Posted: September 7th, 2024

Comparison between the dark ages and the age of enlightenment

Comparison between the dark ages and the age of enlightenment
Introduction
The dark ages and the age of enlightenment are two significant periods in the history of Europe. The Dark Age was the era after the fall of the Roman Empire following the deposition of Emperor Romulus Augustus that led to cultural and economic decline in Western Europe; it is also known as the early middle age. The age of enlightenment was a time of intellectual and philosophical evolution, with empirical proof to natural laws.
Differences between dark ages and the age of enlightenment
The two ages are characterized by a number of differences. To begin with, the age of enlightenment believed in empirical proof to natural laws, while in the dark ages people believed in religion. A lot of rituals were offered during that time. The age of enlightenment believed in reason. Isaac Newton is among the scientists who are widely recognized for his law of gravity that was developed during the enlightenment. The period brought about political revolution and movements such as neoclassicism and liberalism.
There was more cultural development in the age of enlightenment compared to the dark ages. The early middle age was characterized by barbaric acts, wars and religious conflicts. Muslims were at loggerheads with Christians and the Christians were against the Roman Catholic. They wanted the Roman Catholics to unite with them to form a uniform religious group with universal practices. On the other hand, the age of enlightenment was characterized by scientific, architectural and technological advancements.
In the dark ages, people believed in well educated religious and kings as leaders. Leaders such as Thomas Aquinas and Thomas Theodore were highly upheld. Aquinas composed several doctrines that governed the western world. On the other hand, the period of enlightenment believed in the scientists who could reason and provide practical proof. For example, Nicholas Copernicus and Johannes Kepler.
In the dark ages, scientific discoveries were viewed as reinforcement to religion rather than a field on its own. In the age of enlightenment age, science was a field on its own that led to the discovery of natural laws.
Similarities between dark ages and age of enlightenment
Religious conflicts. Although religion was undermined in the era of enlightenment, it was still there, and wrangles between Christians and the Muslims continued to prevail. These conflicts are still there up to date.
Conclusion
The Dark Age and the era of enlightenment share a broader range of differences as compared to similarities. This is depicted by the variation in reasoning, cultural growth, technological and scientific advancement. While the dark ages majorly believed in religion, the era of enlightenment believed in empirical evidence. The two share a few similarities such as the prevalence of religious conflicts.
References
Albertini, Mark R. “The age of enlightenment in melanoma immunotherapy.” Journal for immunotherapy of cancer 6.1 (2018): 80.
Raedts, Peter. “Representations of the Middle Ages in Enlightenment Historiography.” The Medieval History Journal5.1 (2002): 1-20.
Mommsen, Theodore E. “Petrarch’s Conception of the’Dark Ages’.” Speculum 17.2 (1942): 226-242.
Henley, Tracy B., and B. Michael Thorne. “The lost millennium: Psychology during the middle ages.” The Psychological Record 55.1 (2005): 103-113.

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