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A look at the Dark Ages: When Things Were Really Medieval

The Dark Ages were a period of greatpressure of three points of attack -from
upheaval, constant war, horrendouswithin and from both the north and
plague, and stagnant cultural growth.south.
But through these difficult centuriesThe Plague negates all progress
new ideas and a new culture was born.Throughout the first century of the Dark
And in today's world we still feel theAges Europe made slow but tangible
effects of these changes that wereprogress and Emperor Justinian was on
brought about during these Dark Ages.the verge of reuniting the continent
The Dark Ages is a period that iswhen the bubonic plague hit and killed
generally accepted as having begun intens of millions of people. This
the year 410 with the fall of Rome anddestroyed all hope of reunification and
ending in 1095 with the launch of thekept the continent in chaos for several
first Crusades. The fall of Rome sets amore centuries.
good understanding for what the DarkThe Force that brought us out of the
Ages were all about because fordarkness
centuries the Roman Empire was a unifiedChristianity was an ideal that rose to
force that brought stabilization to mostpower during the dark ages and many
of Europe. It had a vibrant trade andwarlords of the time embraced it. This
commerce industry that supported ahad a unifying force on the entire
reasonably secure lifestyle for millionsEuropean continent and even though there
of people. When Rome fell, this networkwere many kingdoms they all swore
of trade and commerce collapsed and theallegiance under the pope. This brought
European World was set into chaos. Itan end to the internal fighting that had
took seven hundred years of wars,been going on for centuries and this
plague, and poverty before the continentunification was solidified with the
came out of it and was moved into thelaunching of the Crusades beginning in
Renaissance.1095. This gave all the various warlords
Medieval Warlords and the struggle to beand kings a common religious goal and a
emperorfoe they could join together and focus
Before it fell, Rome had been the centeron.
of the European world for seven hundredThe Crusades, while being for the most
years. The emperor ruled over everythingpart a failure in that they held very
and when this all fell the concept oflittle of the land they attempted to
one man ruling the world still remained.conquer, were a significant factor in
It was this aspiration to rule overthe rebirth of Europe in that Europe
everything that perpetuated the darknesswas reunited under a common religion and
of the times. Lords from all over Europereturning crusaders brought back with
were engaged with each other in battlesthem to Europe a wealth of new
for land and power. This battling lastedinformation in architecture, medicine,
literally centuries and it meant aphilosophy, mathematics and many other
constant drain of resources and aareas. This infusion of ideas, paired
standstill in cultural growth.with the end of constant war within
Outside Forces make it worseEurope set the stage for the
This constant struggling for powerRenaissance.
within the continent of Europe made itThe Dark Ages were an extraordinarily
very easy for outside forces todifficult period in the story of
penetrate into the continent and furtherhumanity. It is estimated that 100
wreak destruction and drain wealth andmillion people died at the hands of war,
resources. From the north Vikingspoverty, and plague. But during this
constantly invaded and plundered andtime new ideas and ideals were born and
from the south Moorish invaders broughtmuch of the groundwork was laid for the
war and the word of their prophet. Theworld we know today.
whole continent was under the constant



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