The Dark Ages...How Dark Were They, Really?: Crash Course World History #14

John Green teaches you about the so-called Dark Ages, which it turns out weren't as uniformly dark as you may have been led to believe. While Europe was indeed having some issues, many other parts of the world were thriving and relatively enlightened. John covers European Feudalism, the cultural blossoming of the Islamic world, and the scientific and artistic advances in China, all during these "Dark Ages." Along the way, John will raise questions about the validity of Europe's status as a continent, reveal the best and worst years of his life, and frankly state that science and religion were once able to coexist.
Chapters:
Introduction: Europe 00:00
Why are they called The Dark Ages? 0:50
Feudalism in Medieval Europe 1:34
Dar al Islam and the Umayyad Dynasty 3:55
The Abbasids 4:42
An Open Letter to Science and Religion 7:17
Spanish Muslims in Cordoba 8:15
China's Golden Age 9:12
Credits 10:52
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[@zombieman34]

“Your worst year is someone else’s best year.” Pretty sure nobody’s having their best year in 2020

[@paulaaquino]

Toilet paper manufacturers disagree with you

[@Alex-ji6lg]

*Mask companies laughing in the corner*

[@Matthewgb204]

Zombie Man I’m not having the best but it’s my top 5 best (I’m 14)

[@manicreblex3949]

this is my best year for me. i'm doing three hour long home schooling and spending the rest of my time playing roblox or watching youtube

[@jw-vs7wh]

im kinda living it up tbh, in boston all school was canceled

[@InfinityFilms0]

John: 2001 is the worst year 2020: hold my corona

[@anthonydavis5288]

Well played

[@samsulkarim164]

wow

[@naledimyabi2686]

Nice😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@anthonyJones-ll4ei]

this was made in 2012

[@InfinityFilms0]

@@anthonyJones-ll4ei yes I am aware of that

[@hishamhabli3876]

the best year: every year in the 2000's except for 2020

[@movingparts6270]

*People in the Comments:* God 2020 is the worst! *2021:* I'm about to ruin these peoples' whole education

[@fordakacar]

what?

[@bread6088]

@@fordakacar he knows something we don't

[@catloomer431]

Yes Ive been thinking about that and omg

[@E.h.a.n]

GOD : *Parry this you filthy casual*

[@fungungus]

Best year: 100 BC (Birth of Julius Caesar) Worst year: 100 BC (Birth of Julius Caesar) I'm both Patrician and Plebeian.

[@MrCheesysmell]

That's impressive

[@SirAdrian87]

Professor Mercury So basically you're Julius Caesar?

[@superalibros]

Professor Mercury So technically you are 2100+ years old?

[@kylemelito7130]

If you like July then you should probably like Julius lol

[@sorchasnow-shiva3858]

+Professor Mercury nice i just studied that in school

[@peter-peterpumpkineater4982]

worst: 2017 when the first dog I have ever loved enough was hit by a car so much that he was paralysed best: 2017 when the vet told me he was just being melodramatic and nothing was wrong with him

[@rileypegram277]

WOW

[@franscameraroll]

LMAO OOPS

[@salahelhaddad4872]

Omg hahahah

[@EireHammer]

Dark lol!

[@jmagg2492]

weird flex but ok

[@Thecermit]

Worst Year: 19BBY - When order 66 happened. Best Year: 4ABY - When the Empire has fallen.

[@mehgurine_]

YAAAAAAAAAAAAASSSSS!!!!!!!

[@mehgurine_]

the force has brought me here

[@BearsThatCare]

Ik it has something to do with a battle but I always read that as “before baby yoda” and “after baby yoda”

[@crispyninja3593]

fan star wars see i

[@starwarsenjoyer7567]

Yay

[@claranims6598]

Best year: 2015 Worst year: 2020 Thank you John Green, for writing amazing books and being so supportive of students and teachers everywhere! As someone who just finished being a student, and is about to be a teacher, I am grateful for your work. Best wishes, Clara Nims

[@KingTesticus]

worst year: 1993 (i quit smoking) best year: all that followed because i quit smoking :-)

[@maxwell8787]

Lol life is upside down

[@sithmaster4305]

+KingTesticus Well good on you pal that's a hard thing too do.

