Many medievalists object to the term “Dark Ages” being applied to the period in which they specialize. That may seem like wishful thinking, considering most comparisons between the Middle Ages and the Renaissance that followed, or even the period of the Roman Empire that preceded it. Consider the situation in Europe at the beginning of the fourth century. “The ancient metropolises were depopulated and some were in ruins,” says the narrator. of Why video abovetells the story of the continent’s political and linguistic fragmentation. “Roman’s transportation system declined, communications and long-distance trade declined; coinage disappeared; the economic system supporting a professional army disappeared; literacy rates plummeted; the administrative system became dysfunctional; and, most notably, peace and security disappeared.”
But there’s more history to come. In fact, nearly 1,000 years of history is covered in just 20 minutes in this video. Notable events in this extensive reign include Justinian I’s attempts to expand the Byzantine Empire in the east. The creation and spread of the Islamic Caliphate. The unification of most of Western Christendom by Charlemagne. Invasions by Vikings, Magyars, and Muslim raiders. The rise of castles and the feudal system that they came to symbolize. Creation of the Holy Roman Empire. Prosperity of cities and universities. and the Norman conquest of England, as seen in the Bayeux Tapestry. There was also the unpleasantness of the Black Death, which swept across Europe from the mid-14th century to the early 16th century, but like other medieval disasters, the plague held the seeds of civilization’s rebirth.
“For some survivors, the effects of the plague were less dire,” the narrator says. “As the population declined, land became more widely available and the demand for labor increased dramatically.” Peasants demanded improved conditions and revolted against rulers who refused. Ultimately, they “gained new freedoms and opportunities, and workers enjoyed higher wages. Creativity and innovation in science and culture continued, creating an environment in which European scholars defined the past millennium as the ‘Dark Ages’ and positioned themselves as a period of transition between the medieval and modern worlds.” Some liken the current state of the world to the decline of the Roman Empire. If they’re right, perhaps 40 generations from now we’ll be in for a new renaissance.
Related content:
Yale’s Free Course on Medieval History: Learn 700 Years in 22 Lectures
What did people eat in the Middle Ages? Video series and new cookbook instructions
How everything worked in medieval castles, from moats to dungeons
What was sex like in the Middle Ages?: Historians consider how people had sex in the Dark Ages
How the Byzantine Empire rose, fell, and built the glorious Hagia Sophia: A 10-minute animated history
Advice on time travel to medieval Europe: how to stay healthy and safe and avoid charges of witchcraft
Based in Seoul, Colin Mbemust write and broadcastIt’s about cities, languages and cultures. he is the author of the newsletter books about cities books as well Home page (I won’t summarize Korea) and korean newtro. Follow him on the social network formerly known as Twitter. @Colinbemust.
Source: Open Culture – www.openculture.com
