Time of the Dark Ages
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Devry University

Time of the Dark Ages
The Dark Ages as a term has endured many evolutions. This time was referred to the Dark Ages because among all citizens, Europe went from having absolute leaders into adopting the Roman law system. The expression of the “Dark Ages” came into play during the 17th century when many enlightenment writers convinced that they were much greater to their ancestors and began using this term to scorn an era that they found to be very difficult to survive in. The Dark Ages can be referred to the entire time of the Middle Ages from 500-1500 A.D. or mostly for the early Middle Ages from 500-1000 A.D (Curtis, 1992) (O'Sullivan, 2012). It is also commonly referred to the period of time that accompanied the fall of the Western Roman Empire.
When the Western Roman Empire was destroyed, unknowingly many people were going to begin to engage in a practice and experience devastating changes in their lives. Fewer career opportunities, literacy, and education were just the beginning of the fall. Cities then became smaller in size because the Roman Empire wasn’t able to provide the Roman tax revenues to maintain the services.
Society inadvertently prepared to emerge in modernity through the preservation of classical literature and scripture. Over time education and literacy was mostly offered to the ministry. Christianity itself remained to spread East throughout the lands. During this time, most of the old crafts and arts were destroyed or lost. During the time known as the dark ages the population was declining. After the Roman Empire buckled, many people became infected with the plague that had broken out and these people experienced climate changes that eventually reduced the growth of cultivation. Tons of lives were lost during this time. The population of people turned poor and resulted in the fact that caused them to work to have food and housing, instead of providing themselves with a higher education and philosophy. During this time the Romans lost in many battles and were defeated by stronger populations. These factors remain the major reasons why the time was termed as the “Dark Ages”. This era of life must have been a terrible time to live. The dark ages not only were a dangerous and difficult time in history, it set the mark for what has brought lots of history to the world. The events that led to the advancement were the collapse of the Western Roman Empire that led to the beginning of the Dark Ages. This took place when the Western emperor, Romulus Augustulus, was overthrown by Odoacer, a Barbarian. Romulus Augustulus was the last emperor of Rome. He reigned for only 10 months before a defiance of the troops arose. The reason for the difficulties was that in other parts of the western empire landowners had been required to hand over possession of up to two thirds of their estates to allied Germans within the empire. This policy had never been applied to Italy. The Germans troops demanded “their third of the land”. Odoacer, a Barbarian, who is traditionally known as marking the end of the Western Roman Empire, thereafter captured the city of Ravenna and forced Romulus to resign on the policy. Quickly after the Roman Empire collapse people began to spread across the lands. These people were uneducated and replaced many civilized Romans (West, 1932). Ireland did have an impact in the world that would emerge from the Dark Ages. During this time after the Roman Empire had fallen, church scholars and missionaries continued to play a vital role in preserving knowledge of classical learning. The Christian religion survived in an increasingly strong form of the Byzantine Empire that centered at the Constantinople in Eastern Europe. The Monks pursued protection at the far borders of the known world that would eventually become Ireland, Cornwall, and Hebrides. This is where the literate Monks, who survived and became known as the last preservers in Western Europe. They assisted others in these eastern isolated colonies to carry on Christianity. It has been credited to the Irish Monks who helped save Christianity in the Western Civilization during the period of the Dark Ages (West, 1932). Christianity also became dominant due to Charlemagne also known as Charles the Great. Charlemagne was a medieval emperor who ruled much of Western Europe from 768-814. In 771 he became the King of Franks, a Germanic tribe, known as today as Belgium, France, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and Germany. His mission was to unite all Germanic people into one kingdom and convert his subjects to Christianity. He formed an alliance with the church, and spread the word of Christ. He also sponsored education, art, and architecture, which in turn transformed the economy in Europe. Following his death in 814, Charlemagne’s empire encompassed much of Western Europe. Most importantly Charlemagne reformed the economy, though his efforts didn’t last long because the Vikings attacks which set the continent back for another three centuries.
