Intellectual decline and cultural stagnation during the Dark Ages

Dark ages and the middle ages existed between fifth and fourteenth century. The Dark Ages observed traditional and modern clashes when there was no intellectual growth not only the public but also the kings and rulers of the countries were illiterate. The Roman culture was deteriorating and the intellectual growth in Roman society stopped. The Dark Age prevailed in whole of Europe and. It is stated that the period was a transition between the Roman height and the High Middle Ages. The Latin literature also fell and the progress could not continue. The social and cultural dominancy of the Europe over rest of world could not sustain. The history speaks that the social and demographic richness and achievements converted into social challenges. It was a time of backwardness for the rich as well as poor as compared to the Roman era when literature and literary growth was prevalent.

Annotated Bibliography

The annotated bibliography is the description of literature in a specific style and method. The annotated bibliography defines the article and its author and them offers a brief summary of what is discussed in the literature. The Dark Ages are discussed in the form of annotated bibliography in this section. There are four articles that are discussed to give an insight to different elements of the time after Roman era. There were important concerns of literature, knighthood, role of Ireland and the chivalric codes to discuss different virtues and values of that time.

Encyclopedist of the Dark Ages

Ernest Brehaut

Concilio Toletano

The dark ages were a time for the European nations when the societies were not progressing rather facing turmoil. There was a religious orthodox dominance that prevented development in the countries. Research and scientific work was prohibited. The societies were not evolving and the scientific efforts were punished. The Dark ages are recognized by exclusion of logic from religion and religion for science. The energies of the society were wasted in fighting between developments and maintaining of traditional culture. The people suffered a lack of focus in literacy, education, architecture and other features of social development. The Pagan and Christian backwardness deprived the society of social and intellectual growth.

The literary progress also halted during the dark ages. However there were some individuals that maintained literary efforts thus the world today knows what the situations during the dark ages were. Galileo is an example as a scientist who faced many issues and restrictions in the way of scientific research. The experimental frameworks of the people during dark ages were burnt. Thus the dark ages were dark ages since the society, science and literature could not progress a lot.

Rural Settlement in Ireland in the Middle Ages: An overview

Terry Barry

Supplementum

Pages: 134-141

Ireland is country with historical importance in the European land. The country was similar as well as different to other countries in many aspects. The country offered traditional heritage and support to the other neighboring lands. The article suggests that since the Roman's never settled in Ireland, it faced the Middle Ages differently. The middle ages are counted as a period during dark ages from 5th century to the fifteenth century. The country had a much stable system that is evident from the social and residential structure during dark ages in Ireland. Barry (1996) says that the country had tower houses in the fourteenth century (p. 140). The step towards modern ages was also that the country built stone architecture and courtyards when most of the countries had no sense of a well-established home. The Irish model was suitable and adoptable for the other countries as well. The literature shows that there were distributed farms that enhanced the landscape and utilized the area reasonably. Thus besides the active role in actually ending the dark ages, it is at least clear that the company had a model that could lead the time after dark ages.

Literature and Ethics: From the Green Knight to the Dark Knight

Steve Brie and William T. Rossiter

Page: 28

The Chivalric Code is the rules of conduct of the Knights and the ancient heroes. The Knights used to hold a Chaucer that expressed their mortal behavior. The knights and their Chivalry used to transform worldly acts into spiritual deeds. The English Knights had saintly existence and their powers used to reside in their chivalry that gave them bravery and confidence. The Chaucer and chivalry was considered to grant powers to fight the enemies of God. The authors say that Chaucer lied over expeditions in the knight's operations. The military ethics adopted by the knights were based on human morals that were universally acceptable as well as universally idealized. The Knights believed in honor, chivalrous love, politeness, and tradition. The Code of Chivalry of the Knights was system of morality that believed that it was a responsibility of society to take care of widows, often, and elders. The Knight's code of Chivalry taught them discipline and not aggressive passion alone. The Knights were considered the military as well as spiritual leaders. Thus their power was in fighting but more than that humility. Bravery was considered a power to control self, more than the control on the enemy. It is the Knighthood and their spiritual guidance that resulted into the support of people and masses during the dark ages.

Conclusion

The dark ages were a period when the literary, educational and scientific progress halted in the European countries. There was tie between religion and science thus the people only managed to survive rather to grow. The countries however maintained their military heritage and the heroic stories of the knights adopted spiritual form where the values and virtues associated with the Knights were universal and can be related today even. Thus despite the cultural and economic suppression during the dark ages, the people survived and narrated the stories of legends.