[@KingTesticus]

Jake Azz been there done that. i think i'll take being a "puss" for a while, thank you very much ;-)

[@KingTesticus]

***** Jake Azz and how many things you can smell and taste after you've quit ;-) how much further you can walk and run, how much longer you can fukk

[@sithmaster4305]

KingTesticus I wish my old man would just do that. He's been trying those vapors smokers it sorta worked for awhile but we haven't had money for awhile and he's frankly just too thick headed to quit cold.

[@shanaranjan]

Literally live for the "wait for it...the Mongols"

[@ananyaupadhya1974]

*Cue Mongoltage*

[@orecvetkovic904]

Aaaaaaaaaaaa!

[@saeedhussain4646]

Same

[@zzxp1]

*The Mongol tide*

[@susanvinson2667]

We’re the exception!

[@carolinevideos9559]

Best Year: Literally anything other than 2020 I am stuck and home watching our special guest John Green for the next month (I do love john green tho) but also ah

[@aarzookothari180]

I feel you

[@supernut04]

Retweeted 💕

[@muhammadrizkialamsyah7566]

Same feeling

[@manicreblex3949]

SAME ikr

[@jamespurvis2569]

Me too

[@samanthazimdahl6358]

“Nothing gold can stay” *sobs* stay gold ponyboy 😭

[@galacticsabc4407]

it's always the Mongols.

[@brrrhup9320]

They are the exceptions.

[@diogenescasares4294]

Always....

[@GutsLikesItInTheAss]

Always. Genghis khan was probably the only guy to snort coke from a 100 girl's asses with each being a different ethnicity in a row, you never know with these Mongols.

[@mania1154]

Godamn Mongols

[@starwarsloverandgamer2237]

Mania115 hey they are the exception

[@PossiblyNic]

Worst year : 2009 Diagnosed with cancer Best year: This Year. :) Graduated high school, made a lot of good friends, becoming an adult, etc.

[@HoldUpStrong]

Wow.

[@PossiblyNic]

HoldUpStrong Yup. ^^

[@Jo0o0odie1995]

You're an awesome person just know that !

[@cehrriins123]

In the face of cancer, you're still kicking ass at the entire idea of DFTBA. :) You deserve all the gold stars and high fives - and here's a virtual high five from me. Keep rockin' it!

[@lovemakesmehappy1]

I wish you good luck!

[@TheJulioToboso]

Worst, 2025. So much studying. Best 2026-2015. When I finally finished the time machine and invested in Bitcoin. Man, it was a weird year.

[@dr1zz3n]

Can I loan your time machine?

[@TheJulioToboso]

drizzeN Sure. Meet me yesterday at the pub.

[@dr1zz3n]

​@@TheJulioToboso Can't we meet tomorrow instead? I'll pay for your studies once I start earning the money from the bets I intend to make.

[@AlphaGeekgirl]

drizzeN you mean borrow... unless you mean that you want to loan it to a third party

[@newmantopia]

2023 was by best and worst year. This first time through it was great, then I used the time machine to try it again, and it was awful.

[@thelonewanderer4084]

Worst year(s) 2001-2019 Fun fact, I was born in 2001.

[@ianwilson6536]

The Lone Wanderer me too

[@DiscordDashie]

Me too

[@juliareste]

yeouch

[@DimApple705]

wow thoese depressed kids

[@samfatima4426]

2003-19 me!

[@pete2389]

Abbasids vs China was definitely not in my history books growing up, thank you for the brain food

[@MrBander1]

Me Too

[@dabest6680]

studying for ap world history quizzes here. i can't find the crash course on islam in india.

[@pete2389]

da best he has a mughal dynasty video

[@dabest6680]

Pete oh sweet thanks. luckily my ap world quiz on it wasn't very hard and i was able to get by with the textbook

[@adrianatgaming8640]

751 ad :D

[@maxlu9625]

Just a sneaky little hand behind John at 10:44 who also wants in on the fun

[@ckee7012]

STAN

[@darkknight6724]

STAN LEE CAMO

[@jaydenlee2092]

stan fix this now

[@unshakensalsa6220]

I always thought it was called the Dark Ages because we had very little recorded history of the time.

[@jessicabrocious3286]

Best year and worst year= 2019. Mom and Best Friend died. BUT I also branched out, fixed my bulimia, made friends, and learned what it was to smile because I wanted to (not because it was expected to make them family look better or make someone else happy).