The effects of advancement continued for another 200 years. Moving down the timeline these days the lands haven’t improved little to none at all. Despite all the wars of the land The Byzantine Empire continued to control the land. The Byzantine Empire was the successor of the Roman Empire in the Greek-speaking eastern part of the Mediterranean. Christian in nature, they were constantly at war with the Muslims. As time advances for the Byzantines, it was increasingly difficult to contain the westerners. They were not only extreme warriors, but also clever traders. They eventually declined in the early 1200’s (O'Sullivan, 2012).
Then there were the Bulgarian’s who defeated many groups of people when they led attacks along the Black Sea and began a dominant rule during the AD 600’s. During the first Golden Age, the Bulgur’s first settled in the Balkan peninsula and intensified with the expansion of the Bulgarian empire after 680 AD (Curtis, 1993). After years have passed, War had not. War was inevitable. Finally, the Eastern Empire won when Bulgaria accepted Christianity. As a result the Bulgarian Church was finally established. After reaching a peak under Simeon, the first Bulgarian Empire began to decline and the Byzantines won in a military battle and the Bulgarians was under the Byzantine control. At the end of the war the Byzantines gave Bulgaria full independence (Curtis, 1992).
Also during the advancements beginning in 632 and lasting till 700 AD, the Muslim community spread throughout the lands, and is in question if the early advance of Islam went hand in hand with the military expansion. As years advanced, so did the Bulgarian’s.
Chivalry is associated to the institution of knighthood prevalent to the Dark Ages. A knight was expected to have not only the strength and skills to face combat in the violent Dark Ages but was also expected to temper this aggressive side of a knight with a chivalrous side to his nature. Since this was a religious vow that was considered very sacred in the Dark Ages, this enabled the common soldier the similar status of a monk (McMahon, 2011). Thus, the beginning of Chivalry was based on a vow to God, in the service of God, and for the protection of the weak and poor. The Knights code of Chivalry was part of the culture during the Dark Ages and was understood by all. A Code of Chivalry was documented in “The Song of Roland” during the Knights period of William the Conqueror who ruled England from 1066. There were 17 entries in the Knights Code of Chivalry, according to the Song of Roland at least 12 relate to acts of Chivalry oppose to combat. Years later among these same virtues upheld by the well-known Arthurian society, loyalty was another major valued subject. The Arthurian knights were even expected to offer their actions to the king and queen, to God and to the Church (McMahon, 2011).
The early old English literature (658A.D.-1100A.D.) also known as Anglo-Saxon literature arose with the movement of certain Germanic tribes from the continent to Britain in the 5th century. This early old English literature continued till the 11th century when Latin was then introduced by the Vikings and became Middle English.
During the evolution of the advancement of the Dark Ages, the “Black Death Bubonic plague” devastated Europe in the late 1340’s, killing many people. This resulted in a calmer state of the land. Education then began to rise again in the Roman Empire (O’Sullivan, 2002). Arabic numbers were introduced to Europe during the 10th century by the Arabs of North Africa, which encouraged more individuals to be educated and study in the science and health related fields (West, 1932).
And finally the Dark Ages ended with the Crusades, following the Europeans and the Muslims of The Arab World fighting. The crusaders returned after war with goods and knowledge. The Dark Ages finally came to a close in 1500 AD, as the Italian Renaissance and the Age of Discovery dawned (West, 1932).

References
Curtis, G. (1992). Bulgaria: A country study. Federal Research Division. Library of Congress.
McMahon, S. (2011, Jone 8). Beyond the truth: Medevil society in the Arthurian Legend. Retrieved August 14, 2014, from Florida State University: www.englishfsu.edu
O'Sullivan, D. (2012). Chess in the Middle Ages and Early Modern Age: A fundamental thought paradigm of the Premodern world. Berlin: De Gruyter.
West, L. c. (1932). The Economic Collapse of the Roman Empire. The Classical Journal, 96-106.