The Dark AgesThe Dark Ages

When did it occur?When did it occur?

5th century to about the late 10th century.

The beginning…The beginning…

No one definitive event marks the end of antiquity and the beginning of the Early Middle Ages.

The sack of Rome by the Goths in 410 CE and the deposition of Romulus Augustulus the last Roman emperor in the West in 476 CE were important events but were not the only origins of the Dark Ages

How did the “Dark How did the “Dark Ages” begin?Ages” begin?

Invasions and settlement of the various Germanic tribes within the borders of the Western Empire, had changed the face of Rome.

Over the next 300 years western Europe remained essentially a primitive culture, albeit one uniquely superimposed on the complex, elaborate culture of the Roman Empire, which was never entirely lost or forgotten.

Who was in control?Who was in control?

virtually no machinery of government existed, and political and economic development was very local in nature.

In the culmination of a process that had already begun in the Roman Empire, the peasantry became bound to the land and dependent on landlords for protection and the rudimentary administration of justice.

The role of the churchThe role of the church

The only universal European institution was the church, and even there a fragmentation of authority was the rule; all power within the church hierarchy was in the hands of local bishops

The church saw itself as the spiritual community of Christian believers, in exile from God's kingdom, waiting in a hostile world for the day of deliverance.

Culture in the Dark Culture in the Dark AgesAges

Cultural activity during the early Middle Ages consisted primarily in appropriating and systematizing the knowledge of the past.

At the center of any learned activity stood the Bible; indeed, all secular learning was regarded as mere preparation for understanding the Holy Text.

How long did the How long did the Dark Ages last? Dark Ages last?

The early Middle Ages drew to a close in the 10th century with new migrations and invasions the coming of the Vikings from the north and Magyars from Asia.

The European unit and expansion that was very strong in earlier centuries began to weaken in the late 10th Century.

The resulting violence and dislocation caused lands to be withdrawn from cultivation, population to decline, and the monasteries to again become outposts of civilization

The development of The development of Science in the Dark Science in the Dark

AgesAges In the Early Middle Ages, science progressed

dramatically from the time of antiquity in areas as diverse as astronomy, medicine, and mathematics.

the ancient cultures of the world (i.e. those prior to the fall of Rome and the dawn of Islam) had developed many of the foundations of science, it was during the Middle Ages that the scientific method was born and science became a formal discipline separate from philosophy

Science in the Dark Science in the Dark AgesAges

Many new types of Science and Technology can be traced back to some point during the Dark or Middle Ages.

Math- Arithmitic, Calculus, theory and experimentation were all developed by many innovative scholars.

Science- Basic chemistry and physics can be documented in the Dark Ages. As well, the early stages of medical surgery are documented in 8th Century England.

Advancement of Advancement of weaponsweapons

The use of fire and flammable materials in warfare are as old as mankind itself, but the Early Middle Ages took the science from simple recipes and brute force approaches to sophisticated formulae and devices.

These included everything from flamethrowers (developed in the Byzantine Empire and China) to land/sea mines and solid-fuel rockets (developed in China.)

Impact of Science Impact of Science during Dark Ages?during Dark Ages?

Because of the decline of the Byzantine Empire and the medieval Muslim empires, much of the scientific progress of the Middle Ages became “lost”—the expertise, not always the texts—until it was rediscovered by Europe during the Renaissance and the Scientific Revolution.

However many of the scientific advancements made during the Dark Ages are still evident in today’s society.

So what does it mean?So what does it mean?

Using the information in this Power Point and from external sources, answer the following questions.

1) What science, technological and philosophical advancements originated during the Dark Ages

2) What role has Islam had on modern day science?

3) Thinking about our world today, what is the most important contribution of the Dark Ages to modern society? Back up your answer with specific evidence.

Charlemagne & the ChurchCharlemagne & the Church

The Catholic Church had incredible power and influence over the daily life of everyone in the Middle Ages, including the peasants, nobles, and kings. The Church wanted to run things. So did the kings. So did the nobles. This created constant power struggles and prevented unity of purpose. 

Charlemagne, king of the Franks, and Pope Adrian, head of the Catholic Church, were very good friends. They liked each other. They respected each other. They both understood the importance of teamwork to get a job done

Charlemagne and the Charlemagne and the ChurchChurch

There is no record that reports these two incredibly powerful men ever sat down together and said something like, "Hey, you know what? If we work together, we can make sure that things run the way we want them to run."  

However it came about, for about 25 years, when Charlemagne was king and Adrian was pope, these two men worked together to rule much of medieval Europe. 

Wherever Adrian was pope, he acted as if everyone had to obey Charlemagne as the secular leader of the people, and so it came to pass. 

The Power of the The Power of the ChurchChurch and the and the StateState

Wherever Charlemagne was king, he acted as if everyone had to obey Adrian as the spiritual leader of the people, and so it came to pass. 

By 800 CE, pretty much all of the people in Western Europe had converted to Christianity, and pretty much all of the land in Western Europe had become part of the Frankish Empire. Their friendship resulted in a unified Europe with one common culture.