In this episode of History 102, 'WhatIfAltHist' creator Rudyard Lynch and Erik Torenberg dive into the West European Dark Ages, discussing the period from the fall of Rome until the rise of medieval Europe around 1000 AD.
Were they really a decline or a period of critical transformation? Uncover the surprising truth behind this oft-misunderstood era.
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TIMESTAMPS:
(00:00) Introduction
(00:21) The Concept of the Dark Ages
(01:24) Historical Narratives
(02:59) Civilizational Decline
(03:58) Anti-Religious Bias
(04:31) Anthropological Bias
(10:11) Gradual Process
(12:53) Cultural and Technological Stagnation
(14:44) Sponsor: WorkOS | Babbel
(21:47) Roman Empire and Christianity
(28:40) Western Individualism
(54:49) The Carolingian Empire
(58:45) Conclusion
BOOKS MENTIONED:
Coming to Our Senses by Morris Berman
The Birth of the West by Peter Collins
Inheritance of Rome by Chris Wickham
World of Late Antiquity by Peter Brown
The Forge of Christendom by Tom Holland
Empires and Barbarians by Peter Heather
The Bicameral Mind by Julian Jaynes
