Dark Ages Essay

The Dark Ages in Rome starts with the invasion of the Visigoths in 410 AD led by leader Alaric. After this devastation, Alaric came back in 408 AD and starved Rome of its supplies by blocking off ships and cargo. In 496 AD, the Franks converted to Christianity who had claimed most of Rome. In the middle of warfare, religion was the only light. When Constantine legalized Christianity in 313 AD, it was due to a vision he had experienced during war. With his power steadily growing, Clovis also converted to gain allies, though he had trouble without killing. Clovis ordered his army to kill all of his relatives in order to keep his land and belongings. In 511 AD, he died with the legacy of uniting France under the Franks, known as a stabilizing

force in the Dark Ages. From Constantinople in 533 AD, an army of Romans attempted to capture the rest of Rome. During the 3rd century, Roman split in half and the East and the West continued on.

527 AD, Justinian came to power and tried to bring back the Roman empire under one. Under siege, Justinian decided to leave until Theodora halted him and convinced him to stay and save the Roman empire. Rebuilding Rome, Justinian also built the Hagia Sophia which many other churches modeled after. By 542 AD, he had conquered several regions though the Black Plague diminished his population rapidly. In 548 AD, Theodora died from cancer and Justinian died after along with his dream of conquering Rome. In a monastery in 730 AD, Bede, a Benedictine monk, kept a collection of nearly 250 books preserved to this day. 732 AD, the Franks fought against the Muslims, leaving the Franks victorious. The father of Europe, Charlemagne, was crowned in 800 AD and illuminated Rome in the harsh days of the Dark Ages. In 793 AD, viking raiders invaded Rome and stole the majority of the valuables at the time. 814 AD, Charlemagne dies and the raids continued. In the 9th century, King Alle sought out his old land and tried to get it back, instead, facing the vikings and was taken captive. After, Alfred the Great strategically fought against the great heathen army and finally

conquered. By the 11th century, those still living in Rome had faced severe economic and agricultural drought along with soldier raids on occasion. Using the truth of God, the churches in Rome convinced the knights that those who cannot fight back should not be attacked. The rough times that this nation had gone through did not faze Romans as they continued to fight for themselves and others.
Life in the Dark Ages had been the roughest times considered in history, hence Dark Ages. The sewer systems did not work and trash would often be found lying in the streets. After the raids of the Visigoths, houses were destroyed, belongings were stolen, and most villagers were forced to take down Roman structures to rebuild their own houses. They were also starving as food was restricted and most resorted to cannibalism as an alternative. Those stuck in towns where wars occurred had the most misfortune and suffered through the violence, only wanting peace. Along with fights, the Black Plague diminished a growing population to nearly half its size rather quickly. The daily routine for those living in the Dark Ages was a rough one, and although miraculous discoveries and inspirations were constructed, most people today surely would not want to live in such conditions.