Allyson Sims

Allyson Sims

In the introduction of Grant’s book he quotes that after the Dark Ages, “Europe awakened, bathed, and began thinking again.” The Middle Ages were also referred to as a “barbarous history of barbarous peoples, who became Christians but did not become better because of it, also, it is necessary to know the history of that age only in order to scorn it.” (4)

I find this to be a compelling argument given all the proof we have of what a fruitful and crucial time period the Middle Ages were that so much scorn is assigned to them. I wonder if in a few centuries down the road, the Renaissance will also be relegated to a relatively unworthy time period, given the speed in which technology has progressed in just the last 50-70 years by comparison. It seems that society is often too willing to scorn what came before.