middle/medieval ages...?

Question

Why is the middle or medieval ages considered as a dark period in time?

Answer 1

The Middle Ages can be roughly classified as covering the period from the 4th to the 15th centuries. Most scholars classify the early period of the Middle Ages, perhaps from the 4th to the 8th centuries, as the "Dark Ages" primarily because:
* economies were simple with little influence of banks
* the relationships between kingdoms was often marked by violent conflicts
* religious groups that were often in control of government ruled by ancient traditions disregarding real needs of society
* and information was held tightly by the elite since the printing press did not come into common use in Europe until about 1500. This made Europe dark from lack of trade and commercial development, uncivil methods in international relations, disregard for leading scientific discoveries that seemed in conflict with religion and dark from lack of information dispersal. It was primarily the geographically broad and sociologically enlightened influence of the Roman Empire previous to the Middle Ages that provided the contrast that allows us to see the early Middle Ages as dark.

Answer 2

It is a stereotype from the Renaissance and Enlightenment, you know the time period when witches were burnt at the stake and mud-slums existed, with "kings" being elected in the poor, dirty parts where houses were made of mud and sticks. Real Enlightened, huh? Such things had their beginnings in the Middle Ages, but did not look anywhere as bad. Belief in witches could get one a hefty fine from the church in the Early Middle Ages, and normal commoners and peasants were only slightly dirtier than people today, and often played games like gameball or verbal rhyming contests. (like modern rap battles) But since the church was corrupt then, and Europe was not united under the Roman Empire, a "nostalgic" feeling for the Classical Age and contempt for the Middle Ages began to spring up in the zealous Renaissance, when witch burning was officially given the A-OK by the Pope and by the Enlightenment (when things got much worse) the idea of the Middle Ages being everything bad in the world had taken hold, and we, now taking a liking to cynicism, have gotten the idea back into the popular imagination, sadly, and few people know what the real Middle Ages looked like at all. Hope this helps.

Answer 3

WEBSITES ON THE MIDDLE AGES / MEDIEVAL LIFE.

http://www.themiddleages.net/

http://www.channel4.com/history/microsites/H/history/guide12/part06.html

http://www.cumbavac.org/Middle_Ages.htm

http://www.learner.org/exhibits/middleages/feudal.html

http://ehistory.osu.edu/middleages/index.cfm

http://www.marietta.edu/~educ/Edweb/lit/middle/

http://www.kyrene.k12.az.us/schools/brisas/sunda/ma/mahome.htm

http://www.geocities.com/jessica12_80/history.html

http://www.medievalonline.com/

http://www.mnsu.edu/emuseum/history/middleages/contents.html

http://www.okcps.org/hs/john_marshall/LIFE%20IN%20THE%20MIDDLE%20AGES.htm

http://www.ucalgary.ca/applied_history/tutor/endmiddle/FRAMES/econframe.html

The Black Death, Bubonic Plague during the Elizabethan Era

http://www.william-shakespeare.info/bubonic-black-plague-elizabethan-era.htm

The Black Death, Scourge of Medieval Europe.

http://watchtower.org/library/g/2000/2/8/article_01.htm

Answer 4

it's after the fall of the roman empire and before the reniassance; there was a lot of ignorance about i suppose!