History Main / TheLowMiddleAges

* NorseMythology

From the crossing of the Rhine in 406, the Western Roman Empire (or whatever shell of it remained) was effectively conquered by the Germans, who rapidly claimed many of Rome's former provinces. The Visigoths, a people originally from the area around Dacia, took Gaul [[note]]modern day France and Belgium[[/note]] and Hispania [[note]]Spain and Portugal[[/note]] for their own, while the Ostrogoths, who were of similar origin, took Italy. The Vandals set up a short-lived Germanic kingdom in North Africa. The Angles and eventually the Saxons settled in what is today England, where their culture was largely adopted by the native peoples. The Celtic peoples in what is today Wales remained independent and largely retained their own culture. While it used to be thought that the Angles and Saxons had ''displaced'' the native Britons, but the prevailing theory is that they simply took over as the dominant political class. [[/note]]

The period really begins sometime in the 3rd Century. Roman civilization had been in decline since the end of the Pax Romana [[note]]''Roman Peace'' in Latin. It means a time in which the ''internal'' politics of the Empire were stable and there were not civil wars, but wars of expansion continued throughout and could likely be attributed as a big reason for the fall of the Empire.[[/note]] and the Roman identity was starting to suffer. Roman culture and tradition was gradually being forgotten and replaced. Most of this was due to the decentralization of the Empire. The increasingly large empire was growing ever more difficult to maintain, and as was common in the late period of the Western Roman Empire, local rulers and generals grew ever more powerful in the absence of the Emperor. This culminated in the Crisis of the Third Century, in which competing general/emperors waged a massive, brutal civil war in an effort to either take over the Empire or make their own, independent empires. Following the crisis, Diocletian separated East and West formally, each now being governed by their own Emperor. The crisis and the split were two massive reasons for the decline of the Western Roman Empire. This seemed rather unbalanced, as the Eastern Roman Empire was clearly richer and far more powerful, especially since Constantine had moved the capital to Byzantium. [[note]]then renamed Constantinople[[/note]] While the East grew rich from trade and prosperity [[note]]although it faced many internal issues and a threat to its cultural identity, like the West[[/note]], the West remained poor.

From the crossing of the Rhine in 406, the Western Roman Empire (or whatever shell of it remained) was effectively conquered by the Germans, who rapidly claimed many of Rome's former provinces. The Visigoths, a people originally from the area around Dacia, took Gaul [[note]]modern day France and Belgium[[/note]] and Hispania [[note]]Spain and Portugal[[/note]] for their own, while the Ostrogoths, who were of similar origin, took Italy. The Vandals set up a short-lived Germanic kingdom in North Africa. The Angles and eventually the Saxons would all settle in Great Britain, while Celtic cultures largely moved to Ireland. [[note]]although the prevailing theory is not one of the Angles and Saxons ''displacing'' the native Britons, but rather taking over as the dominant political class. [[/note]]

None of these kingdoms were given much time to breathe. The Eastern Roman Empire wanted that territory back, so numerous wars were waged over former Roman holdings in Italy and elsewhere with varying success. By the end of the reign of the in/famous Justinian, Italy, North Africa, and parts of Spain were back in Roman hands. However, this resurgence hit a major roadblock with the rise of Islam. Muhammad had effectively united the tribes of Arabia and most had converted to Islam. Abu Bakr, the first Caliph, conquered Roman Syria and further gains were made by him and his successors in Persia, Mesopotamia, and North Africa. The Umayyad Caliphate came to power in 661 and made further conquests, using the Berbers on North Africa to conquer the Visigothic kingdom in Hispania and establish UsefulNotes/MoorishSpain. Most Christians fled north, but the Muslim armies just kept on advancing clear on into southern Gaul, which was now Frankish territory. The Franks, led by Charles Martel, dealt them a famous defeat at the Battle of Tours and effectively halted Muslim expansion into Europe.

Around this time, we start to see the often exaggerated and mythical "dark ages" in which supposedly scientific advancement, social advancement, and learning came to a crushing halt. So what happened? Did people get stupider? Of course not. With the breakdown of the centralized Roman government, trade and communication began grinding to a halt. The complex, urban metropolises once supported by Greco-Roman civilization would fall to pieces under the management of German administrators who had no concept of cities. Aqueducts fell into disrepair and were often deconstructed to be used as building materials, and famous Roman relics like the coliseum became the ruins they are today. But, contrary to popular belief, the Low Middle Ages was not a period of immense stupidity or total collapse of all that is good in the world. In fact, some things improved. Generally speaking, you were less likely to go to war and get killed in the Low Middle Ages than in Roman times (a lack of big civil wars certainly helps) and previous knowledge was still preserved by monks and scholars. Yes, things were certainly ''worse'' when compared to the Pax Romana, but it wasn't the abysmal time most history teachers love to paint it as. And from what sources we have, it appears very little actually changed between the Roman Empire's collapse and the conquest by the Germanic Kingdoms as far as living standards.

