Holy men who met their unholy ends
The Dark Ages is a term generally applied to the early Middle Ages in Western Europe after the collapse of the Roman Empire. The description suggests prevailing ignorance and barbarism, but while the period was certainly characterized by violence, superstition, and social upheaval, the Dark Ages are far more illuminating than you might think. In fact, during the timeline that denotes the fall of Rome up to the Renaissance, numerous scientific, educational, and artistic advances were made, bringing with them significant political, religious, and social changes in European and world history. Everybody, it seems, was starting to lighten up.
Click through and be reminded of the major events that shed a positive light on the Dark Ages.
In 523, Roman senator and philosopher Anicius Manlius Severinus Boethius (c. 477–524) compiled 'The Consolation of Philosophy.' It was immediately celebrated as the single most important and influential work in the West on Medieval and early Renaissance Christianity.
The devising of the Anno Domini dating system by Dionysius Exiguus (c. 470–c. 544) was unveiled in 525. The calendar was gradually accepted to become the most widely accepted system for counting years in the world.
In 1543, Renaissance astronomer and mathematician Nicolaus Copernicus (1473–1543) formulated a model of the universe that placed the Sun rather than Earth at its center. His revelation marked a paradigm shift in the history of science, and had quite a few theologians scratching their heads.
In 563, Irish missionary St. Columba (521–597) established an abbey on Iona, an island on the western coast of Scotland. The abbey became a dominant religious and political institution in the region for centuries, and marked an important point in the development of Christianity in the British Isles.
Gregory the Great (c. 540–604) became Pope Gregory I in 590, serving until his death. He is known for instigating the first recorded large-scale mission from Rome, the Gregorian Mission, thus strengthening the role of the papacy and spreading the Christian religion.
The Prophet Muhammed and his followers fled Mecca in 622 and established themselves in Yathrib (later Medina). The Islamic calendar began with this flight (hegira)—a key event in the development of the Islamic religion.
After the Sui dynasty (581–618) established its rule over a reunified China, Buddhism began to flourish as a faith. By 691, Buddhism was officially accepted as the state religion to eventually become one of the major religions of the world.
After being crowned Emperor of the Romans by Pope Leo III in 800, Charlemagne (747–814)—the first person in Western Europe to hold that title—succeeded in uniting the majority of western and central Europe.
In 820, Persian polymath Muhammad ibn Musa al-Khwarizmi (c. 780–c. 850) wrote Al-Jabr, a mathematical treatise on algebra. The Latin translation, 'The Compendious Book on Calculation by Completion and Balancing,' introduced Europe to algebra, including the first systematic solution of linear and quadratic equations: the Latinized version of al-Khwarizmi's name gives us the word "algorithm."
The Treaty of Verdun, agreed in 843, divided the Carolingian Empire into West Francia, Lotharingia, and East Francia—effectively creating the nascent states of France and Germany.
The Duchy of Normandy is established after an agreement is signed in 911 between King Charles III and the Viking leader Rollo that effectively secured the region against other Norse invaders. The Normans later emerged as a significant and powerful society.
Founded in 969 over a sixth-century urban plan, the new city of al-Qāhirah eventually became the capital of Egypt. By the 14th century, Cairo was one of the largest cities in the world and today is still the largest city in the Arab world.
The Persian scholar Ibn Sīnā, or Avicenna, completed his 'Canon of Medicine' in 1025, which would remain as a standard medical textbook through the 18th century in Europe. Pictured is an illuminated page from a 15th-century edition of one of the five books that comprised the encyclopedia.
Chinese artisan, inventor, and engineer Bi Sheng (972–1051) pioneered the use of wooden moveable type, in around 1040. His invention significantly advanced the printing process, the technology of which is later developed and expanded outside of China.
The East-West Schism of 1054, also known as the Great Schism, marked the break of communion between the Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox churches. Pictured is Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I of Constantinople kissing the head of Pope Francis in 2014 in a highly symbolic gesture as both work to narrow the differences between the two churches that still exist today.
The introduction of the heavy plough in the 10th century galvanized agriculture in northern Europe. The device could turn over far more fertile clay soil deep in the earth, and greatly facilitated the planting of crops.
