THE DARK AGES What was happening in Europe

THE DARK AGES What was happening in Europe during the Silk Road trading, innovation and collective learning? LT: Evaluate the period in Europe known as the “Dark Ages” and decide if was really “dark”

The Dark Ages Why “Dark”? - NOTES Europe was in a state that: • Did not support learning • Created very little culture (art, literature, architecture) • Was repeatedly invaded • Had no central government • Had a bad economy • Was basically a miserable place 2

Europe during this time can best be described as… NOTES STAGNANT 4 Reasons! 3

Social Systems - NOTES “Feudalism” Small isolated communities, called manors, which consisted of a castle, the church, the village & the surrounding farm land. -Society was made up of a king, lords, nobility who had massive land holdings & serfs, who were bound to the land 4

Trade Stagnation - NOTES - Europe was on the “tail” end of the Silk Road exchange and provided mostly raw materials (cheaper and less desired than finished goods) to the East - Money exchange limited. Coins and bartering - Trade didn’t disappear because the wealthy and religious leaders desired exotic merchandise. 5

Warfare - NOTES Feudal communities would fight each other & communities were attacked from outsiders - Vikings (Swedes, Danes & Norwegians) attacked European communities from the North - The Slavs (modern day Russia) attacked from the East - The Magyars, nomads from Central Asia attacked from the East - Arab Muslims from North Africa attacked from the South 6

Crusades - NOTES For ~200 years European Christians fought Arab Muslims. Historians think about 3 million soldiers & civilians were killed in the fighting. The Crusades were disruptive in Europe. - Land in Europe neglected - If you couldn’t afford to go fight, you were expected to support with offerings, prayer & pilgrimages - Agricultural based economy suffered 7