A World Lit Only by Fire Outline
A World Lit Only by Fire by William Manchester Outline
The Medieval Mind
I. The Dark Ages A. The Years A.D. 400 to A.D. 1000 1. Referred to as the Dark Ages because knowledge and literacy vanished during this era. 2. Rulers during this age were illiterate and most found it trivial. a. Emperor Sigismund said, “Ego sum rex Romanus et super grammatica”—as king of Rome, he was above grammar. B. Rome’s Fall in the Fifth Century 1. The Hsiung-nu (Huns) ravaged though Europe after defeat in China. a. Went from China to Russia, Russia to Ukraine, Ukraine to Romania, and from Romania continued east through Europe. i. Survivors crossed the Danube River. ii. Emperor Valens ordered that the refugees be taken out. They were enslaved and later fought mercenaries sent from other tribes. 2. Now allied with the Goths, the Huns broke the Danube-Rhine line. a. Prepared to attack Italy in A.D. 400 led by Visigoth Alaric. 3. 40,000 Huns, Goths, and freed Roman slaves, led by Alaric, crossed the Julian Alps, launching an 8 year war against the Romans. a. Rome’s cavalry was not prepared for the attack and two-thirds were killed. 4. Alaric led warriors down and entered Rome on August 24, 410. a. Rome was destroyed. i. Alaric could not control the Huns or slaves. ii. Men were killed, women were raped, and art was destroyed. b. The fall of Rome caused the destruction of other parts of eastern Europe. 5. For forty generations, Rome suffered. C. Life and Conditions in the Dark Ages 1. Famine and plagues thinned population. a. Black Plague especially brought death throughout the continent. 2. Floods caused by climactic changes brought major disasters. a. Empire’s drainage system had fallen apart. 3. Roads besides those built by the Romans and harbors were in disrepair. a. Harbors improved in the eighth century. b. Roads built by the Romans remained superior to
The Medieval Mind
I. The Dark Ages A. The Years A.D. 400 to A.D. 1000 1. Referred to as the Dark Ages because knowledge and literacy vanished during this era. 2. Rulers during this age were illiterate and most found it trivial. a. Emperor Sigismund said, “Ego sum rex Romanus et super grammatica”—as king of Rome, he was above grammar. B. Rome’s Fall in the Fifth Century 1. The Hsiung-nu (Huns) ravaged though Europe after defeat in China. a. Went from China to Russia, Russia to Ukraine, Ukraine to Romania, and from Romania continued east through Europe. i. Survivors crossed the Danube River. ii. Emperor Valens ordered that the refugees be taken out. They were enslaved and later fought mercenaries sent from other tribes. 2. Now allied with the Goths, the Huns broke the Danube-Rhine line. a. Prepared to attack Italy in A.D. 400 led by Visigoth Alaric. 3. 40,000 Huns, Goths, and freed Roman slaves, led by Alaric, crossed the Julian Alps, launching an 8 year war against the Romans. a. Rome’s cavalry was not prepared for the attack and two-thirds were killed. 4. Alaric led warriors down and entered Rome on August 24, 410. a. Rome was destroyed. i. Alaric could not control the Huns or slaves. ii. Men were killed, women were raped, and art was destroyed. b. The fall of Rome caused the destruction of other parts of eastern Europe. 5. For forty generations, Rome suffered. C. Life and Conditions in the Dark Ages 1. Famine and plagues thinned population. a. Black Plague especially brought death throughout the continent. 2. Floods caused by climactic changes brought major disasters. a. Empire’s drainage system had fallen apart. 3. Roads besides those built by the Romans and harbors were in disrepair. a. Harbors improved in the eighth century. b. Roads built by the Romans remained superior to