Recently,I watched one documentary about Dark Ages (4000 AD to 1000 AD),and I read some material about Dark ages.I would like to share you some salient features of social evils and taboos during Dark ages and then let you compare and conclude it to our country Pakistan and especially my province Sindh.
History is the best guide,if we learn from it,we may not repeat the same mistakes or blunders.George Santayana once said " Those who cannot learn from history are doomed to repeat it.".In the history of man kind,the Dark and bright ages appear and disappear,in Europe roughly around 4000 to 12000 AD period is termed as Dark ages.The beginning of Dark Ages (DA) is considered at the fall of Roman empire,because after the fall of great Roman Empire in Western Europe,the chain reaction towards decline begun in every field, culture, societal, economical, educational and moral.The great glory days of progress and thriving society during Roman Empire days plunged into dark days at its fall.Darkness in society grow darker with every passing day not only because of external factors (aggressions of others+Plagues etc) but also due internal societal crisis of people.
Here,describe some taboos and social evils which blocked the society from moving out of Dark period towards Path of Progress and Enlightenment.Lets just see what history of dark ages reveal to us.
1.“An age is called Dark not because the light fails to shine, but because people refuse to see it”
James A. Michener quotes (U.S. novelist and short-story writer, 1907?-1997)
2.“Creeds made in Dark Ages are like drawings made in dark rooms”
Joseph McCabe.
3.“The test of civilization is the estimate of woman. Among savages she is a slave. In the dark ages of Christianity she is a toy and a sentimental goddess. With increasing moral light, and greater liberty, and more universal justice, she begins to deve”
George William Curtis quotes (American social reformer, author and editor, 1824-1892)
4. Dark ages were a time of violence,war,religious fanaticism and superstitions.
5.crimes were very common.heresy was one of the greatest crimes.Heresy led to thousands of deaths because the church neglected any tolerance against people with different beliefs.
6.Unfaithful wives were considered to be highest criminals (Men was at safe spot) and they would be treated accordingly.Rape was not considered a major offense because women had not as many rights as men.
7.Kidnapping was very frequent during the Dark Ages.Landlords who lacked enough workers, frequently resorted to kidnapping kids in order to populate their own villages.and Most crimes did occur to merchants.
8.Some jewelry had religious meaning and precious stones were looked religiously by some people.
9.Sorcery and black magic were very common during the Dark Ages.
10.Girls were virtually ignored when it came to education. Only daughters of the very rich and powerful were allowed to attend select courses.
11.Village life:The peasants were either classified as free men or as "villeins," those who owed heavy labor service to a lord, were bound to the land, and subject to feudal dues. Village life was busy for both classes, and for women as well as men. Much of this harsh life was lived outdoors, wearing simple dress and subsisting on a meager diet.
12.Health: Superstition and ignorance reigned and Health was controlled by the stars, and affliction was a sign of impurity of the soul-a curse from God.
13.Violence erupts, including death for even the smallest indiscretions,differnce of opinion ,sexual orientation or dress code.Religious minorities were one biggest sufferers of that era.
14.Marriage:Women in the Dark Ages were usually treated as property.marriage among the noble class was more a business transaction than the culmination of ardent feelings.
Conclusion:Think,compare above points to our society and do make your own conclusions.
[A]Ref for points 4,5, 6, 7, 8, 9, taken from this link: http://medieval-castles.or
[B] Ref for points 10,11,12,14 : http://www.medieval-life.n
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