History Main / DarkAgeEurope

* ''TheSecretOfKells''

In Hollywood Land, however, this was a time of muck and more muck. The cleanest—and most well-known—figure of this period generally ends up being [[Myth/KingArthur Arthur]], King (...ish) of the Britons, who had a round table, around which sat his band of noble and chivalrous [[strike:knights]] blokes with big swords (many of whom proved ''not'' so noble and chivalrous once left to their own devices). Since most accounts of Arthur were written centuries after he supposedly lived, and featured fashion and architecture from the time they were written, many Hollywood 'historians' lump him in with TheHighMiddleAges (but hey, since when have ''they'' been [[AnachronismStew sticklers for accuracy]]?).

A time of anarchy and chaos (roughly 500 - 900 CE), when people were [[TheDungAges disease-ridden and covered with filth]], unless one [[Film/MontyPythonAndTheHolyGrail happened to be king]]... at least, if you believe what ''Hollywood'' says about them -- according to real modern historians this is a load of cobblers based purely on the fact that we don't have many documents from that time.

* ''Film/HowToTrainYourDragon'', both [[Literature/HowToTrainYourDragon the book series]] and the 2010 movie.

The term “Dark Ages” only makes sense if you understand the technical definition of the word “history”, which is: “The study of stuff people wrote about themselves back in the day.” The Dark Ages were dark not because they were DarkerAndEdgier, or because there was a shortage of candles, but because very few of their writings have survived to the present day, leaving History in the dark about what things were like. We cannot tell for certain whether the Dark Ages were darker and edgier than the eras that came before and after. In fact, there is absolutely no evidence at all that there was any kind of 'technological Dark Age' at all, rather the evidence favors continued gradual development. According to several historians the reason we have writings from Pliny and other earlier writers at all is because they were dutifully copied by monks. The reason we tend to look down on this period is because in the Renaissance there was a massive upsurge in interest in ancient Greek, Roman, and Egyptian culture and a great deal of belittlement and scorn for the previous millennium. The fact that we have so few historical documents from the 'Dark Ages' could well be explained by the distaste for this time and the outright systematic destruction of many great Gothic buildings from the Middle Ages (aside from ones that were ''still under construction'', like the Cologne Cathedral). From a historical view point it would be more accurate to pinpoint this age from 661 (when the Europeans lost contact with Syria and Egypt due to Muslim invasions) to about 1100 (when the Crusades recovered lost information from the Classical Era). We know what happened during those times though and it is for [[TheCrusades whatever reason]] a rather touchy subject so fiction writers do not touch it.

This period heralded the [[AfterTheEnd fall]] and [[BalkanizeMe division]] of the Western Roman Empire (the Eastern half was able to survive), and the rise of monasticism in Europe. Hollywood monks are pious men, clad in long brown robes, with rosaries and tonsure haircuts. They spend their days dipping feathered quills into inkwells and scribbling strange script into large books by candlelight. That is, when they're not out chasing lusty, busty tavern wenches. Hollywood monks don't take that whole “celibacy” thing all that seriously. Neither, in fact, did the regular clergy; celibacy did not become a requirement of the priesthood until ''very'' late in the Middle Ages. It ''was'', however, mandated in nearly every set of monastic rules, including those of Benedict. It was also a time of interesting contrasts: during this period, Christian and Pagan folklore and traditions were syncretized in the minds of the public, which gave rise to some of the most famous mythologies and legends of the Middle Ages, such as Beowulf, Siegfried, and the aforementioned King Arthur.

* NorseMythology

In Hollywood Land, however, this was a time of muck and more muck. The cleanest—and most well-known—figure of this period generally ends up being [[KingArthur Arthur]], King (...ish) of the Britons, who had a round table, around which sat his band of noble and chivalrous [[strike:knights]] blokes with big swords (many of whom proved ''not'' so noble and chivalrous once left to their own devices). Since most accounts of Arthur were written centuries after he supposedly lived, and featured fashion and architecture from the time they were written, many Hollywood 'historians' lump him in with TheHighMiddleAges (but hey, since when have ''they'' been [[AnachronismStew sticklers for accuracy]]?).

