| The Dark Ages were a period of great | | | | pressure of three points of attack -from |
| upheaval, constant war, horrendous | | | | within and from both the north and |
| plague, and stagnant cultural growth. | | | | south. |
| But through these difficult centuries | | | | The 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 the | | | | Ages Europe made slow but tangible |
| effects of these changes that were | | | | progress and Emperor Justinian was on |
| brought about during these Dark Ages. | | | | the verge of reuniting the continent |
| The Dark Ages is a period that is | | | | when the bubonic plague hit and killed |
| generally accepted as having begun in | | | | tens of millions of people. This |
| the year 410 with the fall of Rome and | | | | destroyed all hope of reunification and |
| ending in 1095 with the launch of the | | | | kept the continent in chaos for several |
| first Crusades. The fall of Rome sets a | | | | more centuries. |
| good understanding for what the Dark | | | | The Force that brought us out of the |
| Ages were all about because for | | | | darkness |
| centuries the Roman Empire was a unified | | | | Christianity was an ideal that rose to |
| force that brought stabilization to most | | | | power during the dark ages and many |
| of Europe. It had a vibrant trade and | | | | warlords of the time embraced it. This |
| commerce industry that supported a | | | | had a unifying force on the entire |
| reasonably secure lifestyle for millions | | | | European continent and even though there |
| of people. When Rome fell, this network | | | | were many kingdoms they all swore |
| of trade and commerce collapsed and the | | | | allegiance under the pope. This brought |
| European World was set into chaos. It | | | | an 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 continent | | | | unification was solidified with the |
| came out of it and was moved into the | | | | launching of the Crusades beginning in |
| Renaissance. | | | | 1095. This gave all the various warlords |
| Medieval Warlords and the struggle to be | | | | and kings a common religious goal and a |
| emperor | | | | foe they could join together and focus |
| Before it fell, Rome had been the center | | | | on. |
| of the European world for seven hundred | | | | The Crusades, while being for the most |
| years. The emperor ruled over everything | | | | part a failure in that they held very |
| and when this all fell the concept of | | | | little 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 over | | | | the rebirth of Europe in that Europe |
| everything that perpetuated the darkness | | | | was reunited under a common religion and |
| of the times. Lords from all over Europe | | | | returning crusaders brought back with |
| were engaged with each other in battles | | | | them to Europe a wealth of new |
| for land and power. This battling lasted | | | | information in architecture, medicine, |
| literally centuries and it meant a | | | | philosophy, mathematics and many other |
| constant drain of resources and a | | | | areas. This infusion of ideas, paired |
| standstill in cultural growth. | | | | with the end of constant war within |
| Outside Forces make it worse | | | | Europe set the stage for the |
| This constant struggling for power | | | | Renaissance. |
| within the continent of Europe made it | | | | The Dark Ages were an extraordinarily |
| very easy for outside forces to | | | | difficult period in the story of |
| penetrate into the continent and further | | | | humanity. It is estimated that 100 |
| wreak destruction and drain wealth and | | | | million people died at the hands of war, |
| resources. From the north Vikings | | | | poverty, and plague. But during this |
| constantly invaded and plundered and | | | | time new ideas and ideals were born and |
| from the south Moorish invaders brought | | | | much of the groundwork was laid for the |
| war and the word of their prophet. The | | | | world we know today. |
| whole continent was under the constant | | | | |