It had nothing to do with this period being dark. When you think about something “dark” it makes me think of no light, no education, no government, no food or water. When you read about the Middle Ages, this does not describe this period. Instead there is enlightment in thought, in governments, in commerce and economy. It seems instead that things got organized during this time. People went from tribes and villages to nations with order and government.
One of the key events that happened during the Middle Ages were the crusades, where wave after wave of knights and warriors went over land and sea from Europe to the Middle East to try to conquer the Holy Land. These expeditions helped open trade routes that created more commerce between three continents, Europe, Asia, and Africa. The trade routes can be seen in the map on Document E. As people traveled from place to place, they shared cultures and exchanged ideas. This also helped Europe develop ways to explore new lands and even discover