Re: Topic 4 -- Early World History, Level I

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Date Posted: 08:24:42 04/07/02 Sun
Author: Jimmy McCumber
Subject: Re: Topic 4

----------The Middle Ages, a time period from the fall of Rome in 476 AD to around the year 1500, is commonly known as the �Dark Ages�. But were these times truly dark? I believe so. They were full of fighting, anarchy, and terrible misuse of power on the part of the Catholic
Church.
----------There may have been more killing during the Middle Ages than in any other time period. Tournaments were held regularly in which knights would compete in practice jousts. Unfortunately, these were usually not practice, and many deaths resulted. The point of a knight�s lance could be sharpened to wound the opponent, or widened to increase the impact and sometimes break the opponent�s back. Most knights cheated, because if they didn�t, who was to say that their opponents wouldn�t? Out on their own, knights would sometimes joust for real, or find themselves beset upon by archers in the woods.
----------The church sent thousands of Christians on crusades to Jerusalem several times. These were for the most part unsuccessful and resulted in the death of the majority of the crusaders. People also died by the thousands in the constant struggles for power between the different countries at the time. All this, plus the kill-whoever-threatens-you-or-whoever-you-just-don�t-like
mentality which led to many assassinations and murders in every class of society.
----------While kings and nobles fought for control over lands, they really had very little control over individual people. This led to anarchy throughout Europe, usually without justice for the common, everyday kill. People were left to fend for themselves, especially out in the woods, and could expect no punishment if their supplies were looted, their pets harmed, or if they themselves were attacked. If poorer people had no swords, it was not a problem. They merely beat each other up with staffs. About the only justice was the church�s, and it was the least just form possible.
----------The Inquisition was going on during this time period. The church would try and kill anyone who was suspected of being a witch or a heretic. The trials were unfair, and the accused was never aquitted. Even a dishonest person could report that the nicest person in town was a witch, and that person would be killed without any investigation or anything.
----------With all this killing, anarchy, and misuse of power, the Dark Ages were truly dark. Throw in the horrible hygeine issues, and the improper medical care, and you have a time that I would never, ever want to live in.

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