[@bryanyang2097]

Life expectancy was short because infant mortality rate was so high due to lack of knowledge in hygiene. Once people passed certain age, they actually lived relatively longer than what we thought. The skeleton findings prove this.

[@WokeandProud]

Well that and increase to standards of living due to industlization helped as well.

[@jcincorporated6207]

Bryan Yang The Greek philosophers’ lifespans were relatively long; I don’t know if the rest of the Greek population lived long lives though.

[@Chilukar]

@@jcincorporated6207 other places were the same. Psalm 90 says "As for the days of our life, they contain seventy years, Or if due to strength, eighty years" And Isiah 23 says "Now in that day Tyre will be forgotten for seventy years like the days of one king. " There are other sources from other places too, but these are quickest examples to quote.

[@meredithwilcox1818]

The dark ages weren't named "dark ages" because they were unenlightened, but because they didn't leave behind much written history, leaving historians "in the dark" about their civilizations.

[@LogosTheos]

That term was first used by Francisco Petrarch (1304-1374) to basically mean nothing happened. No advancements.

[@CarlosRios1]

It was called the fall ages because there were many knights

[@bladedge3573]

True man

[@flamingdragon8962]

Adelester The Dark Ages was a time where people lacked knowledge. Everything they were told they believed in and didn't question. The importance of the Age of Enlightenment, is it changes people's views of the world they knew. Without Enlightened ideas Feudalism and the strict absolute rule would have been around much longer. As peasants would not have question how unfair their lives were

[@BillMcHale]

Umm, no. Modern historians would object to the term Dark Ages to cover anything other than the first couple of hundred years following the fall of the Western Roman Empire in the 5th century. It is called dark because very little written documentation exists from that period. Starting with the Carolingian Renaissance in the 9th century, literacy and learning definitely started to spread again. Things were slowed down a bit by the Viking invasions (which actually played a major role in the development of Feudalism), but after the end of the Viking Age (1066 is a good end point), things started to develop pretty rapidly. The 12th century would see the development of Universities leading to a whole bunch of important philosophers (Albertus Magnus, Thomas Aquinas, Duns Scotus and William of Ockham among others showing up in the 13th. Also, the 14th century (still part of the Middle Ages which essentially would end with the the 15th century) saw peasant revolts. And actually absolute rule was not a Medieval thing; Feudalism was a relationship of mutual obligations; obviously the military classes took advantages of it, but the Peasants in that era had rights. In addition, following the Black Death in the 14th century, the system started breaking down because following the Black Death, the power of the peasants grew in direct proportion to how many fewer of them there were. Absolutism actually came with the Protestant Reformation and the Enlightenment were for the first time the princes and emperors of Europe no longer had to worry about answering to the Pope.

[@thesyathiruchelvam2066]

When you are doing your history task for the Silk Road and your empire is... wait for it.. *The Mongols* That's me!

[@unsharded8503]

Have fun! The mongols have a looong history.

[@youllneverknow_123]

Was that a joke

[@thesyathiruchelvam2066]

@@youllneverknow_123 nope it wasn't. I have to do a presentation with 2 other people about the Mongols in 7th grade :)

[@youllneverknow_123]

Nah man I was talking to the other guy

[@Wyatt_Sumner_Musician]

My worst year was 2017, a year where idiocy and anxiety almost took over. I'm still looking for a best year, since the rest were mostly good.

[@dkupke]

I actually find it interesting how the end of the dark ages and the beginning of the enlightenment in Europe coincided with the start of a regression in the Middle East, and how heavily intertwined both were.

[@dkupke]

+ahens74ah Except it wan't just Muslims. Throughout the dark ages Europe was constantly under siege; the Visigoths, the Vikings, the Eastern Empire, the Muslim Caliphates, the Mongols-the list goes on. Toward the end, that dynamic switched-the Muslim Caliphates were the ones under siege from Persians, Turks, Mongols, and Europeans. And in fact, it was knowledge brought back from the Caliphates during the Crusades that helped spark the intellectual awakening that became the Enlightenment.

[@raczbela9609]

+Daniel Ryan it did not end. It simply did not happen. The historians called this period of time dark because they find only very few evidences the life was going on. But Herbert Illig theory (this times never happened) seems right. Around 300 years was insert into the calendar.

[@Knighted456]

+Daniel Ryan That seems to be a bit of an overstatement for the middle east. The Ottomans and Safavids were just starting to flourish at this time.

