Introduction
Welcome fellow historians! You have survived the fall of the Roman Empire and have entered the Dark Ages of Europe. Civilization is in chaos as "barbarians" fight for land and dominance. The roads are in disrepair, trade has been disrupted and people are worried mostly about survival. The one universal in peoples' lives becomes the Roman Catholic Church, a powerful and unifying institution. The time from 500 AD - 1500 AD, historians refer to as the Middle Ages. This period bridges the gap between the once culturally rich and dominating powerhouse of the ancient world (Roman Empire) and the the modern era known as the Renaissance. As a historian it is your goal to explore the Middle Ages and explain how it provides a transition between the ancient and modern worlds.