Another key innovation around the same period, the mid-10th century, was the horse collar. Placed around a horse's neck and shoulders to distribute weight and protect the animal when pulling a wagon or plough, the collar revolutionized both agriculture and transportation.
In 1077, Henry IV (1050–1106) the Holy Roman Emperor, walked from Speyer in Germany to Canossa Castle in northern Italy to meet Pope Gregory VII (1015–1085) to seek absolution and the revocation of his excommunication. The long trek and his begging of forgiveness was later described by historians as one of the most dramatic moments of the Dark Ages, and in relations between church and state.
The publication in 1084 of Zizhi Tongjian ('Comprehensive Mirror in Aid of Governance') marked the end of a 19-year writing project undertaken by Chinese scholar Sima Guang (1019–1086) and his team to compile one of the most ambitious works of history ever created—a chronicle of China from 403 BCE to 959 CE. It was published in 294 volumes.
In 1088, the University of Bologna was founded. Later during the Dark Ages, many other universities develop from church cathedral-monastic schools. Bologna remains the oldest university in continuous operation in the world.
In the 12th century, French abbot Suger (c. 1081–1151) became one of the earliest patrons of Gothic architecture with his work on the Basilica of Saint-Denis in Paris. The new architectural style would later flourish throughout medieval Europe.
The Jewish philosopher Moses ben Maimon (1138–1204), commonly known as Maimonides, wrote the 14-volume Mishneh Torah over a 10-year period, from 1170-80. It became one of the key references on Judaism. Pictured is a draft in Sephardic script, written in his own hand.
The Magna Carta, a royal charter of rights agreed to by King John of England at Runnymede, near Windsor, on June 15, 1215, served as the first document to put into writing the principle that the king and his government are not above the law. It's seen as the beginning of legal limits on the power of monarchs.
Italian poet, writer, and philosopher Dante Alighieri (1265–1321) completed the 'Divine Comedy' in 1320, a year before his death. It is widely considered the preeminent work in Italian literary history, and one of the greatest works in world literature.
The Kalmar Union was established in 1397, joining together the kingdoms of Norway, Denmark, and Sweden. The Scandinavian union is sealed at Kalmar in Sweden by Margaret I of Denmark (1353–1412).
In 1401, Italian artist and goldsmith Lorenzo Ghiberti (1378–1455) won a competition to design the doors of the Florence Baptistery. Referred to by Michelangelo as the "Gates of Paradise," the design is seen as one of the key moments in the beginning of the Renaissance.
Prince Henry the Navigator (1394–1460) became a central figure in the era of Portuguese exploration, sponsoring early voyages that led to the discovery of the Madeira archipelago in 1418 and later those along the West African coast—expeditions that eventually open up a sea route to India.
German printer and publisher Johannes Gutenberg (c. 1400–1468) introduced printing to Europe in 1439 with his mechanical movable-type printing press. His work initiated the printing revolution across the continent and the spread of information.
The marriage in 1469 of King Ferdinand II of Aragon (1452–1516) to Queen Isabella I of Castile (1451– 1504) and their joint rule of Spain marked the de facto unification of the nation and the establishment of the country as a major international power.
Columbus seglade till Amerika
Explorer and navigator Christopher Columbus (1451–1506) completed his first voyage west across the Atlantic Ocean to reach the Caribbean. The historic landfall began the period of European settlement and colonization in the Americas.
Sources: (Britannica) (National Geographic)
The illuminated side of the Dark Ages
The major events that shed a positive light on this period of history
LIFESTYLE History
The Dark Ages is a term generally applied to the early Middle Ages in Western Europe after the collapse of the Roman Empire. The description suggests prevailing ignorance and barbarism, but while the period was certainly characterized by violence, superstition, and social upheaval, the Dark Ages are far more illuminating than you might think. In fact, during the timeline that denotes the fall of Rome up to the Renaissance, numerous scientific, educational, and artistic advances were made, bringing with them significant political, religious, and social changes in European and world history. Everybody, it seems, was starting to lighten up.
Click through and be reminded of the major events that shed a positive light on the Dark Ages.