Was it a Dark Age?
The term “dark ages” describes a period during Medieval Europe when inventions and ideas stopped, violence increased, and disease killed many people. The term “dark ages” came from an Italian scholar named Francesco Petrarch. He compared it to the Classical Age that thrived before. The dark ages occurred during Medieval Europe, which lasted from 500 AD to 1500 AD. The dark ages consisted of the Crusades, the Black Death, government, and universities. Medieval Europe could be considered to be in a dark age or in a growth age. However, based on the evidence, Europe was undoubtedly in a dark age. The dark ages consisted of several very violent and very tragic outbreaks. During this period, the Crusades and the Black Death occured. According to the Document C of the Crusade passages, explaining what happened in the First Crusade, “None of them were left alive; neither women nor children were spared.” This quote points out how violent and merciless the Crusaders were. This period of time had war and chaos which is what makes it a dark age. According to the the Document B of the Black Death article, “There the plague sat like a lion on a throne and swayed with power, killing daily one thousand or more and destroying the population.” This caused
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According to Source B in Government passages, "To all free men of our kingdom we have also granted, for us and to our heirs for ever, all the liberties written out below, to have and to keep for them and their heirs, of us and our heirs." This shows that they wanted the laws to last for a long time, with no one exempted from the rules. Although these laws were clear, the punishments were harsh. In Source A of the Government passages, “Concerning false money, we have ordered that he who has been proved to have made it shall have his hand cut off.” Because a person made fake money, they had to have a limb cut
The term “dark ages” comes from Petrarch, who was an Italian scholar that lived after the dark ages, and compared it to the classical era. Medieval Europe happened from 500 AD to 1500 AD, also known as the medieval period in Europe. It is called “the dark age” because of the disease, famine, murder, chaos, and death that happened during that time.
The word dark ages is referred as Barbaric times and Intellectual Depression. The historians called it intellectual depression because they think that the little knowledge and invention and innovations is why very little came from the Middle Ages. Many historians didn't give it much thought before labeling it because it was only in the beginning of the Middle Ages that not much happened. But they grouped it all and came to the depiction of labeling it the "Dark Age". Over time, "Dark Ages" also lost meaning. When historians first had first used the term, it was meant as a time of darkness where nothing came out.
First, “The Dark Ages” was the time that followed the collapse of the Western Roman Empire but before the Renaissance from the 5th to 15th century. Very few writings survived during the Dark Ages, so most believe that people during this time were illiterate;
The middle ages are often identified as the Dark Age because of the Black Death, invasions by the Barbarians, and because of lack of enlightenment for the common people. A plague most likely originating from Asia spread throughout Europe. Towns and even large cities
The dark ages, a time period spanning from 500 AD until 1500 AD, is commonly perceived as the worst time in history, solely because of its name. When asked “What is the dark ages generally known for?” many people respond with the black plague or great famines. The main reason for this title is in fact due to a lack of written records and documents lost to history. In reality, the dark ages were not really that dark because a humanitarian king shaped European ideals, religion kept culture alive, and many historical and scientific progressions occurred.
The dark ages were considered dark because of the countless times Europe’s been invaded. “... the heathen broke in upon the Christians at many points, but more than 12,000 of them died. Another party of invaders devastated Gaul, and more than 600 of them died” (Doc C). This all happened in the same year (845) and just shows how often Europe was invaded and ravaged. This evidence was from the abbey of Xanten records, which was made at the time and is a primary source. “The heathen from the North caused trouble in Christendom as usual and grew greater in strength” (Doc C). The records say that they invaded as usual, which shows how frequently they were invaded and how routine it was. They were so terribly secured and a main cause of this was
In the 1300's an Italian scholar named Petrarch came up with the name "Dark Age" to describe the time Europe was going through during the Middle Ages in 500AD-1500AD. Throughout the Middle Ages Europe was going through some rough times, but there were also moments of growth. For example the Black Death was a time of darkness but there were positive times like when universities were built. Although the dark ages were looked at as a negative occurrence, more events show a sign of growth.
