England (Salisbury cathedral) |
12. Practice MCQs (RRB Pattern)
1. Who was crowned as the first Holy Roman Emperor on Christmas Day 800 AD?
**Answer:** Charlemagne
2. The Battle of Hastings in 1066 was fought in which country?
**Answer:** England
3. Which document signed in 1215 limited the powers of the English king?
**Answer:** Magna Carta
4. The Hundred Years’ War was primarily between which two kingdoms?
**Answer:** England and France
5. Who led the French army to victory at Orleans in 1429?
**Answer:** Joan of Arc
6. The fall of Constantinople in 1453 was accomplished by which empire?
**Answer:** Ottoman Empire
7. Which disease caused the Black Death in Europe?
**Answer:** Bubonic plague (Yersinia pestis)
8. The Domesday Book was compiled under which English king?
**Answer:** William I (the Conqueror)
9. The Cluny Reform of 910 AD was related to which institution?
**Answer:** Church (monastic reform)
10. Which architectural feature is characteristic of Gothic cathedrals?
**Answer:** Pointed arch
11. The First Crusade started in which year?
**Answer:** 1096
12. The Hanseatic League was a medieval alliance of?
**Answer:** Trading cities
13. Who halted the Muslim advance into Europe at the Battle of Tours (732)?
**Answer:** Charles Martel
14. The Great Schism of 1054 split Christianity into Roman Catholic and?
**Answer:** Eastern Orthodox
15. Which university is recognised as the oldest in Europe (founded 1088)?
**Answer:** University of Bologna
16. The feudal system was based on the exchange of land for?
**Answer:** Military service
17. Which pope launched the First Crusade at the Council of Clermont?
**Answer:** Pope Urban II
Carry this sheet in your pocket; 2–3 questions from Medieval Europe appear every year in RRB NTPC & Group-D.
BETA