Anyways, continuing on, from the Frankish tribes spawned the famed Carolingian Empire. Under the leader Charlemagne, a cultural revolution was sparked. There was a key revival in literature, art, architecture, and other things that Charlemagne loved. Charlemagne himself is most remembered for being the king that "held the post-Roman world together". He also spread Christianity "by the cross and sword", meaning he forced his enemies to convert or to die with their gods. This coincided with better harvests and a string of military victories as the ideas of feudalism, knights, and a warrior caste all took root in the Medieval world. By the end of Charlemagne's rule, most of Western Europe was reunited, including parts of Germany, France, Northern Spain, and Northern Italy. The Carolingian Empire was vast, and Charlemagne was undoubtedly the most powerful man in Western Europe.

Back in Europe, things weren't going so well. Following Charlemagne's death, his Empire was divided in three. There was the Kingdom of France, the Kingdom of Germany separated by the Kingdom of Lotharingia. The first two would survive well into the Main/TheHighMiddleAges, while most of Lotharingia would fall to Germany, which eventually inherited the Imperial title, became the UsefulNotes/HolyRomanEmpire, which would fall apart into quarrelling states. Then it goes FromBadToWorse, as the [[HornyVikings Vikings]] start looting and pillaging Europe. It is unknown as to why the Vikings suddenly started going on an obscene murder frenzy, but everybody has ''sure heard of them since'', and for good reason. The Vikings were skilled warriors, but what made them truly scary were their boats.

Yes, their boats. The Viking longship was perfectly suited for traversing both deep and shallow waters, allowing them to sail to anywhere within reach of a body of water. That just happened to include the vast majority of major cities, villages, and monasteries in Europe. The Vikings used their ships to sail as far as Vinland, being the first known Europeans to reach American shores. They also used it to conquer parts of Britain and Ireland. Vikings may have even been responsible for the founding of the UsefulNotes/KievanRus. All in all, the Vikings had a lasting legacy on Europe, and their frequent raids are ingrained in our culture to this very day.

The raiding wasn't just restricted to the West. The Magyars, Bulgars, and Khazars all started raiding territory, usually Byzantine, although the Khazars would later help the Byzantines fight the Muslims. The Bulgars would later carve out their own state. You'll also notice the use of the term "Byzantine" by this point to distinguish the Eastern Roman Empire from the Western One. Although not historically used, contemporary historians use the label of "Byzantine" to separate the Eastern Roman Empire, since try as they might, the Eastern Romans were more Greek than Roman. The gap between them and their Western friends had widened significantly. Rome and Constantinople were constantly in religious squabbles over whether or not the Pope or the Caesar had more authority. Culturally, the Byzantines stuck with many Greek or Roman customs, but heavily changed or adapted, and for many years their military and bureaucracy also resembled that of the former Roman Empire. This would, as all things, change over time.

By 1066, the Low Middle Ages were drawing to an end. The Norman Conquests marked the end of the age. Although there was a serious lull in technological advancement, and indeed the medieval world was just a bit smaller than the Roman one, it's comparing apples to oranges. In truth, the Low Middle Ages were not as bad as they are often said to be. Our lack of first hand sources makes the time period seem dark and mysterious, but we know that only holds true for Western Europe (if at all), since the Muslim world was flourishing in a new age of prosperity.

* ''HowToTrainYourDragon''

The Crisis had also been something of an EnemyCivilWar for enterprising barbarians who had remained unconquered. With TheRomanEmpire weakening, its enemies began to nibble away little by little. The Parthians (Later known as the Sassanians) carved out their own large empire in Persia and parts of Mesopotamia. Germans[[note]]or, to be more precise, Goths, Visigoths, and other tribes[[/note]] would ever encroach on the borderlands of Roman territory.

* The KingArthur romances

Yes, their boats. The Viking longship was perfectly suited for traversing both deep and shallow waters, allowing them to sail to anywhere within reach of a body of water. That just happened to include the vast majority of major cities, villages, and monasteries in Europe. The Vikings used their ships to sail as far as Vinland, being the first known Europeans to reach American shores. They also used it to conquer parts of Britain and Ireland. Vikings are also likely responsible for the founding of the UsefulNotes/KievanRus. All in all, the Vikings had a lasting legacy on Europe, and their frequent raids are ingrained in our culture to this very day.

* ''Series/{{Vikings}}

* Technically, ''Theatre/{{Hamlet}}'' is set in this era.

