19340 - The Dark Ages: The Rise of a New World Order

Course Overview

By the 5th century, the Roman Empire had crumbled, unable to sustain its own borders, creating a power vacuum. Chaos abounded, as roaming warlords and violent bands of warriors circulated throughout Europe. This downshift in progress left Europeans more susceptible than ever to the ravages of natural disaster and disease. Waves of warfare together with famine, plague, erratic weather patterns, and persecution led to a centuries-long era of economic, political, and cultural decline. We'll chronicle the backward recession into violence and disarray, tracing the rise of major leaders and conflicts from Greece and Turkey to the east to France and Spain in the west.   We will examine important figures in history such as: Alaric, Emperor Justinian, and Charles Martel and those who valiantly tended the flames of justice, knowledge, and innovation including Charlemagne, St. Benedict, Empress Theodora, and other brave souls who fought for peace and enlightenment.