* Literature/KingArthur

* All movie and literary versions of ''Literature/KingArthur''.

* KingArthur

* All movie and literary versions of ''KingArthur''.

* ''{{Outlander}}'' (2008), i.e., Beowulf, [[RecycledInSpace the Sci-Fi Remix]].

* SlavicMythology

In Hollywood Land, however, this was a time of muck and more muck. The cleanest—and most well-known—figure of this period generally ends up being [[KingArthur Arthur]], King(…ish) of the Britons, who had a round table, around which sat his band of noble and chivalrous [[strike:knights]] blokes with big swords (many of whom proved ''not'' so noble and chivalrous once left to their own devices). Since most accounts of Arthur were written centuries after he supposedly lived, and featured fashion and architecture from the time they were written, many Hollywood 'historians' lump him in with TheHighMiddleAges (but hey, since when have ''they'' been [[AnachronismStew sticklers for accuracy]]?).

The term “Dark Ages” only makes sense if you understand the technical definition of the word “history”, which is: “The study of stuff people wrote about themselves back in the day.” The Dark Ages were dark not because they were DarkerAndEdgier, or because there was a shortage of candles, but because very few of their writings have survived to the present day, leaving History in the dark about what things were like. We cannot tell for certain whether the Dark Ages were darker and edgier than the eras that came before and after. In fact, there is absolutely no evidence at all that there was any kind of 'technological Dark Age' at all, rather the evidence favours continued gradual development. According to several historians the reason we have writings from Pliny and other earlier writers at all is because they were dutifully copied by monks. The reason we tend to look down on this period is because in the Renaissance there was a massive upsurge in interest in ancient Greek, Roman, and Egyptian culture and a great deal of belittlement and scorn for the previous millennium. The fact that we have so few historical documents from the 'Dark Ages' could well be explained by the distaste for this time and the outright systematic destruction of many great Gothic buildings from the Middle Ages (aside from ones that were ''still under construction'', like the Cologne Cathedral). From a historical view point it would be more accurate to pinpoint this age from 661 (when the Europeans lost contact with Syria and Egypt due to Muslim invasions) to about 1100 (when the Crusades recovered lost information from the Classical Era). We know what happened during those times though and it is for [[TheCrusades whatever reason]] a rather touchy subject so fiction writers do not touch it.

* GoldenAge: A localised one in Ireland which saw a huge cultural, religious and artistic flowering thanks to the arrival of monasticism (this where the 'Saints' from an 'Island of Saints and Scholars' comes in.)

* VestigialEmpire: TheRomanEmpire collapsed in the fifth century, leaving crumbling roads and aquaducts to lace Europe--but only the Western half. [[ByzantineEmpire The Eastern Roman Empire]] continued on until the fifteenth century: advanced infrastructure, a literate culture, and a higher standard of living, but in an increasingly smaller territory.

** {{Excalibur}}, his sword

!!! Related UsefulNotes pages:

* UsefulNotes/CelticMythology

A time of anarchy and chaos (roughly 500 - 900 CE), when people were [[TheDungAges disease-ridden and covered with filth]], unless one [[Film/MontyPythonAndTheHolyGrail happened to be king]].....at least, if you believe what ''Hollywood'' says about them - according to real modern historians this is a load of cobblers based purely on the fact that we don't have many documents from that time.

* VestigialEmpire: TheRomanEmpire collapsed in the fifth century, leaving crumbling roads and aquaducts to lace Europe--but only the Western part. The Eastern Roman Empire continued to claim the title of Roman Empire and limped on until the fifteenth century: advanced infrastructure, literate culture, and a higher standard of living, but in an increasingly smaller territory.

This period heralded the [[AfterTheEnd fall]] and [[BalkanizeMe division]] of the Roman Empire, and the rise of monasticism in Europe. Hollywood monks are pious men, clad in long brown robes, with rosaries and tonsure haircuts. They spend their days dipping feathered quills into inkwells and scribbling strange script into large books by candlelight. That is, when they're not out chasing lusty, busty tavern wenches. Hollywood monks don't take that whole “celibacy” thing all that seriously. Neither, in fact, did the regular clergy; celibacy did not become a requirement of the priesthood until ''very'' late in the Middle Ages. It ''was'', however, mandated in nearly every set of monastic rules, including those of Benedict. It was also a time of interesting contrasts: during this period, Christian and Pagan folklore and traditions were syncretized in the minds of the public, which gave rise to some of the most famous mythologies and legends of the Middle Ages, such as Beowulf, Siegfried, and the aforementioned King Arthur.

