The Middle Ages
Harry Blamires
The centuries between the fall of Roman Empire in west and Renaissance are loosely called ‘Middle Ages’. Waves barbarian invaders, Goths, Huns Vandals, swept over imperial frontiers last decades fourth century AD until Alaric, King Visigoths, eventually captured sacked Rome itself year his life, 410. submergence civilisation under invading hordes was such that period from to later eleventh has been labelled ‘Dark Ages’, term Ages’ applied more limitedly twelfth Renaissance. Dark Ages were not uniformly dark. We caught a glimpse fifth-century literary mind chapter when we cast our eyes forward see longterm effect decay oratory into declamation first AD. Frankish Charlemagne (c.742–814) inspired extend rule all directions with hope recreating Christian empire Constantine. Eventually he seized crown Lombardy took papacy protection. In 800 crowned by Pope as Emperor Holy Empire. His patronage historians speak ‘Carolingian Renaissance’.