Posted: December 25th, 2022

Comparison between the Dark Ages and the Age of Enlightenment

Topic: Comparison between the Dark Ages and the Age of Enlightenment

Paper model: Compare and contrast essay

Citation: MLA Sources
The Dark Ages and the Age of Enlightenment were two vastly different periods in European history. The Dark Ages, also known as the Middle Ages, spanned from the fall of the Western Roman Empire in the 5th century to the beginning of the Renaissance in the 14th century. It was a time of political instability, invasions by barbarian tribes, and widespread poverty and ignorance. In contrast, the Age of Enlightenment, which took place in the 18th century, was a time of great intellectual and cultural progress.

During the Dark Ages, Europe was divided into numerous small feudal states, each ruled by a local lord or king. The Catholic Church played a dominant role in society and wielded a great deal of political power. Education was limited to the clergy and the nobility, and the vast majority of the population was illiterate. Science and scholarship were largely suppressed, and the church discouraged new ideas and innovations.

In contrast, the Age of Enlightenment was a time of great intellectual and cultural growth. It was a movement that emphasized reason, individualism, and skepticism, and it rejected the superstitions and dogmas of the past. The Enlightenment saw the rise of great philosophers such as Voltaire, Rousseau, and Kant, who challenged traditional beliefs and promoted the ideals of liberty, equality, and progress.

During the Enlightenment, there was a great emphasis on the natural sciences and the study of the natural world. This led to significant advances in fields such as physics, chemistry, and biology. The Enlightenment also saw the development of new forms of government, such as democracy and constitutional monarchy, which replaced the traditional autocratic systems of the past.

One of the major differences between the Dark Ages and the Age of Enlightenment was the role of religion. During the Dark Ages, the Catholic Church played a dominant role in society and was often used as a tool of political control. In contrast, the Enlightenment saw a decline in the influence of religion and a shift towards secularism. Many Enlightenment thinkers rejected traditional religious beliefs and promoted the ideals of reason and science.

In terms of cultural achievements, the Dark Ages are often seen as a period of decline compared to the classical civilizations of ancient Rome and Greece. However, the Dark Ages did see the development of some important cultural and artistic achievements, such as the construction of Gothic cathedrals and the emergence of Romanesque art. In contrast, the Age of Enlightenment saw the development of new forms of art and literature, such as the novel and the opera, and the emergence of great artists and writers such as Mozart, Beethoven, and Goethe.

The Dark Ages and the Age of Enlightenment were two very different periods in European history. The Dark Ages were characterized by political instability, poverty, and ignorance, while the Age of Enlightenment was a time of great intellectual and cultural progress. The Enlightenment saw the rise of new ideas and the development of new forms of government and cultural expression, while the Dark Ages were marked by the dominance of religion and the suppression of new ideas.

Works Cited.
Ayres, Robert U. “The Age of Enlightenment: 1585–1789.” On Capitalism and Inequality. Springer, Cham, 2020. 27-39.
Bridle, James. New dark age: Technology and the end of the future. Verso Books, 2018.
Grane, Leif, Christine Crowley, and Derek Baker. Peter Abelard: Philosophy and Christianity in the Middle Ages. Routledge, 2020.

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