Timeline of the Dark Ages

His concepts of purgatory and penance widen the gulf between the Eastern and Western Churches. He reigns until his death in For the sake of convenience, the rule of Heraclius generally marks the beginning of Byzantine history, though it can be argued that Byzantine civilization begins with Diocletian, Constantine or Justinian. The Jerusalem cross is retrieved from the Persians, who stole the relic in Heraclius reigns until his death in He is succeeded by his son, Charles Martel, who forms an alliance with the Church which helps the Merovingian Dynasty and Christianity to expand into Germany.

Pepin the Short succeeds his father, Charles Martel, and strengthens the alliance between Benedictine missionaries and Frankish expansion.

Byzantine Emperor Leo the Isaurian, who reigns until , counters the Arab attempt with "Greek Fire" a liquid mixture of sulfur, naphtha and quicklime which is released from bronze tubes, situated on ships and on the walls of Constantinople and great military strength. Leo defeats the Arab forces and reconquers most of Asia Minor.

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The territory of Asia Minor, together with Greece, becomes the seat of Byzantine civilization for several centuries. The Iconoclasts advocate doing away with paganistic icon worship images of Christ or saints. For them, Christ cannot be manifested or conceived of through human art. The Iconoclast controversy ends in the ninth century when a new Byzantine spirituality recognizes that the contemplation of icons may help someone assend from the material to the immaterial.

The work is anonymous and untitled until It is a Christian poem that exemplifies early medieval society in England and shows roots in Old Testament Law. The greatest surviving product of these monks is the Book of Kells , a Gospel book of decorative art. Boniface anoints Pepin a divinely sanctioned king, and the Frankish monarchy is fused into the papal order. The western European empire, based on the alliance between the Frankish monarchy and the Latin Church, provides the image of Western cultural unity for Europeans, though it does not last long.

In time, his empire, known as the Carolingian dynasty, includes the greater section of central Europe, northern Italy and central Italy in addition to realms already conquered by Frankish rule. Charlemagne's system of government divides the vast realm into different regions, ruled by local "counts" who are overseen by representatives of Charlemagne's own court. In addition, to aid expansion and administration of the kingdom, Charlemagne promotes, what is called later, the "Carolingian Renaissance. The director of the "renaissance" is Anglo-Saxon Benedictine Alcuin, who receives his learning from a student of Bede.

Alcuin sets up schools, sees to the copying of classical Latin texts and develops a new handwriting. This event indicates an autonomous Western culture based on Western Christianity and Latin linguistics. Charlemagne establishes schools in all bishoprics and monasteries under his control. His sole surviving son, Louis the Pious, divides his inheritance between his own three sons, who engage in civil war. Charlemagne's united realm is invaded by Scandinavian Vikings, Hungarians and Muslims during these civil wars. The Carolingian Empire falls apart.

Alfred is responsible for the codification of English law, public interest in local government and the reorganization of the army. He founds schools and promotes Anglo-Saxon literacy and the establishment of a national culture. Alfred dies in His innovations are continued by his successors. Otto establishes a pattern of resistance to political fragmentation and a close alliance with the Church.

His title as pope exemplifies the decline in value of the Church in the early-medieval period. Local lords establish control over churches and monasteries, and Church officials are often unqualified. The majority of priests are illiterate and live with concubines. The majority of popes, mostly sons of powerful Roman families, are corrupt or incompetent. This provides Germany with the power to resist invasion. Following Otto are several competent and enthusiastic successors, who continue to shape a stable German government.

The Capetian dynasty rules until The Capetian dynasty is too weak in the beginning to have any influence on the unification of France. The series of reforming popes that follow enacts decrees against simony and clerical marriage. Western Europe rises as a great power with only China equaling it in political, economic and cultural flourishing.

It also witnesses profound religious and intellectual change, including the organization of the papal monarchy. Technological innovations include the use of the heavy plow, the three-field system of crop rotation, the use of mills for processing cloth, brewing beer, crushing pulp for paper manufacture and many other advantages that before were not available, and the widespread use of iron and horses.

With an increase in agricultural advancements, Western towns and trade grow exponentially and Western Europe returns to a money economy.

This decree allows papal elections to escape the whims of political leaders. The language of England evolves into Middle English with an English syntax and grammar and a heavily French vocabulary. French art and literature prevail over previous English art and literature, and the French language eventually becomes the language of the political realm. William achieves political stability in England with the introduction of the feudal system. The system progresses over the next two centuries into a national monarchy. According to Gregory, the Church is obligated to create "right order in the world," rather than withdraw from it.