* VestigialEmpire: TheRomanEmpire collapsed in the fifth century, leaving crumbling roads and aquaducts to lace Europe--but only the Western part. The Eastern Roman Empire rebranded itself the Byzantine Empire and limped on until the fifteenth century: advanced infrastructure, literate culture, and a higher standard of living, but in an increasingly smaller territory.

* CelticMythology

The term “Dark Ages” only makes sense if you understand the technical definition of the word “history”, which is: “The study of stuff people wrote about themselves back in the day.” The Dark Ages were dark not because they were DarkerAndEdgier, or because there was a shortage of candles, but because very few of their writings have survived to the present day, leaving History in the dark about what things were like. We cannot tell for certain whether the Dark Ages were darker and edgier than the eras that came before and after. In fact, there is absolutely no evidence at all that there was any kind of 'technological Dark Age' at all, rather the evidence favours continued gradual development. According to several historians the reason we have writings from Pliny and other earlier writers at all is because they were dutifully copied by monks. The reason we tend to look down on this period is because in the Renaissance there was a massive upsurge in interest in ancient Greek, Roman, and Egyptian culture and a great deal of belittlement and scorn for the previous millennium. The fact that we have so few historical documents from the 'Dark Ages' could well be explained by the distaste for this time and the outright systematic destruction of many great Gothic buildings from the Middle Ages (aside from ones that were ''still under construction'', like the Cologne Cathedral). Also, depending on your perspective, the lack of Roman overlords breathing down your neck was probably an improvement. From a historical view point it would be more accurate to pinpoint this age from 661 (when the Europeans lost contact with Syria and Egypt due to Muslim invasions) to about 1100 (when the Crusades recovered lost information from the Classical Era). We know what happened during those times though and it is for [[TheCrusades whatever reason]] a rather touchy subject so fiction writers do not touch it.

[[quoteright:350:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/werrwerqw_9881.png]]
[[caption-width-right:350:The traditional view of the DarkAges]]

A time of anarchy and chaos (roughly 500 - 900 CE), when people were [[TheDungAges disease-ridden and covered with filth]], unless one [[Film/MontyPythonAndTheHolyGrail happened to be king]]. At least, if you believe what Hollywood says about them - according to real modern historians this is a load of cobblers based purely on the fact that we don't have many documents from that time.

This period heralded the [[AfterTheEnd fall]] and [[BalkanizeMe division]] of the Roman Empire, and the rise of monasticism in Europe. Hollywood monks are pious men, clad in long brown robes, with rosaries and tonsure haircuts. They spend their days dipping feathered quills into inkwells and scribbling strange script into large books by candlelight. That is, when they're not out chasing lusty, busty tavern wenches. Hollywood monks don't take that whole “celibacy” thing all that seriously. Neither, in fact, did the regular clergy; celibacy did not become a requirement of the priesthood until ''very'' late in the Middle Ages. It ''was'', however, mandated in nearly every set of monastic rules, including those of Benedict. It was also a time of interesting contrasts: during this period, Christian and Pagan folklore and traditions were syncretized, which gave rise to some of the most famous mythologies and legends of the Middle Ages, such as Beowulf, Siegfried, and the aforementioned King Arthur.

A time of anarchy and chaos (roughly 400 - 600 CE), when people were [[TheDungAges disease-ridden and covered with filth]], unless one [[Film/MontyPythonAndTheHolyGrail happened to be king]]. At least, if you believe what Hollywood says about them - according to real modern historians this is a load of cobblers based purely on the fact that we don't have many documents from that time.

* VestigialEmpire: TheRomanEmpire was alive and (relatively) well in the east. It maintained its infrastructure, literate culture, and a higher standard of living, but its territory was reduced considerably.

* TheLowMiddleAges: Is there really a difference?

* SlavicMythology: Provided you can find a piece of media involving it, heh heh.