What caused the Dark Ages?
The term 'Dark Ages' was coined by an Italian scholar named Francesco Petrarch who lived from 1304 to 1374 just preceding what we normally refer to as the “Enlightenment Era.” He used this label to describe what he saw as a lack of quality in the literature of his day. Others came along after him and used the term to describe culture in general, then specifically, the supposed lack of culture and advancement in Europe during the Middle Ages. Once people were “enlightened” they referred to those that had come before them as “in the dark.” The Dark Ages is a time for which there is very little written record—so we are “in the dark” about much of it.Some scholars perceive Europe as having been plunged into darkness when the Roman Empire fell around 500 AD. because when it fell it created a terrible a power vacuum. No one was in charge anymore and life was pretty precarious for awhile. People returned to an agrarian form of life, with a decline in trade, commerce and standard of living. They huddled in wooden huts outside armed fortresses, using bartering as the primary medium of exchange. What little security there was in this world was provided by the Christian church. The church endeavored to preserve education and salvage what literary works could still be found, but much was lost when Rome fell.Rome fell because the barbarians were relentless, the bureaucracy was increasingly incompetent and corrupt, the masses were politically inert and seemed to become more and more apathetic; there was rampant inflation, a crushing and inequitable tax system and above all else—the army; the army became uncontrollable bringing havoc on state and society. When you can’t keep the loyalty and respect of the trained men with weapons you’re in trouble.Perhaps the real answer is, the Dark Ages were caused by selfish short-sighted arrogant men, driven by greed, pride, cultural blindness and a peculiar racism. Circumstances of plague, war, and shifting demographics worked against them, it’s true, but an inability to see beyond their own petty suspicions and fears of each other often led to Rome killing its greatest men, venerating the weak and self-indulgent, obsessing over who to trust, who to suspect, and overlooking real threats. The corrupt wormed their way into too many places. Corruption destroys any country anywhere anytime. Rome’s moral decay underlies everything else. All the other causes are caused by that. Rome lost its sense of honor. It fell. Darkness ensued.
How did Europe get out of the dark ages?
The 15th and 16th centuries were long after the so-called 'Dark Ages'. 'Dark Ages' used to be used to refer to the period between about 500 and 1000 AD, but nowadays this is considered an inaccurate term, most historians prefer 'early medieval'. Some people use 'Dark Ages' to refer to the whole medievla period, which seems to be the sense in which you are using it. But it is not really accurate. The middle ages in general were not particularly 'dark', they were an era of great architecture, art, music and literature, and there were advances in technology and invention, it was not a period of stagnation. there were changes in the 16th century, but they were not necessarily entirely good. In England, for example, enclosure of land and other economic changes led to great hardship for many people, a lot of former small farmers ended up without homes or a means of making a livelihood. Standards of living among the poor generally declined. The 16th century was also the era in which the slave trade started.
What are some similarities of the Dark Ages and the Great Depression?
I think this question misconstrues the nature of the “Dark Ages.” The term “Dark Ages” arose from old-time historians, who were studying the era after the decline of the western Roman Empire in the 6th century. It was marked by the decline of Roman influence, as well as a dearth of documentary history— hence, “Dark” ages. However, as we are beginning to understand, the era wasn’t all that “dark”— it was a continuation of life after the decline of the political/military/administrative system that had dominated the prior four hundred years or so. So the “Dark Ages” wasn’t a period of collapse or decline; it was an era of continued life, with advancements in trade, culture, and politics.In contrast, the Great Depression was a period of collapse, and didn’t really end, but was superseded by a world war and post-war events that subsumed the effects of the Depression.So it’s hard to draw similarities. The “Dark Ages”— what is now called the Early Middle Ages— lasted about a thousand years; the Depression lasted about twelve. But if there is any one measurable similarity, it’s that in both instances, people got on with their lives— they went on living and doing the best they could.
What are some "dark facts" about the Dark Ages?
I’m sorry to burst your bubble, but the dark ages (500–1000AD) was probably one of the most peaceful eras in europe. More than 90% of the population were farmers, so brutal battles and torture were pretty hard to carry out.Almost everything negative you associate with the dark ages, came much later.The Inquisition was to be fair always an idea for christians, but it wasn’t big until around the 16th-18th century as a counter reaction to the reformation. (well over middle ages) Heck , if I remember correctly it was still ongoing in spain during the time of napoleon.The worst torture methods you are thinking of were invented in the late medieval and colonial era.Witch hunts were a modern thing. Sure the medieval folk believed in witches and a few were probably executed, but yet again it didn’t get big until the 1700s and even then it was limited.Diseases and plagues were a problem in europe until the 1800s. Yet again nothing special or especially dark to the dark ages and the bubonic plague (the disease you’re thinking of) came in the 1300s. (Not dark ages anymore)About hygiene, it is of course true that people back then were much dirtier, but people (especially nobles) still tried their best to look well groomed, clean and have white teeth. They did care.These were all stereotypes I could think of.
