Imperial Coronation of Charlemagne by Friedrich Kaulbach, 1861
After the fall of the Roman Empire, Western Europe was left defenseless against the advances of invading populations. In order to protect themselves, people turned to their political and church leaders. In this module, you will explore the early Middle Ages, which is the name given to the period between 500 A.D. (C.E.) and 1000 A.D. (C.E.). Also known as the "Dark Ages," the "Age of Invasions," and the "Age of Faith," this era in human history was marked by few intellectual advancements, as its people clung to the political traditions and works of the Roman Empire. In addition, you will explore the expansion of the Roman Catholic Church across Europe, and the inner developments of the Church.
As you will learn in this module, the Middle Ages are also called the "Dark Ages" because some historians feel this time period was one of slow intellectual development and few advancements. Take a moment to come up with a few nicknames for the twenty-first century. Which nicknames are the most flattering? Which nicknames are the least flattering?
To view the definitions for these key vocabulary terms, visit the