Light in the Dark Ages

    Dark ages is a term once used to describe the middle Ages, specially the early middle Ages, which lasted from the AD 400s to the 900s. The term referred to a supposed lack of learning in the period. Actually, the middle Ages were not completely 'dark'. The period only seemed dark to scholar of the more advanced Renaissance, and to a historians influenced by them. Any period may be called Dark Age either because it is unknowable or it is saturated with pains, sufferings and woes. Mostly below- mentioned points are discussed while regarding middle age as a dark age.

1. Very rare documents are available.
2. No literature, philosophy, science and technology were seen.
3. Theology overshadowed the intellectual exercise as a result faith ruled over reason.
4. Age of superstition, orthodox and fatalism.
5. Conflicting time between politics and religion, state and church, rulers and pope, Roman language and barbarian language, feudal lords and serfs.
6. Confession was a means of judgments.
7. Plato's academy was closed which means door to classical education was no more open.
8. People were suffering from different diseases without any proper treatment.

The fall of Roman Empire
    Before the fall of Roman Empire, people were enjoying peace and order in the country. They were enjoying pelf, power and prosperity but in 410 AD barbarian sacked Rome and devastated the countryside around it. Question may arise from where they came and attacked? In China, a great Wall was built by shin-Huang-it He made this wall to protect China from external enemies. He wanted to prevent enemies from entering into the China. But at the back part of the wall, some barbarians gathered and practiced horse riding, shooting, fighting, wrestling and doing so many other activities. On the other hand, the Roman Empire due to it's over prosperity began to indulge in luxurious activities being very passive. By taking advantage of that, the Goths and Visigoths attacked Rome in such a way that Rome came in their grip. The Roman emperors during the next 30s tried to deal with the Visigoths, offering them land to hold and live on, and giving them military tasks to perform. Most of these efforts were in vain, for the barbarous knew well that they were the stronger force. After the fall, Roman Empire splitted into two parts.
1) Constantinople
2) Rome
    Roman had colonies over Asia Minor but now the colony was gone, and the post Roman European scenario is very pathetic. Before fall, Romans had law after fall, their society became lawless. State could not hold over its different parts or districts. The news of death and destruction became frequent.
Innocent people of the society became victim. 'Might is Right' became the slogan, mere anarchy was loosened in the society. In this Dark Age, some light of hope was there. It is said that this Dark Age is the beginning point of Christianity.

Reasons Behind the fall of Roman Empire
1) Internal conflicts among the rulers.
2) Romans could not modify themselves according to changing circumstances of time.
3) Too much luxurious life style.
4) Changing power from emperor to pope.
5) Attack by barbarians as Anglo-Saxon attacked England, Goths, Visigoths attacked Italy, Austria etc.
6) Rise of Christianity which changed the philosophy of life.
Stars in the Dark Ages
    Around the declining phase or in the division period of Rome Constantine the great was the ruler. One day, it is said that God gave him revelation in his dream. God asked him to conquer the world in the symbol of cross. Since then he became Christian and asked the soldiers to attach the cross in their uniform. In this way, he defused the Christian faith in different places. His religious beliefs were strong and lasting. He made Christianity the official religion of the empire, supported the church with rich gifts and, more important, wide privileges and immunities from taxation, and promoted Christians to high posts in army and bureaucracy.Another light in the middle age is St. Augustan who had no any interest towards religion became Christian due to the influence of his mother, Monica. He wrote the books named 'The City of God' and 'The city of Man'. He said the city of god is abstract, it is soul or spirit. We can not see the city of God but can imagine it. The city of man is body and material world. Barbarian attacked the city of man not the city of God. They even can not touch the city of God. He consoled Roman people by saying not to worry about anything lost because they have not lost the city of God where lies the truth. Hence, Augustine gave solace to the contemporary Roman people. In fact, Christianity was light in the Dark Age because in Christianity, there was possibility of reconstruction and salvation. Augustine was no philistine. He was acutely sensitive to the power of imaginative literature. He describes in his confession how Virgil moved him to 'weep for dead dido because she killed herself for love.' The very concept of imagination paved way for Renaissance. In Dark Age, all the things had gone bad but one thing was good that is the spread of Christianity. In the name of Christianity, Western world progressed a lot.Another light in Middle Age is St. Benedict who was born in Italy and came to Rome. He was very much unhappy by seeing corruption, especially of popes. He was angry with licentiousness of religious people so he resigned the post of Abbot and went to Mente Cassino and converted non-Christians into Christians. He wrote set of rules and laws. He established 12 monasteries. He undertook the task of organizing, setting, classifying and copying classical materials. He knew that the classical education is the store house of knowledge. His philosophy is called Benedictine philosophy, meaning teaching people in practical manner. The sense of practicality helped people to move ahead in the path of progression.