The Dark Ages occurred right after the fall of the Roman Empire and lasted from about 500 to 900 CE. During this time the population fell in Europe, there were many invasions, towns were constantly robbed, and garbage was left all over fields sometimes destroying the crops that grew there. As historian Frantz Funck-Brentano states in document one, "They burned down the churches and then departed with a crown of captives". People would be taken out of their homes by barbarians and be forced to leave with them. Conditions were so hectic during this time, some believed that society had no government. Which was true in a sense because people were constantly being killed and hurt, and the people attacking others would rarely ever get caught for these crimes or punished. In document three the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle tells of invasions of England, and how not only churches were burned down, but how, "- Northmen plundered... and burned the town
The dark ages were a time where chaos ruled everything and no one felt safe. The term dark age came from an Italian Scholar named Petrarch. He called it the dark age because he compared it to the classical period before. In the dark ages many terrifying things happened like the Black Death, the crusades, the viking attacks, and many more. Europe was in a dark age from 500 to 1500 AD.
As the Roman empire fell, a new era unfolded. This era was known as The Middle Ages, also referred to as the Dark Ages. The Middle Ages was the time period between the fall of Rome and the beginning of the Renaissance. Starting in 476 AD and ending in 1500 AD, this time period was long, cruel, and consisted of many different events. The Middle Ages was a dark time because of the Viking raids, bubonic plague, cruel punishments, and a feudalistic society.
Europe was in a Dark Age because they went through tragic and disastrous events. Such as the crusades and the black death. The Crusades shows that Europe was in a dark age because there is war, violence, and chaos. According to Document A, “ Some of our
Medieval times began with the fall of the Roman Empire, and led into the Renaissance and the Age of Discovery. During the High Middle Ages, Europe became technologically advanced, creating new farming tools, new weapons, and other technological advancements. The Dark Ages were a time between Roman times and the High Middle Ages. This was a time with very little literature and knowledge, sometimes described as a period where Europe progressed backwards.
There were a variety of reasons that several hundred years of Europe's history was referred to as the “Dark Ages”. One pool of thought is that this period of time was not appropriately named as such because there is a lot of historical evidence about many of the people and their lives back then. Others would point to the economic hardships and the continual lack of jobs. To the new generations it could have been the need for academic opportunities. Despite all these negativities, historians don’t always agree on every aspect of the Dark Ages; they have their opinions. One possible reason that they don’t always agree is the abundance of cultural events that occurred during this era. The Dark Ages were called so due to the hardships faced by
During the time period of 600-1200, Western Europe was experiencing what is known as The Dark Ages. This time of feudalism and separation came shortly after the collapse of the Western Roman Empire. However during the time period of 1200-1450, also known as the High Middle Ages and Early Renaissance, Western Europe experienced many continuities and changes as its society began to progress. They began to see religion in a different light and also develop socially. Yet, some aspects of society stayed as they were in the Dark Ages.
The Dark Ages were the entire period between the fall of Rome and the Renaissance; they were in fact the start of universities and scientific foundations. During medieval times, mainly right after the fall of Rome, society had a fairly hard time; trying to figure out what to do, many peasants started to farm. Society prospered from what they could personally grow and harvest, and whatever animals they could use, both for hard work and for food. All of this went relatively well, until the plague, or Black Death, happened in all of Europe, especially England. Millions of people died and those who survived were badly scarred. However, during the time of the plague, the Catholic religion flourished. Thus creating the second bright spot during the Dark Ages. Priests prayed for the well being of both the sick and the healthy, and many people converted to Catholicism as well. Additionally, during the dark ages, education for peasants was hard to come by since it was reserved for royalty, and church hierarchy. However, towards the end of the thirteenth century the Church started offering education for children from common homes as well. Plus, many scientific foundations came in the twelfth and thirteenth centuries. In fact some scientists, such as Aristotle, helped find new discoveries, and medicines for disease. As one can see the "dark ages," were not dark, but the start of something bright, that no one during that time would ever forget for years to come.