6 Reasons the Dark Ages Weren't So Dark

1. The idea of the Dark Ages came from later scholars who were heavily biased toward Ancient Rome. 
- most of the written records of the time had a strong Rome-centric bias
- literacy rate was not as high in the early Middle Ages as in Ancient Rome
- the "Dark Ages" came from renaissance scholars who viewed Rome and Ancient Rome as a pinnacle of human achievement
- they dismissed the era where no greater leaders emerged, no scientific accomplishments were made and no greater art was produced

2. The Church replaced the Roman Empire as the most powerful force in Europe, redefining the relationship between church and state. 
- Europe lacked a large kingdom or other political structure as a centralizing force
- the Medieval church grew into the most powerful institution in Europe
- Kings, Queens and other rulers drew most of their authority and power into their relationship with the Church
- The rise of a strong papacy started with Gregory the Great
- This meant that European monarchs could not monopolize power

3. The growth of monasticism had important implications for later Western values and attitudes. 
- later scholars branded the dark ages as "unenlightened"
- early Christian monasteries encouraged literacy and learning
- many medieval monks were artists or patrons of art
- Benedict of Nursia founded the great monastery of Montecassino
- his rule spread across Europe
- he ruled that monks should do manual as well as intellectual and spiritual labor

4. The Early Middle Ages were boom times for agriculture. 
- Europe's agricultural prosperity was largely limited to the south
- horse collars and heavy ploughs were made
- horses were more powerful and effective than oxen
- Medieval Warm Period took place from 900 to 1300, during which the world experienced relatively warm conditions
- good weather fueled the agricultural boom of the period

5. Great advances were made in science and math - in the Islamic world. 
- the medieval Christian church suppressed natural scientists
- progress in the Early Middle Ages laid foundations for future advances in the later medieval period
- Islamic world leaped ahead in math and sciences
- introduced Europe to algebra and linear and quadratic equations

6. The Carolingian Renaissance saw a flowering n the arts, literature, architecture and other cultural realms. 
- Charlemagne was representative of the first Germanic tribe to practice Catholicism
- took seriously his duty to spread the faith
- he fostered a rebirth of Roman style architecture
- grammar was becoming more prominent

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