The Dark Ages “According to their custom the Northmen plundered…and burned the town of Dordrecht…the Northmen, with their boats filled with immense booty, including both men and goods, returned to their own country “(Document 3). This was from a chronicle of articles written by the Anglo Saxons who inhabited great Britain in the 9th century. The chronicle of Anglo Saxons was a book of their history and what happened during their lives. The Middle Ages was a time period between the 5th and 15th century. The age started after the Western Roman empire fell and ended when the Eastern Roman Empire fell. It was a time of many small kingdoms and attacks. In the quote the Anglo Saxons explain about the raids of the “Northmen” or the vikings, it tells how …show more content…
There is many reasons why the middle ages should indeed be called an “Dark Age”. To begin with, the Middle Ages should be called “A dark Age” because of the destruction in everyday life during this time period. For example in document eleven it describes the black death, what it was, and how it affected everyday life, “The victims died almost immediately. They would swell beneath the armpits and in the groin,and fall over while talking. Father abandoned child, wife, husband, one brother another; for this illness seemed to strike through breath and sight.” (Document 11). To explain, the black death, or the plague, destroyed families, and killed many. The people had no idea when they were going to die they just all of the sudden would fall down and die. The illness also seemed to be unstoppable and spread rapidly and kill anyone and everyone. With all of the destruction happening because of the black death there was lots of sadness, anger, and pain. This was a very dark time because of the mass death of Europe's population. Almost 50% of the population was wiped out, and like it says in document 11, “it was a cruel and horrible
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.
When people associate things with the word “dark” there mainly referring to things that are evil, bad or have an evil look. So when you put the label “Dark ages” on the Middle ages, you make the assumption that it was not a good time. But you’d be mistaken, it was completely the opposite. Though not much revolution took place in the early Middle Ages, the people were happy and content, and "the Dark Ages" just doesn’t fit with that, it’s not a accurate label to put on the Middle Ages.
When you think of something that is dark, you think of it as dreary, lifeless, or even evil. So when you think about the “Dark Ages” you may wonder, were times really like that? With a lot of research and patience we have come to find out that that time, may have been completely opposite. Not much came out of the Middle Ages but there sure was innovation. The people of this era were definitely not dreary or evil so no, ‘the Dark Ages’ is not an appropriate term to describe the Middle Ages.
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 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
An account is written about monks in an abbey who were getting attacked by viking in the Middle Ages (Document 1). Vikings went go from town to town and raid monasteries because they knew that the monks would not fight back. Vikings stole extremely valuable goods. This account not be the most trustworthy source because of the bias that the monks have because it is written by them. This primary source promotes the Dark Ages, but the monks could be exaggerated the whole story.
Europe was in a dark age during 500 AD to 1500 AD because of the Black Death, The Crusades, and the way the government was being functioned at the time in Europe. The debate is about whether Europe in a dark age or a growth age. Based on the evidence below Europe was in a dark age. The term dark ages came from the Italian scholar named Petrarch. He was comparing the Middle Ages to the classical era.
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
A " dark age" is a period when violence and wars plus a lots of disease. Some historians call the period from 500 AD to 1500 AD in Europe a " dark age" because the black death and the crusades. The Magna Carta and the universities. The majority of the evidence will show that it was the dark age.
The first label discussed is The Dark Ages. The Middle Ages were referred to as the Dark Ages because of the rivalry and conflict during these times. In document (1), different texts describe a chaotic invasion by the barbarians. During this invasion, towns and villages were ransacked and people were hiding from the violence in the depths
Based on all of those factors that compose a dark age, it is right to say that Europe was in a dark age. In 1347 AD, there was an outbreak of a disease called the Bubonic Plague killing 50 million, or 60% of Europe’s population. According to document B,"There the plague sat like a lion on a throne
The term “dark ages” which is coined by the Italian Scholar Francesco Petrarch, applies to Medieval Europe during the times between 500 AD and 1500 AD. The term suggests a low-point in society with violence, disease, and war. Medieval Europe included many of these traits. Involving the Crusades, the Black Death, and violence involving religion. For these and the following reason, Medieval Europe was in a dark age.
They said it was a period of intellectual depression. And instead of the short time in the beginning of the middle ages, the entire middle ages are referred to as "The Dark Ages".
Is it appropriate to call the middle ages the dark ages? In my opinion, no; it is not at all appropriate. The middle ages has been overlooked for years, The dark ages name was created because people thought the people of that time discovered nothing. This was thought because the middle ages was between two major advancements in society; hence its name, the middle ages. Three major points explain why the dark ages, weren't so dark after all.
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.