[@arzttod6331]

***** wrong lmao..it was the muslims.

[@dkupke]

+qd FATE Its one of those ironies of history. As utterly brutal and even pointless as the Crusades and the Mongol invasions of Europe where, the flow of knowledge, goods, and languages that both brought to Europe was undeniably a key contributor to the start of The Enlightenment.

[@chicoblu.]

I JUST REALIZED YOU ARE THE JOHN GREEN, THE ONE WHO MADE FAULT IN OUR STARS AND PAPERTOWN. I LITERALLY WOULD'VE NEVER KNOWN EXCEPT FOR AN AD IN TARGET

[@jonathanrich9281]

Yeah, I learned John Green was the author of those books just last night. Pretty mind-blowing.

[@genner-vincenthodgson5177]

Wow

[@allisonscanlan4144]

What really

[@septianprawisudaputra6398]

I’ve googled it and its legit, yeah he’s the same dude

[@christyarticola1206]

This is crazy to learn right now here on this thread because I am reading The Fault in Our Stars right now, I am at about 50% in it, and I just started binge watching Crash Course World History last week. Mind blown

[@MrAkhilnaidu]

10:44 someone is trying to do something in the background. o.O

[@gracem3412]

To everyone taking the AP World exam tomorrow- good luck, I believe in you!!

[@rantigeorge2108]

I love how this channel sheds light on history that is not taught in American classrooms. Thank you guys so much for educating all of us!!

[@thisboringgirlhere]

worst: 2016. was cheated on, kicked out of home, totaled my car, contacted bacterial meningitis, and became homeless. best: so far 2018. I have an amazing boyfriend, my mental illness is somewhat under control, I have a job that I think will lead to my career, and I'm pretty much fully independent. in short?? life gets better. just keep on living.

[@arawn1061]

Did it get worse again?

[@garmadoon9472]

WELL SCREW YOUR EX! Life gets better just you wait~ Just you wait~ (Hamilton lyrics! What! I can’t help myself!)

[@sr1987]

your the best

[@jmagg2492]

weird flex but ok

[@spideredo8017]

@Sass Master I'm very proud, must have been hard to carry on yet you did! :D

[@ninnyyy8620]

i'm just here coz i wanted to hear excited john again, he sounded so sad in the crash course Europe history ;-;

[@abubakermuzzamil2753]

This was 8 years ago?! This is 2020-Quarantine Quality show ❤️ Excellent job!

[@Aquapod9]

We're Europe! The Prime Meridian runs through us, we're in the middle of every map, and we get to be a continent even though we're... not a continent! Watch in 0.5 speed!

[@XalphYT]

It's good at any speed.

[@thatchacre5763]

+Lanivan King I followed your suggestion, it's really funny ;)

[@EASYTIGER10]

+Lanivan King He sounds a little like Emo Phillips at that speed

[@rashidaakter2250]

+Lanivan King try the into in speed 2x

[@Number1SUS_alt]

+Lanivan King needs to be more drunk

[@ceka50]

Okay, but how many angels CAN fit on the head of a needle??

[@MachineElf_Official]

One for every brain cell I lose by thinking about it

[@worldshaper1723]

Nicholas Kjerland You listen to me!! We are NOT going BACK!!

[@ceka50]

my friend dean might know someone with an answer

[@hoseadavit3422]

You might say endless because angels are not from a physical form rather a spiritual form so no matter how many angel fit inside the head of a needle it is still have enough room for more angels to fit Just like faith it is endless

[@saandyyvh6682]

Nicholas Kjerland How big is the needle?

[@MeadowWayTV]

John Green: Watch as I redefine the Dark Ages into a topic about non-European history.

[@christabellegrace5119]

“Was the age really so dark? Depends on what you find depressing : )”

[@william840]

Worst year: 1998, cause I was born. Best year: 1997, cause I wasn’t suffering

[@mitchc802]

found the bhuddist

[@donaldjesus6086]

Edgy

[@shmnl_af1993]

Hi5

[@YungTrvpL0rdDaG0d]

The Puppetteer that’s tuff

[@luciuspaullus1948]

All life is Suffering

[@danny9154]

At 10:44 somone pops their head behind the chalkboard.