None of these kingdoms were given much time to breath. The Eastern Roman Empire wanted that territory back, so numerous wars were waged over former Roman holdings in Italy and elsewhere with varying success. By the end of the reign of the in/famous Justinian, Italy, North Africa, and parts of Spain were back in Roman hands. However, this resurgence hit a major roadblock with the rise of Islam. Muhammad had effectively united the tribes of Arabia and most had converted to Islam. Abu Bakr, the first Caliph, conquered Roman Syria and further gains were made by him and his successors in Persia, Mesopotamia, and North Africa. The Umayyad Caliphate came to power in 661 and made further conquests, using the Berbers on North Africa to conquer the Visigothic kingdom in Hispania and establish UsefulNotes/MoorishSpain. Most Christians fled north, but the Muslim armies just kept on advancing clear on into southern Gaul, which was now Frankish territory. The Franks, led by Charles Martel, dealt them a famous defeat at the Battle of Tours and effectively halted Muslim expansion into Europe.

* The "Dark Age" of ''VideoGame/AgeOfEmpires II'' roughly corresponds to this era, and the Attilla the Hun campaign is set during it.

None of these kingdoms were given much time to breath. The Eastern Roman Empire wanted that territory back, so numerous wars were waged over former Roman holdings in Italy and elsewhere with varying success. By the end of the reign of the in/famous Justinian, Italy, North Africa, and parts of Spain were back in Roman hands. However, this resurgence hit a major roadblock with the rise of Islam. Muhammad had effectively united the tribes of Arabia and most had converted to Islam. Abu Bakr, the first Caliph, conquered Roman Syria and further gains were made by him and his successors in Persia, Mesopotamia, and North Africa. The Umayyad Caliphate came to power in 661 and made further conquests, using the Berbers on North Africa to conquer the Visigothic kingdom in Hispania and establish UsefulNotes/MoorishSpain. Most Christians fled north, but the Muslim armies just kept on advancing clear on into southern Gaul, which was now Frankish territory. The Franks, led by Charles Martel, dealt them a famous defeat at the Battle of Poitiers and effectively halted Muslim expansion into Europe.

The Crisis had also been something of an EnemyCivilWar for enterprising barbarians who had remained unconquered. With TheRomanEmpire weakening, its enemies began to nibble away little by little. The Parthians (Later known as the Sassanians) carved out their own large empire in Persia and parts of Mesopotamia. Germans would ever encroach on the borderlands of Roman territory.

Also known as the Early Middle Ages. [[HollywoodHistory Hollywood Historians]] like to lump all of the Middle Ages into one indistinct era, but a study of real history will show that the period of the fall of Western Rome and the rise of Monasticism in Europe was more of a prelude to the true [[TheHighMiddleAges Middle Ages]]. It began with [[DarkAgeEurope an alleged dark age]], when people were supposedly too busy staying alive to write histories, had a few peaceful years in the middle, and ended with Vikings ravaging the coasts, and horsemen storming out of the east. Although Western Europe did unarguably decline in the markers of civilization such as decreased stability, technological progress, urban decline, and literacy in comparison with the fading Age of the Roman Empire, the East (and Spain) was flourishing under the Islamic Golden Age and the Macedonian Renaissance in the surviving territories of the Eastern Roman Empire.

Back in Europe, things weren't going so well. Following Charlemagne's death, his Empire was divided in three. There was the Kingdom of France, the UsefulNotes/HolyRomanEmpire, and the Kingdom of Burgundy. All three would survive well into the Main/TheHighMiddleAges, where Burgundy would be eaten up by France and the HRE would fall apart into quarrelling states. Then it goes FromBadToWorse, as the [[HornyVikings Vikings]] start looting and pillaging Europe. It is unknown as to why the Vikings suddenly started going on an obscene murder frenzy, but everybody has ''sure heard of them since'', and for good reason. The Vikings were skilled warriors, but what made them truly scary were their boats.

* The ''[[http://forums.taleworlds.com/index.php/board,189.0.html Brytenwalda]]'' mod for ''VideoGame/MountAndBlade: Warband'' is set in the 7th century British Isles.

Also known as the [b]Early Middle Ages[/b]. [[HollywoodHistory Hollywood Historians]] like to lump all of the Middle Ages into one indistinct era, but a study of real history will show that the period of the fall of Western Rome and the rise of Monasticism in Europe was more of a prelude to the true [[TheHighMiddleAges Middle Ages]]. It began with [[DarkAgeEurope an alleged dark age]], when people were supposedly too busy staying alive to write histories, had a few peaceful years in the middle, and ended with Vikings ravaging the coasts, and horsemen storming out of the east. Although Western Europe did unarguably decline in the markers of civilization such as decreased stability, technological progress, urban decline, and literacy in comparison with the fading Age of the Roman Empire, the East (and Spain) was flourishing under the Islamic Golden Age and the Macedonian Renaissance in the surviving territories of the Eastern Roman Empire.

