The Dark Ages

The term Dark Ages refers to a period of history in Europe that was also referred to as the Middle Ages. This period of time lasted from the 6th to the 13th century. The Dark Ages occurred after the collapse of the Roman Empire and lasted until the renaissance of the 14th century.  The term Dark Ages has implied an era of turmoil, desolation, and mystery. The term Dark Ages was originally used by the scholar Petrarch to criticize the quality of literature that was being produced during this time period. The term continued to be used and has created a misconception about that the middle ages were like. Scholars have found that the period of time was not as dark as it has been conceived. “It was a period in whose history darkness and contradiction may be found, but its philosophers and theologians had an image of the universe that was filled with light and optimism.” (Eco 2002, 17). Due to this the term is no longer used by scholars to refer to this period of time. The term more accurately reflects the deterioration that occurred in Europe due to the collapse of the Roman Empire. The period reflects the transition from Roman rule to a new era.

This period of time has been referred to as the Dark Ages for a number of reasons. Scholars have found very little academic, literary and artistic material that was produced during this time period. This demonstrates that the Dark Ages were a period of history during which there was little creativity in the form of creating art and works of literature. Petrarch use of the term was designed to reflect this lack of creativity. The time period was lacking in creativity as the societies of this time period were striving to preserve classic literature rather than accept the modern age that they were going to be entering into.  An alternate reason for this period being referred to as the Dark Ages is due to the lack of knowledge that exists surrounding the middle ages. Historians have also found limited historical records that would provide valuable information for what this era of time was like. The records that have been found indicate that the population was in decline along with its creativity.  Scholars found that this decline in population was due to a number of reasons. “The dark ages of the early medieval period were years of depression in city and country alike: years of war, of famine and pestilence, of early death.” (Eco, 2002 3). The focus on surviving war, hunger and disease could be a reason for why the Dark Ages was such a creatively deprived period of time. People in the middle ages were attempting to just survive and were not able to feel safe enough to have an environment where they could be creative, intelligent and challenging to the status quo. The Dark Age was a time during which societies were being prepared for the coming modern age or renaissance that burst in the coming eras. 

During the middle ages, societies relied on religion rather than science to explain their world. This was due to the rise of Christianity after the collapse of the Roman Empire. This also occurred as a need to make sense of their way of life and to develop a moral code for living their life. Religion also was a savior for those dealing with the death around them that occurred from the wars, famine, and disease that was killing off those living in medieval times. “The slow process of Christianization, which began normally with the conversion of kings and aristocrats, is clearly one of the most important developments of the period.” (James, 2001 168). As the religion began to hold more of an influence any attempt at rational thought was stifled as a result of both the fear of the unknown as well as a need to maintain the status quo. These medieval societies strived to preserve religious scripture as an effort to preserve their society and way of thinking.  However the attempts to preserve their way of life limited progress as Huizinga (1999) discuss. “Now, in the Middle Ages, Christian faith had so strongly implanted in all minds the ideal of renunciation as the base of all personal and social perfection, that there was scarcely any room left for entering upon this path of material and political progress” ( Huizinga, 1999 28). Medieval societies allowed religion to stifle progress as they feared that these new scientific ideas went against the word of God. 

The focus of the Middle Ages on stifling creativity and scientific thought led to an increase in rational thought which paved the way for modernity in the form of the renaissance. Philosophers like Voltaire and Kant attacked society for their focus on religion rather than reason. Their writings eventually had an influence during the age of enlightenment. The Dark Ages also paved the way for the artistic renaissance that occurred. “We must not forget that the Middle Ages, even in aesthetic theory were a link between the Classical period and the Renaissance. They have handed on to the modern era an artistic tradition modified by their own vision” (Eco, 2002 116).  The influence of the Middle Ages can be seen not only in the Renaissance with Floretian painting but also in our modern art and literature. The focus on stifling creativity and reason in the middle ages led to an explosion of art, literature and scientific discovery in the years to come.

The Dark ages could also be considered as a dark period of history due to the way people lived their lives in medieval societies. Although the Roman Empire and their practice of slavery had collapsed the societies of the middle ages also had a form of slavery. The feudal rule of the Middle Ages led to a lack of social mobility for individuals of the Dark Ages. Postan (1973), found that an inherent unease that existed after the collapse of the Roman Empire led to a need to enslave others so as to ensure their own security. “No doubt the insecurity of the closing phases of the Dark Ages must have fostered the process of commendation and may moreover have enabled powerful men to reduce free men into dependent condition by sheer force” (Postan, 1973 80). These feudal systems left many individuals in abject poverty who were subject to die at the whim of those in power. As the medieval era came to a close these systems were no longer present however the separation of rich and poor continues to this day even if there is more social mobility.

