The Dark Ages, what do you think of when you go hear those two words?

First of all, it
was a period of time that ran from 500 A.D to 1500 A.D. Well, lets see, there was the Bubonic
Plague that nearly wiped out 1/3rd of the population of Europe. Then we have a Golden Age,
text being translated from Greek to Latin which provided a lot of knowledge. Then there was a
period in which the Moors, Barbarians, and Hungarians invaded and left terror and
destruction.This lawlessness or anarchy, had many people too afraid to leave their home. So, I
guess you can say that the Dark Ages were imperfect. The Dark Ages were both dark and
progressive.
According to the author and historian, Frantz Funck-Brentano, author of The Middle
Ages written in 1922, the conditions during the 800's in Europe were terrible. This period of the
MIddle Ages was known as the Dark Ages. Brentano says, "There is no longer any trade." "The
peasant has abandoned his ravaged fields to avoid the violence of anarchy." "society has no
longer any government." This evidence shows that the dark ages were at a point in which
economic progression declined, and peasants lost loyalty, abandoning their fields due to fear.
Society no longer having government, the Dark Ages were truly dark.
But do not go thinking that invasions would have made the dark ages dark. There was
still society, and order. Document 2, is a chart that shows the feudal obligations between a lord
and his vassal, and the vassal to his lord. This document shows that the vassal had to give
loyalty, military service, and ransom, if needed, to the lord. Now in return, The Lord had to give
protection and land (fief) to the vassal. Now you might be thinking how does this document
prove the dark ages werent dark. This chart shows that there was still societal structure in the
kingdom. It also shows that chaos had not overtaken everything.
Another thing that proves that the dark ages were not dark is document 3. According to
Gray C. Boyce, author of The Medieval Period, written in 1964, there were functions that were
were provided during the Middle Ages. They were protection, knowledge of what had become
before. "But even more it was creative and inventive." Another quote " we learn that an age
once traditionally described as dark had remarkable vitality and exuberance" These two quotes
show the middle ages time period was creative and inventive, although it was described as
dark.
But, the crusades, known for its good, were performed during the dark ages.
Surprisingly, they proved that the dark ages were truly dark. According to Pope Urban II, the
leader of the church at the time, the call of the crusade demonstrated the power of the pope and
the Catholic Church. This is evident because "All who die by the way, whether by land or sea, or
in battle against the Pagans, shall have immediate remission of sins." Another quote is "Your
brethren who live in the Middle East are in urgent need of your help." This goes to show that the
Pope had so much power that he could call a crusade, and people would actually die for him.
Now, remember hearing in history class about the Black Plague, or Black Death? Well,
that occurred during the dark ages. According to Agnolo Di Tura, author of The Plague In Siena:
An Italian Chronicle written in 1348, the plague caused social upheaval because nobody really
cared about the dead. In the document, it states" and there were also those who were so
sparsely covered with earth that the dogs dragged them forth and devoured many bodies
throughout the cities." Another quote from the document, "There was no one who wept for any
death, for all awaited death." This evidence goes to show that people were so scared by the
plague that, they didn't properly bury the dead, and nobody mourned for anyone because they
were expecting death to take them away.
But, have you ever thought of the dark ages to be dark, and progressive? Well,
according to H.C. Davis, author of Medieval Europe written in 1946, the Dark Ages were
imperfect. In his document he wrote, "Medieval culture was imperfect, was restricted to a narrow
circle of superior minds." He also writes "It flourished in the midst of rule surroundings, fierce
passions, and material ambitions." One last piece of evidence is when the author writes "We
must judge of them by their philosophy, and law, by their poetry and architecture." This evidence
goes to show that the Middle Ages were imperfect. Even though the Middle Ages were
imperfect, there were still some good things about it.
According to document 7, which describes the years different universities began during
the Middle Ages ( a time period that ran from 500 A.D. to 1500 A.D.) universities began popping
up in the 1300's in Italy, France, Spain, and Portugal, and Germany. The document tells how
lower countries, Italy, France, all started universities during the end of the 15th century. During
the 12, 13, and 14th centuries, these places didn't have many universities. Another thing is,
more universities began after the Black Plague or bubonic plague began. This evidence goes to
show that the Middle Ages were not dark because many universities began during that time
period.
Overall, Im mixed between the Middle Ages. It had some things that made it dark, such
as the Black Plague, the multiple invasions by different people, and the call for the crusade. It
had stuff like universities popping up, gaining knowledge from the past evened it out. So, after
reading this essay, what side would you take?