Kayla Merceron

Brighton (904)
3-14-14

The Middle Ages stretched from roughly 500 AD-1400 AD. Some people say that during
the Middle Ages, Europe experienced a dark age. The Dark Ages are characterized as a
decentralized government, loss of learning, and loss of common language. The western part of
Europe changed after the fall of the Roman Empire because Byzantine Empire took over. Europe
developed a political system called feudalism as a way to protect themselves from invasions. The
Dark Ages were truly dark because of the tragedies and invasions that occurred during that
time period.
One reason why the Dark Ages were truly dark is because of the conditions in the 800s.
According to document 1 the author Frantz Funck-Brencano stated the condition in Europe
during the 800s were truly dark. He supports this claim by his details and evidence. The
barbarians caused a decentralized government. The barbarians caused it by them breaking
through ramparts, and them burning down churches. A decentralized government is a
government that is scattered. They were centralized they scatter between power and land.
Feudalism is the way they kept power in their own government because they scattered all over
their country. Feudalism is a social system to protect themselves and trade. According to
document 2, the vassals need to give the lords loyalty and military in order to get protection.
Feudalism is the system they use to exchange land and help each other in exchange for stuff. The
lords have to provide land and protection in exchange for loyalty and military. Because of these
events the authors would agree that the Dark Ages were truly dark.
Another reason why the Dark Ages were truly dark is because a various people died
and everyone believed that the world was ending. According to document 5 the author Agnolo
Di Tura, the plague caused social upheaval. Agnola stated '' they died by the hundreds, both day
and night, and all were thrown in... And ditches covered the earth. He had to his own five
children with his bare hands. The plague is a disease that came from rats. The disease was
carried by fleas that lived on rats. Agnolo di Tura was a chronicler in Siena, Italy. Also he was
also a tax collector and shoemaker. There was no one who wept for any death, for all awaited
death. And so many died that all believed that it was the end of the world. This document
supports that the Dark Ages were truly dark.
My third and final reason why the dark ages were truly dark is because the Europeans
constantly kept getting threatened. Also, they were terrified that they were going to be attacked
by the barbarians. According to document four and six pope urban II issued a call for holy
crusade, and H.C. Davis supports that the dark ages. According to document four pope urban II
stated They have killed and captured many, and have destroyed the churches and devastated the
Empire. According to document six the author stated They have killed and captured many, and
have destroyed the churches and devastated the Empire. Also It flourished in the midst of rude
surroundings, fierce passions, and material ambitions These documents support that the dark
ages were truly dark.
In conclusion, The Dark Ages were truly dark because of the tragedies and invasions
that occurred during that time period. The Dark Ages were truly dark however; you cant
ignore the fact that they did have lightened times. According to document 7 , the chart of
universities founded in the 12
th
-15
th
centuries, Italy had the most foundings during 12
th
-13
th

centuries and least founding during the 15
th
century. France had the most foundings during the
15
th
century. Great Britain had the most foundings during the 15
th
century and the least
founding's in the 14
th
century. Germany, Bohemia, and the Low Countries and the most founding
are during the 15
th
century and he least foundings during the 12
th
-13
th
century. Despite all of
these universities having so much founded, this still doesnt change the fact that Dark Ages
were truly dark. My first reason was because of the conditions in the 800s. My second reason
was because of various people dying, everyone believed that the world was ending. My third
and final reason is because the Europeans constantly kept getting threatened. Because of these
events the authors would agree that the Dark Ages were truly dark.