Rethinking the Dark Ages
WORLD HISTORY PROJECT ORIGINS/ LESSON 5.3ACTIVITYRETHINKING THE DARK AGESUnless otherwise noted, this work is licensed under CC BY 4.0. Credit: “Rethinking the Dark Ages,” OER Project, https://www.oerproject.com/1PurposeThe phrase Dark Agesgets tossed around to describe Europe after the fall of the Roman Empire. But was this time really so dark? What about the rest of the world? Today, you’re the historian. Your job is to examine the evidence and decide whether calling this time period a Dark Age is fair, or perhaps misleading.Process1.Review thesearticles:•“The Dark Ages Debate”•“Was There Ever a Dark Age?”2.Record evidence for and against the idea that the period following the fall of Rome (in Europe) and Han China was a Dark Age.Evidence of a Dark AgeEvidence against a Dark AgeIn EuropeOutside of Europe3.Based on the evidence, do you think Dark Age is an accurate label for Europe afterthe fall ofRome? Why or why not?
WORLD HISTORY PROJECT ORIGINS/ LESSON 5.3ACTIVITYRETHINKING THE DARK AGES24.How does the experience of China after the fall of the HanDynastycompare to Europe’s experience after the Roman Empire?5.If you were a historian writing a textbook chapter about this era, what title would you give it instead of “The Dark Ages”? Why?