[@captainjules6033]

Worst year 2015 (started smoking, brother left for college, depression) Best year 2018 (second and third semester at college, met my girlfriend, started the shamefully long process of quitting smoking)

[@catloomer431]

I luv John n Hank - they are fighting for education to be fun, open and crazy in a good way. And they are winning

[@ibnsaeed1]

Finally someone speaks truthfully about Islam . thank you

[@tehrealfake]

Huss S About the Arabic empire in the Middle Ages. It's not like people are criticising Islam 1000 years ago, and the Islamic world today is a total mess.

[@cr3160]

Fakey Directly because of western imperialism trying so vehemently to force democracy on people that DONT WANT IT. But intervention from the west is caused mostly by the desire to continue their extortion and oppression of the Middle East. Gaddafi for example wanted a pan African gold dinar currency for trading, which would topple the west's economic dominance of Africa and finally liberate the continent from western influence. America and NATO didn't like that, and they funded terrorists to destroy the greatest country in Africa. Sad really, how the West used the knowledge of the east i.e. Gunpowder to imprison us in impoverishment. As of now, Russia is the last bastion against the influence of the west.

[@cr3160]

Fakey Not imperial, imperialist, those are two different things. Russia is way more imperialist than the US? Are you joking? The US has over 600 military bases outside of the US, and Russia has only about 2 or 3. The US has WMDs pointed straight at russia and moscow in eastern europe. I've already explained this, the US seeks to indirectly control the economy of any place it can, and as I said, when Gaddafi proposed an idea that would dismantle America's extortion of Africa, they funded radical and savage Islamist to destroy the greatest country on the continent. That isn't globalist, that is intensely imperialist. The US wants to control the African and middle eastern economy, not guide it. "Islam with it's lack of personal freedoms " What lack of personal freedoms? This has nothing to do with personal freedoms. The middle east is a shithole strictly because of western imperialism. Jesus christ, westerners with their overly biased view of the world. Absolutely disgusting.

[@Sam-xd9xt]

"Truth about Islam" is a history lesson of the 'dark ages'?

[@cr3160]

***** No one needs to hear it, it's obvious from their actions. Example: Gaddafi was planning on a pan african gold dinar currency that would topple western banking in Africa. Soon after, US funded terrorists destroyed Libya and savagely murdered Gaddafi. I wish I could see every american behind the libyan terrorists murdered just like Gaddafi was, slowly, while begging for mercy.

[@thedarklight6752]

best year 2013, worst year 2016 tommorow because of the test

[@thetreeme92]

+DJ Ryan lol the AP test right?

[@thedarklight6752]

+Justin Loeung yep

[@ashleygonzalez8226]

I feel you👌

[@comedynewsgaming4527]

2014 worst. 1015 best.

[@Jgvcfguy]

HIV test?

[@cindychen1767]

I love how he mentions the Mongols in every single episode

[@skizzz1377]

2020: corona virus almost WW3

[@choggerboom]

"Almost ww3" sounds a lot better than "start of world war 2"

[@overlychaotic]

NOT EVEN CLOSE!

[@matthewhardcastle2781]

I'm only 16 so I don't think I've lived long enough to know if I've had a worst year

[@ayanhart]

+Matthew Hardcastle You can always say 'so far'. I'm only 20, and so far my worst year was 2012 and my best year is 2016. That will probably change with time, but with my current experience, that's what it is.

[@Beastinvader]

I'm disappointed. Your heading is misleading. The dark ages, in most minds, refer to EUROPE. Whether that's Eurocentric or not is irrelevant. I came here to listen to what happened in the dark ages in... you guessed it... Europe. Now you focus mainly on the Arabs and the Chinese. So now I'm non the wiser about what happened in Europe during that time.

[@Beastinvader]

I don't know a single person who, when he hears "Dark Ages" thinks about - to show the absurdity - Zimbabwe or Australia.

[@FryguyDylan]

the headline doesn't include the word europe so just because your eurocentric mind only thinks of europe when you hear the dark ages doesn't mean that's all hes going teach because we need to know about the whole world to understand the world and to not repeat the bad parts of history. this is world history not european history

[@PsychicChris]

Dylan Fry the dark ages refer to a time in EUROPE.... Like what the heck. Its like if he made a video about the three kingdom era in china and the last half talks about europe..