Gregory seeks to create a papal monarchy with power over the secular state and to establish ecclesiastical authority. Henry IV, the German king, resists this authority thereby inaugurating the "investiture controversy. The Gregorian reform encourages the practice of Christian warfare in the pursuit of providing "right order in the world" and establishes religious enthusiasm in all of Christendom.

Peter Abelard contributes to this movement with his great theological work, Sic et Non. He dies in Western Europe sends enormous support to rescue Jerusalem from the control of Islam. The oldest epic poem in French, The Song of Roland , is written by an unknown author. The poem is set in northern Spain during the reign of Charlemagne and is based on the Roncesvalles massacre of Charlemagne's rearguard.

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It serves to establish the differing characteristics between Christianity and paganism. The death scene of Roland, devoted patriot of Charlemagne, is commonly considered one of the greatest scenes in all of world literature. The Crusaders divide their new territories into four principalities. Around the same time, a new asceticism is sought for monks who wish to engage in contemplation and self-examination. Two new orders are created: Bernard of Clairvaux, leader of the Cistercians, establishes monasteries by the time of his death.

Accompanying the fervent worship of Christ Jesus during this period is the pronouncement of the Virgin Mary as a saint. This is the first time a woman is given central significance in the Christian religion. Thomas Aquinas' work, Summa Theologiae is published Marco Polo publishes his tales of China William Wallace emerges as the leader of the Scottish resistance to England. The Hundred Years War begins. England and France struggle for dominance of Western Europe Battle of Crecy The Black Death ravages Europe for the first of many times. Chaucer begins to write The Canterbury Tales Peasants Revolt in England The Bible is translated into English by John Wycliffe.

Joan of Arc lifts the siege of Orleans for the Dauphin of France, enabling him to eventually be crowned at Reims Capture, trial, and execution of Joan of Arc The Medici family rises to prominence in Florence Leonardo da Vinci is born The Hundred Years War ends. Calais is the only English possession on Continental Europe Johann Gutenberg prints the first of his Bibles on his new printing press The Wars of the Roses begins in England. The Wars of the Roses ends and the Tudor dynasty begins.

Timeline of Key Dates: The Black Death Bubonic Plague devastated Europe in the late s and early s, killing an estimated to million people.

Introduction to the Dark Ages

Warfare was also a part of everyday life. The Europeans and the Muslims of the Arab world fought numerous conflicts. These conflicts, called the Crusades , began in and ended in The Dark Ages have often been described as a backwards time in human history. Another reason why the Middle Ages are often called the Dark Ages is because, compared with other eras, historians don't know as much about this time. In some ways, this period of time has been lost to history. Many important records from this time have not survived.

Increasingly, historians are refraining from using the term 'Dark Ages. Recent scholarship has brought to light the scientific and cultural contributions of the Arab world. Historians also recognize the intellectual strength of the medieval scholastics. The Dark Ages is a categorization commonly used to describe the period between the fall of the Roman Empire and the beginning of the Italian Renaissance and the Age of Exploration. This period has traditionally been thought of as dark, in the sense of having very little scientific and cultural advancement.

During this time, feudalism prevented upward social mobility, and the Catholic Church held a firm grip over which worldviews should or should not be espoused. That said, historians are increasingly rethinking the Dark Ages. Many no longer use the term because new scholarship is showing that this era may not have been as dark as had previously been thought. To unlock this lesson you must be a Study. Did you know… We have over college courses that prepare you to earn credit by exam that is accepted by over 1, colleges and universities.

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Dark Ages Timeline

We will learn why this period is called the Dark Ages and discuss why some historians are now shying away from this term. Try it risk-free for 30 days. An error occurred trying to load this video. Try refreshing the page, or contact customer support. Register to view this lesson Are you a student or a teacher? I am a student I am a teacher. What teachers are saying about Study. Are you still watching? Your next lesson will play in 10 seconds.

Add to Add to Add to. Want to watch this again later? Loss of Classical Culture. Early Middle Ages in Europe: Clovis and the Merovingians. Establishing Stability through Feudal Ties and Manors. The Rise of Universities and Displacement of Monasteries. Spread of Christianity in Medieval Europe. Heresies and Inquisitions in the High Middle Ages. What is Medieval Feudalism? Middle Age Royals of England and France.