Hi, /r/AskHistorians.
I'm doing a literary research in regards to the true nature and cause of the Dark Ages, as well as its effects to technology. I've read a few of the articles here, which has basically stated that the church didn't directly or majorly cause this period. This is quite different from what my community usually perceive.
The common perception here is that due to the fact that the church heavily censored knowledge and new findings to protect their status as well as power, it led towards a decline in technological advancement, thus bringing about what is commonly called 'dark ages'. Whereas other sources have said the start of this period was due to the fall of the Roman Empire.
Can anyone clarify this and include citable source? I've checked the Reddit wiki and found it hard to find the latter. It would help quite a lot and clear up a great deal of misconception.
Thanks.
religion of technology David F. Noble
The Middle Ages Johannes Fried
These books are a good counter-argument by your theory. The book "middle ages" goes in great detail on how the church and how sovereign kings came about. Detailing on how the the Church created and stimulated logical and scientific thought. It paints a complex web of the church and its relation and formation of the state; and how their turbulent relationship spurred enlightenment thinking.
religion of technology, on the other hand, argues that the scientific revolution came about because of the actions of the Church. Technology was something encouraged by the clergy because - david argues - it created an environment that was closer to God. By enhancing technology one could be nearer to God; as close as Adam was, until his down-fall.