Byzantium's Role in the Formation of Early Medieval Civilization: Approaches and Problems
Michael McCormick
Until recently, Europe from the collapse of power in fifth century to Carolingian achievement ninth—the early Middle Ages—has been poor step-child modern historical research. The reasons are not hard find. Contemporary sources few and difficult, their language is laced with obscurity, lingering prejudice against dark ages can still be perceived, especially North America. But because a problem difficult does mean that it ignored. And increasingly deny long twilight period on edges Antiquity Ages was fertile even decisive for destiny medieval—and modern—civilization. These centuries prepared ground which high would build out world grow. Not salient characteristics contemporary western civilization appear there first time. It then Christianity conquered northern Germanic, Slavic Arab peoples emerged as key players stage. here we find direct ancestors phenomena diverse Europe's nation states today's Roman alphabet, style writing invented by scribes Charlemagne's kingdom eighth century. While many factors shaped medieval must sought, course, within civilization's internal development, little reason think outside stimulus less influential than other, comparable cultures.1 diffusion culture beyond its frontiers great significance