Why is it that when the Roman Catholic Church ruled the world, ...?

Question

...after the fall of Rome, it was called THE DARK AGES? Why was it, after coming out of the DARK AGES and learning about science and art, was it called the AGE OF ENLIGHTENMENT??

Answer 1

The "Dark Ages" is a derogatory term for the European Middle Ages used by Protestants to trivialize and demonize the Catholic Church of the time.

The term referred to a supposed lack of learning in the period. Actually, the Middle Ages were not really so "dark."

== Inventions of the Middle Ages ==
+ 551 Cultivation and manufacture of silk introduced into Europe by two monks
+ 555 Invention of water-mills
+ 601 Window-glass for churches and dwellings
+ 605 Bells for churches
+ 673 Organs
+ 706 Paper, made of cotton; 1270 Paper, made of linen
+ 600 The Gregorian Chant, and scale in music
+ 1089 Clocks with balance and wheels
+ 1199 Glass-staining, with the art of imprinting figures upon it
+ 1306 Watches
+ 1310 The mariner’s compass
+ 1450 Printing

Here is an article that also addresses learning, literature, medical advances, and art of the middle ages:http://www.catholicapologetics.net/dark_ages.htm

With love in Christ.

Answer 2

Here is a very rushed reply which I hope answers your question.

The Roman Catholic Church has never ruled the world - there was a period when the church became a pawn and the 'Holy Roman' emperor either nominated, supported or opposed the church. There was also the time when the Pope and his court moved to Avignon. However, there were also the Greek Church and the Muslem forces operating in different parts of Europe and beyond.

The Dark Ages deal with a period of history (pre 16th century) when there was no technology and there are limited historical records beyond court and church chronicles. Learning was mainly in the hands of monks and priests.

The invention of the printing press spread the written word quickly (previously all books were hand written) and this spurred the rise of literacy and the start of popular literature (also the establishment of political and other debate) It also meant that scientific works could be duplicated and this helped kickstart the discoveries that eventually led to the Industrial Revolution.

At the same time, countries started to establsih their independence from church rule (although still recognising the authority of God) and the Catholic Church became concerned with trying to establish orthodoxy and maintain influence whilst keeping a territorial base.

Answer 3

Sorry, but it was the church- specifically the monasteries- that preserved much of the learning and "civilization" of the era. They were called the Dark Ages because across Europe, so-called barbarian peoples destroyed much of the culture Rome had introduced. Most of those peoples- Germanic tribes, Celts, Gaels, Scandinavians- were not Christians or under the influence of the church. As Christianity continued to spread among those peoples as well, the dark ages came to a close. Do not confuse the Dark Ages with the Middle Ages; they were two separate periods. The Middle Ages came before the "Age of Enlightenment", or Renaissance.

Answer 4

Historically the Middle Ages came after the fall of the Roman Empire left the "known" world in chaos. There was not central government and people where concentrating on surviving the invasions of outsiders and plagues. The turning point came during the Crusades. People started to stand together. Their travel to the Mideast open new roadways and introduced many things that had not been available before. The church should actually be considered the major source of hope and retention of what was known before the Middle Ages rather than an oppressor.

It's interesting to me how history has been altered to the newer generations.

Answer 5

It wasn't called the dark ages during the Dark Ages. It was because everything was so depressed and suppressed during the time. Like it is in Muslim countries today. In the age of Enlightenment people were beginning to get a little freedom. These terms are only used in the West.

Answer 6

The Catholic Church is not in the Age of Enlightment. This is was the New Agers call it. The Dark Ages were called such because of all the deaths, wars and people in denial. The Church was in a time of not so happy times. Just like when the Israelites fought against the pagans.

Answer 7

The Dark Ages were so called because what was then the only "civilized" society on earth was taken over by barbarians.

The Dark Ages can also be referred to as the Middle Ages. I don't really know what the cause or origin of the Enlightenment was. Perhaps Michelangelo's influence on human talent and the endless possibilities therein.

Answer 8

Um, actually the term "middle ages" is preferred (as in between the fall of the Roman Empire and the Renaissance). And while the Renaissance was a celebration of what we would consider more worldly values, it wans't quite to the level of the Enlightenment.
A more correct time line would be:
Roman Empire
Middle Ages
Renaissance
Reformation
Counter Reformation
Enlightenment
Every other period is a swing of the pendulum. Two steps forward and one step back.
But I do agree with your assesment that while the Christian church ruled and the common people thought in terms only of their reward in the next life, this life was hell on earth.

Answer 9

It was called the Dark Ages quite a long time after they ended, and they were designated as such because scientific and social progress seemed to be non-existent, though a close look reveals that several important events occurred that shaped Western Europe (agricultural revolution, horse yoke, stirrup, magna carta, etc.). They just all occurred at an incredibly slow pace because progress wasn't a goal in itself back then.

Answer 10

There were no advancements in literature, science, arts or anything really and many of the Roman discoveries and inventions were lost. People were more focused on just surviving because most had no stable government above them, so they had no time to focus on advancing in the world