Era was more
about day-to-day struggle for
existence than artistic creativity,
intellectual thought, scholarship. No
great ideas and no great art!
Literary darkness.
100
Monastic life inspired illuminated
manuscripts, metalwork. (Ireland: c.
500-700' s).
Also historical writings of
Bedel. Also "heroic" lit. - Beowulf
(Anglo-Saxon), Tain Bo Cualnge
(Celtic), Song of Roland (Frankish)
200
prevailed.
Post-Roman political mayhem and
disorder 5th thru 8th centuries,
followed by Vikings and Magyars in
9th and io" centuries.
battle-axe anarchy
200
Charlemagne era in 8th century revived
universal empire concept. Two
Germanic tribes -
Franks & Angleshad
produced sizable states in France
and England by the later 10th century.
300
The
moral standards of the clergy
declined - bishops/abbots/popes had
concubines, slaves, armor, swords,
drank heavily. No great churches
were built.
Christianity was barbarized!
300
Pacifying effect of Christianity -
Saints
developed as role models of moral
perfection. Monks demonstrated hard
work & scholarship as a virtue. Church
was the best organized political force:
the agent of cultural unity. Europe in
medieval times meant Christendom.
400
Roads
deteriorated; barter replaced money;
towns declined. Trade was local.
Subsistence farming. Compared to
five centuries of "camping out"!
Economic life regressed.
400
Monasteries were also market centers.
Other trade revival evidence -
(I) in the
Mediterranean: rise of Venice from 7th
century; (II) in North Atlantic world:
Viking towns & Norse maritime empire;
(III) on fertile manors: some agricultural
improvements by 1000.
1 Bede's