Tanya Kazaryan Mrs.

Weissman
Brighton 904 3/10/2014

The Middle Ages

The Middle Ages stretched from roughly 500A.D.-1400A.D.. Some people say

that during the Middle Ages, Europe experienced tragedys. The Dark Ages are

characterized by 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 Middle Ages began with

the destruction of the Roman Empire and the disorder that followed, which led to the rise

of feudalism. During this period of darkness, the Roman Catholic Church provided

spiritual direction as well as many non-religious functions for the people of the times.

Even during a period of darkness, there was great achievement. I think the Middle Ages

were truly dark because of the horrible things that were happening during the time

period.

The first reason why I think that the Middle Ages were truly dark is that there was

a war between the barbarians and western Europe. According to document number one,

Frantz Funck-Brentano who made use of previously published texts to describe Europe

in the ninth and tenth centuries said that the Hungarians burned down the churches and

then departed with a crowd of captives. The government has fallen apart because of the

barbarians, which develops feudalism in Europe. Feudalism is the dominant social

system in medieval Europe, in which the nobility held lands from the crown in exchange
for military service. The barbarian invasions made Europes government Decentralized.
The barbarians have broken through the ramparts. This is the first reason why I think

the Dark Ages were truly dark.

The second reason why I think the Middle Ages were truly dark is because many

people died and everyone believed that it was the end of the world. According to

document number five, Agnolo di Tura buried his five children with his own hands and

there were also those who were so sparsely covered with earth that the dogs dragged

them forth and devoured many bodies throughout the city. Agnolo di Tura was a

chronicler from Siena, Italy. He was also a shoemaker and tax collector. 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 is the second reason why I think the Dark Ages

were truly dark.

The third and final reason why I think the Middle Ages were truly dark is because

the Europeans were in constant threat and they were afraid that theyre going to be

attacked by Barbarians also because there were Turks and Arabs in Europe. According

to documents number two, four and six, Pope Urban II who issued a call for a holy

crusade and H.C. Davis who had the positive aspects of the Middle Ages said that the

Turks and the Arabs have attacked the Europeans and have conquered the territory of

Romania. They have killed and captured many, and have destroyed the churches and

devastated the Empire., according to document number four. Medieval culture was

imperfect, was restricted to a narrow circle of superior minds, according to document

number six. These are the last reasons why I think the Dark Ages were truly dark.

In conclusion, the Dark Ages were truly dark because there was a war between
the barbarians and western Europe. However, you cannot ignore that while Turks and

Arabs were in western Europe they were still protecting Europe. According to document

number six, We must judge of them by their philosophy and law, by their poetry and

architecture, but it cannot be dark, because if you look at the other side, there is a side

of their knowledge and law. This shows that even though they went through hard times,

they managed to get back up. But it doesnt change the fact that it was truly dark.

Another reason why the Dark Ages were truly dark is because they were in constant

threat and they were afraid that they are going to get attacked. Another reason is

because Turks and Arabs took over Europe. Final reason is because there was no one

who wept, for all waited death. I think the Middle Ages were truly dark because of the

horrible things that were happening during the time period.