How Dark Were the Dark Ages? (Video)

Prager University ^ | 26 Jan 2015 | Anthony Esolen

[Arthur McGowan]

Were the Middle Ages, also known as the Dark Ages, characterized by oppression, ignorance, and backwardness in areas like human rights, science, health, and the arts? Or were they marked by progress and tolerance? Anthony Esolen, an English Literature professor at Providence College, explains.

[Arthur McGowan]

By the end of the Middle Ages, the rich were sick and tired of subsidizing the feasts and celebrations of the Saints. One of the results was the relentless propaganda against asking the Saints for their prayers and intercession. By fostering hatred for Mary and the Saints, the rich got a huge "tax cut." By slaughtering monks and nuns, and looting and demolishing monasteries, the rich got another gigantic windfall--and helped stamp out vast charitable works for the poor, and vast resources for intellectual life.

[ProtectOurFreedom]

The Dark Ages, characterized by oppression, ignorance, and backwardness.

So, the professor is going to say Republicans were in charge?

[Slyfox]

I am reading a book right now by James Walsh called: “The Thirteenth - Greatest of Centuries” and it describes all of the achievements which really put the modern age into gear. I am really amazed.

[moonhawk]

Thank you, Arthur—that was terrific.

[Politicalkiddo]

Q: Why were the Dark ages so dark?

A: Because there were so many knights!

[To Hell With Poverty]

Ping for later

[Irenic]

I never found the Rodney Dangerfield punchline in there.

[familyop]

Things have steadily improved since about the year 370.

[familyop]

...and improved more since the middle of the 1600s.

[Hugin]

Were the Middle Ages, also known as the Dark Ages

Really the early part of the middle ages, the 5th to the 10th centuries. The 11th century on saw Europe becoming more stable, prosperous and powerful. Well, except for that part about the black death and all.

[Eagles6]

Good post.

[skr]

Auuuuugh! Lol!

[motor_racer]

for later reference

[9thLife]

and worse at the same time.

[2ndDivisionVet]

I suggest the above, if you haven't already read it. No, it's not a Western.

[SWAMPSNIPER]

Everything they made was made with hand tool, muscles and brains. The hand tools were made with hand tools, going back to beginning with sticks and rocks.

We know more, maybe, maybe not, we don't know a lot that they knew.

I set out 35 years ago to learn the craft my ancestors practiced, in an Appalachian mountain "holler". I made some functional rifles, but they don't come close to this' Maybe, if I had another 35 years....and didn't have to work to eat.

This isn't middle ages, it's from just before 1800, but they'd been doing work like this for centuries.

[Adder]

That is freakin gorgeous!

[antidisestablishment]

My old auto shop teacher had a video of a craftsman who built black-powder rifles by hand—worked at Williamsburg or some other re-enactment site, IIRC.

We wore out the tapes over the years and never got bored. His rifles were every bit as nice as these, and I will never forget watching him do the engraving. Talk about mastery—it was like he was uncovering the designs, not creating them. You only get one pass with a chisel or grave—simply amazing!

[SWAMPSNIPER]

Charcoal forge, hammers and files.

[PlateOfShrimp]

Strange women lying in ponds distributing swords is no basis for a system of government. Supreme executive power derives from a mandate from the masses, not from some farcical aquatic ceremony.