The Dark Ages of Western Europe

The Dark Age’s of Europe were an critical time in European history. Between the Black Plague, the decline of western civilization and the end of the Western Roman Empire, this was a particularly dark time in history. I wanted to read this book because it is a blank spot in history, and also because it’s an important time period to explain the end of the Roman Empire.

The Western Roman Empire split apart between the Byzantine Empire/Eastern Roman Empire, which was partially caused by the incongruence of Christianity with Roman Culture. The Black Plague cleared up the European population, allowing for a more equal order.[1] Western Civilization declined after the Roman Empire fell which started the beginning of a dark age. The end of the Western Roman Empire caused a collapse of civilization in Europe because the Roman Empire controlled almost all of Europe- which meant that its fall was devastating.

The Black Plage was a devastating disease that wiped out 40% of Europe’s population and it killed approximately 40 million people.[2] The Black Plague empowered the European peasants and serfs and allowed the creation of a more equal society and the end of feudalism. The serfs rebelled against the nobles and knights, and the serfs were able to get enough land that they were able to be independent and self-sufficient farmers who owned their own land. The Dark Ages happened partially because of the end of the Western Roman Empire.

The Dark Ages included the decline of Western Roman Civilization, reading, writing, and science declined. Western Roman Civilization struggled with the intellectual, economic, military and social fabric ripped apart.[3] The intellectual capabilities declined during the dark ages due to barbarian raids and the end of the Roman Empire. The Ancient Roman Empire fell apart and the fabric and cohesion of civilization blew up. The end of the Western Roman Empire caused a collapse in the power of Europe.

The Western Roman Empire fell apart which caused the decline of academics, infrastructure and the social order of Europe. However, without the collapse of the Western Roman Empire Europe would never have developed past a certain point. The Western Roman Empire partially fell apart due to the rise of Christianity, which didn’t suit the original Roman Empire’s goals and livelihoods. [4]

The collapse of the Western Roman Empire caused a decline in civilization, lower population and a more equal society. The Western Roman Empire was already weaker than peak Rome and it was also much more Christian. The Western Roman Empire was Christian starting with Constantine and they also were incredibly different then the peak of the Roman Empire. The Black Plague caused a shift in the social order of Europe and caused the strengthening of non-European areas not in Europe. At this time the Chinese Empire was particularly strong. The Western Roman Empire was incongruent with the peak Roman culture which caused the collapse of Western Society.

Citations

Wickham, Chris. 2009. The Inheritance of Rome: A History of Europe from 400 to 1000. New York: Viking.

[1] Chris Wickham, The Inheritance of Rome: A History of Europe from 400 to 1000 (New York: Viking, 2009), page #.

[2] Chris Wickham, The Inheritance of Rome: A History of Europe from 400 to 1000 (New York: Viking, 2009).

[3] Chris Wickham, The Inheritance of Rome: A History of Europe from 400 to 1000 (New York: Viking, 2009), page #.

[4] Chris Wickham, The Inheritance of Rome: A History of Europe from 400 to 1000 (New York: Viking, 2009), page #.