What event marked the end of the dark ages?
The term "Dark Ages" was coined by the 14th century Italian poet Petrach because he didn't like medieval Latin. It was thoroughly snobbish remark and no serious historian even uses the term anymore, although it still has a hold on the popular imagination (which raises some interesting questions about how "progressive" *we* really are). Romulus Augustus was not murdered. He abdicated the throne on September 4, 476. Valesianus wrote that the Germanic King Odoacer then took pity on his youth, granted him a pension, and exiled/allow him to live with relatives (I guess it really depends on your point of view) in Campagnia. RA's abdication was the end of the Western Roman Empire and the rise of Germanic hegomony (political power) that mark the beginning of what we call the Middle Ages. The end is taken by many historians to be a far more traumatic event: the fall of Constantinople to the Ottoman Turks in 1453 which marked the end of the Eastern Roman Empire (aka the Byzantines).
What are some of the inventions of the middle(dark) ages?
During the 12th and 13th century in Europe there was a radical change in the rate of new inventions, innovations in the ways of managing traditional means of production, and economic growth. The period saw major technological advances, including the invention of cannons, spectacles and artesian wells; and the cross-cultural introduction of gunpowder, silk, compass and astrolabe from the east. There were also great improvements with ships and upon the clock. The latter advances made possible the dawn of the Age of Exploration.
A few examples of cultural diffusion.?
This is what I found on wikipedia on how it was applied in Medieval Europe.... hope it helps: One of the most remarkable examples of diffusion theory is the claim that there was a massive infusion of new technology into Europe in the period 1000 to 1700 AD. During the previous period, still called the Dark Ages by some, Byzantine and Asian cultures were far more advanced than Europe: however, the era beginning in the High Middle Ages reversed that balance and resulted in a Europe which greatly surpassed Asian, Byzantine and Muslim cultures in pre-industrial technology. In the so-called Dark Ages, so the claim goes, many important basic inventions had their roots elsewhere, notably gunpowder, clock mechanisms, shipbuilding, paper and the windmill; however, in each of these cases Europeans not only adopted the technologies, but improved the manufacturing scale, inherent technology and applications to a point clearly surpassing the evolution of the original invention in its country of origin. However, recently many historians have questioned whether Europe really owes the development of such inventions as gunpowder, the compass, the windmill or printing to the Chinese or other cultures. It is a matter of record that by the late eighteenth century, European fleets, armed with advanced cannon, decimated Arab and Chinese fleets, paving the way for unfettered domination of the seas that led to the colonial era. From other Y!A answes Q's: - The Mesopotamian arch was used all over the world in buildings and monuments. The inventions of the Mesopotamians (wheel, irrigation system, weaponry, sundial, lens, glass, lock & key, Law--Hammurabi's Code of Laws, first written language, etc...) were all used by surrounding nations and are still being modified today. - Egypt is an perfect example. Just look at the spread of pyramids in that region of the world. - Latin/South Americans play a huge part in North American sports. You may not realize it, but about 10% of the people in the MLB, are from either the Dominican Republic, Cuba, or some where in South America
What are some ancient peoples' (before dark ages) traditions, works, rituals, and ways of living or thinking that we can apply to improve today's society?
This is a difficult question: many ancient peoples— the Celts, for example, and the Norse— left little trace of the elements of their civic & social lives for us to examine, lacking a clear, written record of those practices. Often, what we think we know was written by subjective observers— military conquerors or early Christian clergy— and is, therefore, suspect. Contemporary spiritual revivals of ancient practices are comprised almost entirely of wishful thinking and pretense: Wiccans, Pagans, Vikings— they’re mostly reinventing gibberish in an attempt to rationalize their current resentments & prejudices against minorities, organized religion, and their parents.We do, however, have some excellent examples of ancient practices that have made our lives better: the civic lives of Greeks and Romans are with us today in the democratic & republican practices that inform our aspirations to free, egalitarian societies. They also add, along with ancient Hebrews & Mesopotamians, a deep tradition of story-telling (the first “novel” of which we’re aware is the Sumerian Gilgamesh Epic). Sumerians gave us an early habit of numeration, and they & the Greeks built some fascinating mathematical systems (without which we would not tell time, calculate geometry, or make accurate maps). Perhaps the single most important tradition the Greeks passed along to us is science: an unique style of examining the world that has opened up vast empires of knowledge to modern humanity. On the downside, the Romans gave us lawyers, and the Hebrews gave us Abrahamism, both of which have exhibited social parasitism over time, and have often engaged in the suppression of some of the aforementioned cultural assets.I think this wasn’t exactly the answer for which you were looking. I hope it is at least interesting.