At What Point Did Western Civilization Catch Back Up To The Height of the Roman Empire?

Question

Both intellectually and technologically ?

Answer 1

I think it is an absolute fallacy to believe that Western Europe declined in intellect and technology after the demise of the Roman Empire...........so I don't think there was any "catching up" to do at all.

The expression "Dark Ages" is a real misnomer. These are only "dark" because there is a lack of written evidence for this period in comparison to earlier and later years. This may be pure accident, or it may be that there was less emphasis on written administration during this period.

The problem was that the Roman army withdrew and left the local populations to fend for themselves. This opened up these territories to attack from the Celtic and Viking peoples. But the local population stayed the same and were, to all intents, still "Roman".

Archaeology shows that, far from declining, many areas continued along similar lines and continued to develop. Anyone that has seen the superb craftsmanship that comes from this period could not deny the technical innovation that remained.

As evidence of this, I suggest the following,
Lindisfarne Gospels (see link 1)
The Sutton Hoo burial treasure (see link 2)
The Alfred jewel (see link 3)

Answer 2

Western Civilization was certainly changed by the fall of Rome, but it wasn't the end of the world.
Check out "Barbarians" by Terry Jones and Alan Ereira.

Answer 3

I'm still trying to get past moving Rome out of the western world before I can deal with the question.

Answer 4

I don't know, when? Certainly not yet or I would have noticed.