The Dark Ages...How Dark Were They, Really?: Crash Course World History #14
TLDRThis Crash Course World History video discusses the European Middle Ages, often labeled the 'Dark Ages', examining if the term is justified. It explores key aspects like feudalism, the role of the Catholic church, along with comparing Europe to the contemporary Islamic Golden Age under the Abbasid Caliphate and dynasties in China. Though Europe was less developed, it still saw progress, with philosopher Thomas Aquinas and composer Hildegard von Bingen. Meanwhile, the Islamic world thrived with centers of learning like Baghdad's House of Wisdom, driven by a spirit of translation, openness and exchange of ideas between cultures.
Takeaways
- 😊 The period between 600-1450 CE in Europe is called the Middle Ages or Dark Ages
- 😮 Outside of Europe, the Dark Ages were an Age of Enlightenment with advances in the Islamic world and China
- 🚑 Life expectancy increased slightly in medieval Europe compared to the Roman Empire
- 🏰 Feudalism was the dominant political system in medieval Europe
- 👍 The Islamic Abbasid Dynasty was more tolerant and open than the Umayyads
- 📚 Baghdad became a global center of philosophy, medicine, poetry under the Abbasids
- 🔢 Islamic scholars expanded math, translating Greek works and developing algebra and numerals
- 🕌 Great Mosque of Cordoba built in Spain in just 1 year under Umayyad ruler
- 🎨 Tang Dynasty in China was a golden age for poetry and art
- 💥Chinese developed gunpowder, advanced metallurgy, paper money during Song Dynasty
Q & A
Why is the period between 600-1450 CE often called the Middle Ages in Europe?
-It's called the Middle Ages because it came between the fall of the Roman Empire and the beginning of the Modern Age in Europe.
What was feudalism and how did it work?
-Feudalism was a political and economic system based on reciprocal relationships between lords who owned land and vassals who worked the land in exchange for military protection. The peasants worked the land and kept some of the production while giving the rest to the landowner.
How did the Islamic Empire change under the Abbasid Dynasty?
-The Abbasids moved the capital to Baghdad, were more welcoming of non-Arabs into positions of power, and adopted a more Persian style of monarchy. The empire became less centralized.
What was the House of Wisdom in Baghdad?
-It was the world's center of scholarship under the Abbasids, with an immense library and translation efforts that preserved ancient Greek and other works.
What were some key achievements of Muslim scholars during the Abbasid rule?
-Muslim scholars made strides in medicine, mathematics (adopting concepts like zero from India), philosophy, poetry and more. They translated ancient Greek and other texts into Arabic.
How did Islamic Cordoba in Spain thrive culturally and technologically?
-Cordoba developed architecture like the Great Mosque, engineering marvels like aqueducts, and excelled in arts and agriculture with extensive trade networks and cultural exchange.
What made the Tang Dynasty in China a golden age?
-The Tang dynasty expanded trade networks, made the government more of a meritocracy, produced incredible art, and encouraged achievements in poetry. The empire encompassed 80 million diverse people.
How did the Song Dynasty innovate technologically and economically in China?
-The Song advanced iron production, agricultural technology like plows to support population growth, porcelain manufacturing, paper money to replace scarce coin metals, and even early gunpowder.
What was the Battle of Talas River between the Abbasids and Tang Dynasty about?
-It was over control of Central Asia and defined the spheres of influence between the Islamic Empire to the west and China to the east for years to come.
Why does John Green argue that the Dark Ages weren't so universally dark?
-While Europe declined after the fall of Rome, the Islamic world and China had cultural and technological golden ages with innovations in science, art, trade, and quality of life during the same medieval period.
Outlines
😀 Beginning with an introduction to the Dark Ages
The first paragraph introduces the concept of the Dark Ages, describing it as the time period between 600-1450CE in Europe. It provides context by mentioning that it came between the Roman Empire and beginning of the Modern Age, and is sometimes called 'dark' because it was seen as unenlightened compared to other flourishing civilizations at the time.
😕 Discussing challenges in Medieval Europe
The second paragraph focuses on Medieval Europe, explaining it had less trade, cities, and cultural output compared to earlier empires like Rome. There was feudalism with lords and vassals, and rigid social classes with no mobility. Life expectancy was 30, slightly better than the late Roman Empire.
🌟 Highlighting the Islamic Golden Age
The third paragraph contrasts the European 'dark ages' with the thriving Islamic world during the same time period. It covers the rise of the Abbasid caliphate, the House of Wisdom in Baghdad as a center of learning, translations of ancient texts, advances in medicine, math, and more.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Dark Ages
💡Eurocentrism
💡Feudalism
💡Byzantine Empire
💡Islamic Golden Age
💡Abbasid Caliphate
💡Life expectancy
💡Cultural output
💡Trade and cities
💡Philosophy and science
Highlights
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Transcripts
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