The Dark Ages...How Dark Were They, Really?: Crash Course World History #14

Summary

This Crash Course World History episode explores the so-called 'Dark Ages' with a critical eye, challenging the Eurocentric view that this period was unenlightened. The video discusses the feudal system in medieval Europe, the cultural and scientific advancements in the Islamic world under the Abbasids, and the golden ages in China with the Tang and Song Dynasties. It highlights the achievements in art, science, and technology, such as the development of gunpowder and the use of paper money, showing that the period was far from 'dark' in many parts of the world.

Takeaways

• 🕯️ The term 'Dark Ages' is often used to describe the period between 600 and 1450 CE in Europe, but its appropriateness is debated due to significant advancements in other parts of the world during this time.
• 🏰 In Europe, the Middle Ages were characterized by less trade, fewer cities, and a decline in cultural output compared to the Roman Empire, but life expectancy slightly increased due to smaller scale wars.
• 👑 Feudalism was the dominant political and economic system in medieval Europe, with a hierarchy of lords, vassals, and peasants, but it lacked social mobility and reinforced the status quo.
• 🌍 The decentralization of power to local lords during times of political stress is a common historical pattern observed in various regions, including China and Afghanistan.
• 📚 Despite the perception of the Middle Ages as a period of ignorance, scholars like Thomas Aquinas and Hildegard of Bingen made significant contributions to philosophy, music, and literature.
• 🕌 The Islamic world, or Dar al-Islam, experienced a golden age of learning and culture, especially under the Abbasid dynasty, which fostered an environment of tolerance and intellectual curiosity.
• 📘 The Abbasids' capital in Baghdad became the center of scholarship, with the House of Wisdom and its immense library, where works of Greek philosophers and scientific texts were translated and preserved.
• 🌐 The Islamic Empire's openness to foreign ideas led to advancements in various fields, including medicine, with ibn Sina's 'Canon of Medicine' becoming a standard textbook, and mathematics, with the adoption of concepts like zero from India.
• 🏙️ In Spain, Islamic Cordoba emerged as a center for arts and architecture, with structures like the Great Mosque of Cordoba showcasing the region's engineering prowess.
• 📈 China's Tang and Song dynasties also experienced golden ages, with advancements in government, art, poetry, and technology, including the invention of gunpowder and the use of paper money.
• 🌾 Agricultural innovations and trade in China led to economic growth, with porcelain being exported worldwide and the production of iron surpassing that of 18th-century Europe.

Q & A

What is the common term used to describe the period between 600 and 1450 CE in Europe, and why is it called so?

The period between 600 and 1450 CE in Europe is commonly referred to as the Middle Ages or the Dark Ages. It is called the Dark Ages because it is often perceived as a time of reduced cultural output, fewer cities, and less trade compared to the Roman Empire, and it was supposedly dominated by superstition and religious debates.

What was the life expectancy of Europeans during the Middle Ages compared to the Roman Empire?

The life expectancy of Europeans during the Middle Ages was slightly longer, at 30 years, compared to the Roman Empire period, where it was 28 years.

What is feudalism and how was it structured in medieval Europe?

Feudalism was a political and economic system in medieval Europe based on reciprocal relationships between lords, who owned land, and vassals, who protected the land and were often knights. The lords were also vassals to more important lords, with the king being the most important. Below the knights were peasants, who worked the land in exchange for protection.

How did the Islamic world contrast with Europe during the so-called 'Dark Ages'?

During the time referred to as the 'Dark Ages' in Europe, the Islamic world, or Dar al Islam, experienced a golden age of learning and cultural efflorescence. This was characterized by advancements in philosophy, medicine, and poetry, with Arabic becoming the language of culture, and the establishment of centers of scholarship like the House of Wisdom in Baghdad.

What significant event led to the overthrow of the Umayyad Dynasty in the Islamic world?

The Umayyad Dynasty was overthrown in 750 CE by non-Arab Muslims who were dissatisfied with the hierarchy that placed Arabs at the top and prevented fraternization between Arabs and non-Arab Muslims.

Who were the Abbasids and what changes did they bring to the Islamic Empire?

The Abbasids were a family from the Eastern, more Persian provinces of the Islamic Empire. After taking over in 750 CE, they moved the capital to Baghdad, welcomed non-Arab Muslims into positions of power, and fostered an environment of tolerance and curiosity, leading to a golden age of Islamic learning.

What is the significance of the Battle of the Talas River in the context of the Tang Dynasty and the Abbasids?

The Battle of the Talas River was a significant conflict between the Tang Dynasty and the Abbasids. The Abbasids' victory defined the spheres of influence, with the Abbasids dominating to the west of the river and China dominating to the east.

How did the Song Dynasty contribute to advancements in Chinese society and economy?

The Song Dynasty saw significant advancements in Chinese society and economy. They innovated in metallurgy, producing as much iron as Europe would in the 18th century, developed high-quality porcelain, introduced paper money due to a shortage of metal for coins, and documented the recipe for gunpowder, which had profound impacts on warfare and technology.

What was the cultural and technological impact of the Islamic Golden Age on the world?

The Islamic Golden Age had a profound impact on world culture and technology. It saw the translation and preservation of Greek, Buddhist, and Hindu manuscripts, advancements in medicine with works like the Canon of Medicine by ibn Sina, and the adoption of mathematical concepts from India, including the concept of zero and the development of Arabic numerals.

What is the significance of the Great Mosque at Cordoba in the context of Islamic Spain?

The Great Mosque at Cordoba, built by the Umayyad ruler Abd al-Rahman I in 785-786 CE, is a significant architectural achievement of Islamic Spain. It exemplifies the artistic and engineering prowess of the Muslims in Spain and is still one of the most impressive mosques in the world.

How did the Chinese innovations in agriculture and trade during the Song Dynasty support population growth and global commerce?

Innovations in agriculture, such as new plows made from the abundant iron production, allowed for increased agricultural yields, which supported population growth. High-quality porcelain and the introduction of paper money facilitated global commerce, with Chinese goods being traded extensively and contributing to the term 'china' being used for porcelain.