Day 21: Dark Ages

I recently saw this graph floating around Facebook:

I couldn't speak to the legitimacy of what it's theorizing, but it made me wonder: did Christianity cause the Dark Ages, or did the Dark Ages cause a surge in Christianity?

Luckily my friend Eli came over yesterday and whenever we get together questions get answered and things get learned. We watched a short documentary from the History Channel about the Dark Ages. In true HC fashion there were eccentric experts, flashy green-screened backdrops, and more re-enactments than Gettysburg on the 1st of July.

What I learned: A lot about leaders I had never even heard of.  Clovis, a French leader killed family members to ensure they wouldn't take over his thrown. He did it by complaining no one in his family supported him anymore, and then when people would speak up and say "Hey! I support you!", he'd kill them.
Clovis also mandated trials by water- a small pebble was placed in a pot of boiling water and the prisoner had to pull it out. If the hand did not heal within a certain amount of time they were found guilty of witchcraft/anti-religious mentality and were killed.
Alaric, a Visigoth mercenary for the Roman empire, was passed up for a military promotion, and as retribution began looting and sacking Rome. These riots were the final nail in the coffin for the declining Roman Empire, and helped usher in its eventual demise. All because of a missed promotion.

St. Benedict was asked by a group of eager monks to lead their monastery. But he was so strict and well...monk-like that within a few months they were plotting to kill him. They poisoned his tea, but the cup shattered before he could drink it. They poisoned his food, but a bird flew in and swooped it out of his hands before he could eat it. Eventually the dude peaced out.

What I liked:  A lot of parallels could be drawn from this time period. The most obvious of course is the decline of the Roman Empire to the current political/social/economic climate in America. Read books like 'Empire of Illusion' to really grasp the similarities between the two civilizations. The doc told stories about the Roman public being too poor to afford food and water, but still going to the Colosseum to watch prisoners fight to the death. After viewing the murderous spectacle, the crowd would demand the meat from the dead bodies. I think our own country's thirst for entertainment is seemingly unquenchable but I hope it never reaches this point.

Also interesting was the use of religion by leaders and politicians. Clovis openly admitted that his conversion to Christianity was totally pragmatic and not based in any emotion or passion. He knew he needed to unite his country and the best way to do that was under a unified religion. It also brought him brownie points with neighboring countries who were already Christian. It makes me think of current politicians that drape themselves in the flag and thump the Bible relentlessly: I don't know if they do it because it's their true nature, of it they know it's a good way to get votes.

What I didn't like: My usual problems with History Channel the last few years- so cheesy. The graphics and filming style leaves a lot to be desired.

They had scenes of people picking up dead bodies in the streets during the height of the Bubonic Plague.  How could I NOT think of this:

The film can be found on netflix.