While the feudal system led to misery for many the medieval society was not a time of complete despair. The way of life during the Dark Ages was rife with contrasts. “All things presenting themselves to the mind in violent contrasts and impressive forms, lent a tome of excitement and of passion to everyday life and tended to produce that perpetual oscillation between despair and distracted joy, between cruelty and pious tenderness, which characterized life in the Middle Ages” (Huizinga, 1999 2). While at times there was lawlessness due to wars, disease, and starvation, people attempted to live pious lives by going to church. Although the feudal lords of their land may have abused them and taken their money, people read stories of noble medieval kings who protected them. These contrasts emerged in the literature and art of the medieval era. 

The nation of Ireland provides an example of what occurred in one nation during the dark ages and as it emerged from these times. Ireland’s dark ages could be seen to have occurred long before the rest of Europe and as a result, they experienced their period of enlightenment earlier than the rest of medieval Europe. Due to frequent invasions from the Vikings, Ireland experienced many years of what could be considered a Dark Age. “The Viking first attacked Ireland in the 790s, and the earliest raids and settlements were in the north and east of Ireland. The raids seem to have been the most severe in the 830s and the early 840s, when the Vikings established a number of permanent coastal settlements.” (James, 2001 105). As these invasions ceased and a new dynasty emerged in the nation Ireland was able to embark on a cultural renaissance that led to progress in the nation itself. During this time religious reform also occurred as a result of being stifled by the church. The religious figures of the time began to become in line with the Roman Orthodox church. Along with these changes the culture and arts of the time were prosperous and had an impact long before the Italian Renaissance began to take hold in the rest of Europe. 

While the Dark Ages were a period of obscurity, stifled creation, and religious zealotry, there were some advances that were made that still have an impact in our modern times. The literature of the Dark Ages was not as deprived as has been previously thought. “The literature of the declining Middle Ages, with some few exceptions, is known to us fairly completely. We have products of all genres, the most elevated and the most vulgar, the serious and the comic, the pious and the profane. Our literary tradition reflects the whole life of the epoch” (Huizinga, 1999 223). This occurred especially in the area of literature, specifically in the writing about King Arthur and his noble knights. These stories were written in Old English, which had an interesting mix of Germanic language and Celtic imagination. The Celtic influence occurred as a result of the Irish renaissance that had already occurred years ago. The stories of King Arthur were about a great leader who protected the nation of Britain with his roundtable of noble knights. These knights were honorable and always did the right thing. The stories of King Arthur and his knights influence our modern sense of ethics. Only the noblest and most honorable knights could be a part of King Arthur’s roundtable. These stories of valiant knights helped to define what could be considered morally right and what was wrong in the Dark Ages. Characters who acted honorably were rewarded while those who were evil were punished and destroyed. These medieval stories also defined the chivalric code, which could be seen as influencing our modern sense of ethics.

The chivalric code was a set of rules that were followed by the knights in their everyday actions. The code was designed to protect those who cannot protect themselves. During the middle ages, this was seen to be widows, children and the elderly. In our modern times chivalry refers to just protecting women. These knights had to follow this moral code in all of their actions. Knights must tell the truth at all times. These knights must also protect the honor of women. They had to always be loyal and honorable. Knights also had to obey any command from those in positions of authority. These knights were considered role models for those who read the stories during medieval times. Young boys wanted to be knights of King Arthur’s round table when they grew up. These concepts of truth, honor, loyalty, and love continue to be apparent in not only our modern sense of ethics but also in who we consider to be heroic. The heroes that were created in literature after the middle ages followed this chivalric code even if they were not knights. This sense of morality became engrained in societies even once they emerged from the Dark Ages.

The Dark Ages were not as dark as the name of the time period implies. While the period of time was historically obscure and limited rational thought, the path was paved for the Renaissance to occur. The period of time after the decline of the Roman Empire was needed for societies to become re-established. As Roman influence was so far-reaching the decline of the empire had consequences for all of Europe. The Dark Ages were a period of time during which societies were adjusting to these changes. The Dark Ages are also a period of time where a large amount of speculation occurs in the analysis of history. Due to a lack of historical records the claims made about the period of time can be met with speculation. This period of time continues to be a matter of mystery for scholars and historians. The impact of the Dark Ages, however, cannot be denied as the literature, arts, religion and even morality of that time period continues to have an influence on the way life is lived in our modern era centuries away from the medieval age.

References

Eco, U. (2002). Art and beauty in the middle ages. Yale University Press.

Huizinga, J. (1999). The waning of the Middle Ages. Dover Publications.com.

James, E. (2001). The Northern World in the Dark Ages 400-900. The Oxford History of Medieval Europe, 59.

Postan, M. M. (1973). The medieval economy and society: an economic history of Britain in the Middle Ages (Vol. 1). University of California Pr.