I INTRODUCTION A. BACKGROUND INFORMATION The impact of the dark ages had a

In the Years between 500 AD to 1450 AD were considered the Middle Ages that started after the Roman Empire fell. During that Time there were crusades, Plagues, warfare, constant killing, and little advancements. People are always in a constant argument about the real label for the Middle ages; some say Age of Faith, the Golden Age, or Age of Feudalism. However the strongest argument for the correct label is the Dark ages.

During this age, everything going on was either bad or had a bad side to it. For instance, there was a plague called the Bubonic Plague. (Doc 6). This plague was extremely contagious and dangerous, consequently the doctors had to wear outfits made out of cloth or leather to protect themselves. (Doc 6). This disease killed 25 million Europeans. Moreover, there was also invasions going on during this time. These invasions had many negative effects on Europeans. For instance, the invasions caused trade to cease. (Doc 7). Also, the invasions caused lots of terror, and the terror led to Europeans moving to hard-to-reach areas. (Doc 7). The people who caused all of this; the invaders, were the Moors and Magyars. (Doc 7). Not to mention, there were more invasions during the Middle Ages. These invaders were the Northmen, they caused lots of damage. (Doc 8). They burned down the town of Dordrecht and took many goods back with them. (Doc 8). Similarly, there were slaughters in Rochester, Quentovic, and London. (Doc 8). The Dark Ages is a perfect label for the Middle Ages because many bad events were happening and death was the outcome. Furthermore, everything going on also had a dark side. For example, the religion; the churches had a dark side. Popular cities has large, tall churches; cathedrals. To be exact, these churches were called Gothic Cathedrals because of its architecture style. (Doc 9). These cathedrals

The word dark ages is referred as Barbaric times and Intellectual Depression. The historians called it intellectual depression because they think that the little knowledge and invention and innovations is why very little came from the Middle Ages. Many historians didn't give it much thought before labeling it because it was only in the beginning of the Middle Ages that not much happened. But they grouped it all and came to the depiction of labeling it the "Dark Age". Over time, "Dark Ages" also lost meaning. When historians first had first used the term, it was meant as a time of darkness where nothing came out.

The middle ages are often identified as the Dark Age because of the Black Death, invasions by the Barbarians, and because of lack of enlightenment for the common people. A plague most likely originating from Asia spread throughout Europe. Towns and even large cities

The dark ages, a time period spanning from 500 AD until 1500 AD, is commonly perceived as the worst time in history, solely because of its name. When asked “What is the dark ages generally known for?” many people respond with the black plague or great famines. The main reason for this title is in fact due to a lack of written records and documents lost to history. In reality, the dark ages were not really that dark because a humanitarian king shaped European ideals, religion kept culture alive, and many historical and scientific progressions occurred.

In the 1300's, an Italian scholar named Petrarch used the term, "dark ages" to describe Europe in the middle ages.People think that Petrarch used this term to describe Europe in the middle ages, because it seemed as if everything was turning/going bad. Not everyone agrees with him, some people think that the middle ages in Europe was in a growth age instead of a dark age. There were good events, like economic growth and education got more significant. But, there were lot's of bad things like, government order and the Black Death, so it is a debatable topic.

Another title that the Middle Ages deserve is the label Dark Ages because during the Middle Ages, there was constant chaos and destruction that plagued Western Europe. After the collapse of Rome, the invasions did not end there. The invasions continued throughout the Middle Ages by different groups and tribes. For example, during the ninth and tenth century, the Moor invasions have taken over the South and the Hungarians invaded the Eastern provinces. Both invasion groups sacked villages, held captives, burned down religious buildings, and left a path of destruction while many citizens that escaped took refuge in the mountains or deep forests (doc 1). Also during the invasions of the Moor and Hungarians, the Northmen struck terror in England. The plundered, burned towns, and returned home with boats filled with gold, people, and resources (doc. 3). However, that was not the end of all the chaos during the Middle Ages. During the 14th century, the black death hit Western Europe, which ended up wiping out 1/3 of the population and a body count of over 25 million by the end of the sixteenth century (OI). Consequently, because of the constant chaos and destruction from invasions and plague, little to no development was possible. This slowed down Western Europe's advancements and growth. The