[@Beastinvader]

PsychicChris I agree. This is ABSURD! Next thing you know when the topic is the Pax Romana people will start talking about Mesoamerican civilization.

[@emilstanca3122]

i get what ur saying but this is a course on WORLD history, hes gonna have to talk about Europe and Arabia and everything else. I think he did a good job in explaining the European side of it. And i do think that in history it is necessary to sometimes acknowledge when traditional historians have been a little bias. Also its a 12 minute video so appreciate how much detail he fed u on both Europe and the rest of the world.

[@sumirsookdeo9443]

10:45 there was a hand behind the blackboard.

[@Maarttiin]

Anyone her just cause you wanted to hear a little history?

[@jaxona3544]

Maarttiin obviously

[@strongbear3369]

Me too and my last names Martin too

[@Hayanomie]

Im replaying it any time I'm free so I can hard press it into my mind that the world didn't begin in the 90s when I was born lol

[@leen9609]

Maarttiin i hv a test coming up lol

[@NathanStamey]

No I’ve been watching all of theese since next year I will be in tenth grade world history P.S I’m in 8th

[@darksoulsunleashed2493]

2014: When I was diagnosed with Depression 2017: When I graduated high school and beat my depression.

[@BlackLegion12621]

DarkSoulsUnleashed congrats my dude

[@angery950]

Dang

[@adamcollins1551]

Gay.

[@louiswilliamson2191]

2016: When I got straight A's in my A levels and had a great year all around, making many new friends and enjoying my courses 2017: When I stopped enjoying my courses, they became substantially more difficult, one of my friends killed himself and my mental health rapidly deteriorated btw congrats on graduating and beating your depression - two significant achievements

[@isaiahrosner3780]

This conversation certainly includes a range of emotions

[@SpectatorAlius]

Speaking of prejudices like "Eurocentrism", the example he holds up as a typical theological debate owes its origins to the anti-religious, anti-clerical prejudicies of the so-called 'Enlightenment': medieval theologians/philosophers NEVER debated how many angels could dance on the head of a pin, that was made up by one of their critics to make fun of them.

[@powerist209]

And there was a renaissance called "Carolingian Renaissance," where universities were built and standardized writing with Carolingian Miniscule. Then, Charles' stupid sons managed to ruin it all.

[@SpectatorAlius]

powerist But they did not manage to "ruin it all" for the Eastern Roman Empire.

[@SpectatorAlius]

***** Well, any presentation that tries to cover all of the "dark ages" in such a short time is going to gloss over a lot -- especially because despite the common prejudice, those ages were not really 'dark'. But I have to agree that there were several things he could have talked about less in order to spend more time on 1) the Carolingian Renaissance and 2) the Roman Empire in the East, which avoided most of this 'darkness'.

[@muskanabbasi5967]

Watching every video in this series only for "wait for it....The Mongols" 😂

[@cuthbertsboots5733]

"The Dark Ages weren't a time of great poetry" Beowulf, the Arthurian Legends, the Song of Roland, the Tales of Alexander the Great, the Divine Comedy, the Canterbury Tales, etc.: Are we a joke to you?

[@apollo77877]

He didn't say there wasn't poetry, just no great poetry

[@cuthbertsboots5733]

Rob B Yes, and that is all great poetry…

[@hallamhal]

The Canterbury Tales and Divine Comedy were both 14th-15th century, weren't they?

[@cuthbertsboots5733]

@@hallamhal Yes, but the "historian" in this video does not realize that the "Dark Ages" designation only used to refer to the period between 500 and 1000, so when he uses it, he is also referring to the 14th and 15th centuries.

[@YouhavetoBelieve3347]

This is a Cultural Marxist channel sponsored to spew a specific propaganda n agenda against European culture

[@piked774]

Wow look at all the people here offended that a world history crash course doesn't play Europe up more. I've even seen someone say this is the last video they're going to watch from Green because of his bias. This is why people never learn....even the Muslims during the times mentioned in the video accepted other viewpoints and flourished as a result. Green isn't hating or minimizing European accomplishments, he's just acknowledging that other countries existed that we barely ever learn about, and when we do learn about them.its never about what ways they contributed to the world we live in today. To call him biased for bringing up a wider view of history is so narrow-minded.

[@galdrack5402]

Unsurprisingly it's the people with a biased history towards Europe that are claiming this video is biased.... I've noticed this too in some of the other crashcourse videos that are in anyway critical of Europe or Christianity. It's just the new younger right wingers on youtube that popped up over the last few years.

