Dark Ages Dbq Analysis

After the fall of Rome in the 500's and 1500's Europe was in a time period called the "dark ages". Petrarch, an Italian scholar, created the term "dark ages" as stated in the dark ages movie talk. During the dark ages there were many declines and advancements, making it complicated for historians to decide if it was truly a dark age. These growths and declines are making historians go into a long debate about whether the dark age was really a dark age or a period of growth. Although there are some good elements in the dark ages, the many deaths during the Black Death and the unstable government are more reflective of a dark age.

Some factors during the 500's and 1500's support the idea that Europe was in a growth period. For example, Document A discusses the Magna Carta, a series of laws that limited the king's power and gave men more rights. This document states, "No man shall be forced to perform service for a knight's fee, or other free holding of land, than is due from it." Another example in Document C is that there were a lot of advancements and growth during this time period. According to this document, "Available farmland tripled, and the food supply increased …show more content…
For example, Document B discusses that Europe could not control certain conditions in society such as violence and the decline in trade, education, and manufacturing. This document states, " The Germanic Kingdoms which had been set up by 476 were unable to control the Violence." Another example, in Document A, of our black death homework is that many people died during the Black Death plague. According to this document," In all the city there was nothing to do but to carry the dead to a burial." This evidence supports that Europe was experiencing a dark age because it shows that there was a lot of death and