Some of the positive effects come from when Europe was not at a "dark age". For example, Document A does not involve the "dark age" because of this era, Document A state how fair the laws were. This document states " No man shall be forced to perform more service for a knight's fee or other free holding at land, than is due from it". Another piece of evidence comes from Document C, because it does not involve the dark age, due to resettled lands, food, lots of trade, and was easy to travel, which led to population growth. According to this document, "from 1000 to 1300 the economy of Europe developed and prospered. These pieces of information show evidence of

The time period from the fifth to the fifteenth century was known as the Middle Ages. The Middle Ages in Europe was also a time of prosperity and hope. New civilizations were formed and the industrial revolution started. Towns became so much easier to control and population grew because of modern conveniences. They changed the way the people of the Middle Ages lived. The Middle Ages should not be called the Dark Ages because structured laws called for order, education changed the way people thought, universities were founded, the economy prospered, and food supply increased the population.

The Dark Ages “According to their custom the Northmen plundered…and burned the town of Dordrecht…the Northmen, with their boats filled with immense booty, including both men and goods, returned to their own country “(Document 3). This was from a chronicle of articles written by the Anglo Saxons who inhabited great Britain in the 9th century. The chronicle of Anglo Saxons was a book of their history and what happened during their lives. The Middle Ages was a time period between the 5th and 15th century. The age started after the Western Roman empire fell and ended when the Eastern Roman Empire fell.

Wars, attacks and invasions were common during the Middle Ages. The early period had seen the fall of the Roman Empire and this must have contributed to a destabilizing effect. For example, the Turks and Arabs attacked and conquered the people living in Romania, also known as the Byzantine Empire. As stated by Pope Urban II, “They have killed and captured many, and have destroyed the churches and devastated the empire” (Doc 9). As this quote shows the Turks and Arabs completely destroyed the empire. Also, in 842 there was a great slaughter in England that killed many people. as stated by the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, “842 in this year there was a great slaughter in London and Quentavic and in Rochester” (Doc 3). As this quote shows, things seem chaotic, out of control and very unsafe during the middle ages. These wars, attacks and invasions caused mayhem but the situation only got worse when the system of government was eroded.

The term “Dark Ages” is one of the most common terms used to refer to the period known as the Middle Ages. Encompassed in this time frame are the years 400 A.D. and 1400 A.D., which mark the beginning and end of the Dark Ages. During this age, rural towns that were smaller and less populated were common. Since invasions were also an issue, towns tried to provide security and safety to the townspeople by using the feudal lord's armies as guards. It was also during this time that a new religious movement called Monasticism developed.

Europe fell into the Dark Ages on August 24th, 410 A.D. Rome was one of the greatest empires at the time. That is, before August. It controlled most trade routes, and a lot of land. Then came the day where the Visigoths invaded the Visigoths were western branches of the nomadic tribes of Germanic. Famine, plague, persecutions, and persistent warfare followed. Half of the healthy people living in Rome died. The thugs looted markets, causing a downfall in supplies such as food and clothing. After that, traders brought rats over to europe to the crushed, once powerful empire.

Beginning with fall of Rome in 476a.d. the first half of this millennium is referred to as the “dark ages”. In society, all power flowed from the king with the approval of

In the year 476 A.D., Rome officially fell as the greatest and most thriving empire at the time. The time period following this downfall was called the Middle Ages, more infamously recalled as the Dark Ages; but were these years truly as dark as historians say? These medieval times lasted for approximately one thousand years, could such a long time period have been all that dreadful? The answer will soon become clear. The Middle Ages deserved to have the alias of the Dark Ages because there were several severe illnesses, the monarchs were cruel, and the crusades brought the death of many.