[[HollywoodHistory Hollywood Historians]] like to lump all of the Middle Ages into one indistinct era, but a study of real history will show that the period of the fall of Western Rome and the rise of Monasticism in Europe was more of a prelude to the true [[TheHighMiddleAges Middle Ages]]. It began with [[DarkAgeEurope an alleged dark age]], when people were supposedly too busy staying alive to write histories, had a few peaceful years in the middle, and ended with Vikings ravaging the coasts, and horsemen storming out of the east. Although Western Europe did unarguably decline in the markers of civilization such as decreased stability, technological progress, urban decline, and literacy in comparison with the fading Age of the Roman Empire, the East (and Spain) was flourishing under the Islamic Golden Age and the Macedonian Renaissance in the surviving territories of the Eastern Roman Empire.

[[HollywoodHistory Hollywood Historians]] like to lump all of the Middle Ages into one indistinct era, but a study of real history will show that the period of the fall of Western Rome and the rise of Monasticism in Europe was more of a prelude to the true [[TheHighMiddleAges Middle Ages]]. It began with [[DarkAgeEurope an alleged dark age]], when people were supposedly too busy staying alive to write histories, had a few peaceful years in the middle, and ended with Vikings ravaging the coasts, and horsemen storming out of the east. In reality, there were substantial intellectual and cultural advancements during the alleged "Dark Ages," and modern historians universally reject classifying the Early Middle Ages as being an "age of darkness."

Or he is a barbarian invader. For this is also the time of the [[HornyVikings Vikings]], hearty sailors in horned helmets who loved burning down monasteries and carrying off struggling peasant women, while AlfredTheGreat burnt cakes.

* HistoricalDomainCharacter: Though, except for KingArthur (and possibly AttilaTheHun , Charlemagne, and AlfredTheGreat), most people will never have heard of them. (Gunthaharius of Burgundy is not exactly a household name.)

The period really begins sometime in the 3rd Century. Roman civilization had been in decline since the end of the Pax Romana [[note]]''Roman Peace'' in Latin. It means a time in which the ''internal'' politics of the Empire were stable and there were not civil wars, but wars of expansion continued throughout and could likely be attributed as a big reason for the fall of the Empire.[[/note]] and the Roman identity was starting to suffer. Roman culture and tradition was gradually being forgotten and replaced. Most of this was due to the decentralization of the Empire. The increasingly large empire was growing ever more difficult to maintain, and as was common in the late period of the Western Roman Empire, local rulers and generals grew ever more powerful in the absence of the Emperor. This culminated in the Crisis of the Third Century, in which competing general/emperors waged a massive, brutal civil war in an effort to either take over the Empire or make their own, independent empires. Following the crisis, Diocletian separated East and West formally, each now being governed by their own Emperor. The crisis and the split were two massive reasons for the decline of the Western Roman Empire. This seemed rather unbalanced, as the Eastern Roman Empire was clearly richer and far more powerful, especially since Constantine had moved the capital to Byzantium. [[note]]then renamed Constantinople[[/note] While the East grew rich from trade and prosperity [[note]]although it faced many internal issues and a threat to its cultural identity, like the West[[/note]], the West remained poor.

* HistoricalDomainCharacter: Though, except for KingArthur (and possibly AttilaTheHun or AlfredTheGreat), most people will never have heard of them. (Gunthaharius of Burgundy is not exactly a household name.)

* AnAxeToGrind (probably the most frequent non-spear weapon, as an axe is fairly easy for a relatively unskilled smith to make, and peasants tended to have these around anyway for firewood)

* AncestralWeapon (often TruthInTelevision, as the difficulties of making steel and pattern welding made high-quality blades expensive, and they tended to get passed down, some eventually receiving [[ICallItVera a name]] and a legendary BackStory.)

* BladeOnAStick (What most fighters actually had to settle for, when they weren't stuck with [[SinisterScythe farming implements]] or just [[SimpleStaff the stick]])

* HistoricalDomainCharacter, though, except for KingArthur (and possibly AttilaTheHun or AlfredTheGreat), most people will never have heard of them. (Gunthaharius of Burgundy is not exactly a household name.)

* KievanRus (its early period, including the pagan princes, Olga and Vladimir the Saint)
* KnightInShiningArmor (historically inaccurate though it is: "warlord in overpriced chainmail" was the ''best'' they had then. Knighthood as we picture it didn't exist yet)

* SwissArmyWeapon (inverted-- most Dark Agers carried one big knife that they used for everything from cutting food to carving wood to killing. Hopefully with a cleaning of some kind in between-- you wouldn't want to get foodstains on your dead enemy, after all)

* The ''[[http://forums.taleworlds.com/index.php/board,189.0.html Brythenwalda]]'' mod for ''VideoGame/MountAndBlade: Warband'' is set in the 7th century British Isles.

[[quoteright:270:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/The_Low_Middle_Ages.jpg]]