[@piked774]

Galdrack I once heard a quote saying the young tend to be more extreme than the old

[@MiklosHajma]

The comments I read so far complaining are because the term Dark Ages explicitly refers to an European period of of history. Which is true. The same period in the other parts of the world was never dark ages. The term basically means that almost no written record can be found from that time, not because everyone was stupid or something. As the video stated, in the Arabic world and the far East a ton of written history remained, so we can't call that dark ages at all.

[@sofiamiau3420]

Im not offended as I am not Caucasian, I am annoyed at the liberal obsession to undermine western civilization

[@gRocket6196]

It just gets frustrating to be talked down to in every video like "Contrary to what I know you believe, white people were actually terrible". He assumes everybody watching has a raging hard-on for Europe and he needs to set everybody straight. It's just as ignorant as saying that Muslims are completely awful.

[@CritER2023]

Excellent content! Thank you for putting together all of these... the histories of the Persian, European, and a bit of Chinese during the “Dark Ages.” I’ve been looking for something like this. I’ve always been interested in correlating time periods in history! Thank you very much!! It helps a lot in my lifelong journey in learning our world’s history!!

[@chrishuman3116]

For an educational KZbin video, I was not expecting this to be so good 😊

[@croutendo2050]

Life expectations was 30, but I wish more people would include the fact that that's including infant and child mortality. If you made it to adulthood you'd usually last until 60 or 70.

[@Wafflical]

I watched this, and then did a project on the Golden Age of Islam / Islamic Golden Age in school. So thank you for showing me such an interesting side to the Middle Ages.

[@Cataphract3]

Maybe it's just because I really enjoy medieval European history but I find John Green's outlook here a bit bothersome. It seems like many people, in an attempt to avoid euro-centrism he is rather dismissive of Europe in general(including poetry although he does mention a few notable European theologians from that period). He chooses instead to speak incredibly positively regarding Muslim culture, which really could have used a more balanced approach. I understand time is limited, but I feel like this video should have been divided into a few parts, one for the Muslim world of the middle ages, another for Europe.

[@JacquesRatonLaveur]

That's interesting. Since i enjoy medieval European history as well, I extra much enjoyed this particular episode specifically because it went into different directions. I had no idea what China was like in those centuries; this was a great, fresh, new perspective that made my day.

[@doneanddusted8119]

Unfortunately its hard to find good documentaries/books on china, other than the ones meant for PHD's. actually, it's hard to find any history documentary, what with the history channel as it is.

[@JLakis]

I too felt this was a tad dismissive. There are many dark ages in world history, but the period between the fall of the Western Empire and say the Norman invasion of England, generally known as The Dark Ages, is the title so, yeah, weak. He made the feudal system sound benevolent, as though lords didn't use their knights against peasants, other lords or their king constantly. Not to mention the threat of constant invasion by tribes displaced by the Huns or over-population, or just because you're a Viking and that's what you do! (Where are the Vikings in this show?!) For the the Romanized peoples of Europe, the withdrawal of the legions and ensuing chaos WAS the end of the world -- exactly the level of social breakdown that "preppers" build bunkers for. Yes, do talk about the accomplishments of the Arab world at this time, they carried the torch of civilization (maybe devote an episode to it, deserves one) but talk about China in an episode on, say, China. I'd also add that The Black Plague, while obviously not a great time, was key in dismantling the feudal system and in setting the stage for Europe's social, economic, artistic and scientific rebirth. The episode about the Crusades didn't talk about China. It was about the Crusades. If you want "Stuff that happened in the world between 500 AD/CE and 1400" call the episode that. There are so many brilliant tacks one could take on this both destructive and formative moment in history, this seemed like an intellectual cop-out. I thought, maybe all he'd say was 'the Dark Ages weren't so dark', but benevolent feudal rule? Guess he forgot to be awesome that day.

[@JLakis]

DoneAnd Dusted Try Michael Wood "Legacy: The Mandate of Heaven." It's on KZbin.

[@murirokcs5518]

yeah but what is called the middle ages in europe wasn't so dark everywhere else.

[@ryanmcgovern4853]

3:46 Looks just like when u color ur textbook with ur highlighters

[@jacksondowdle5217]

I love how emphasized the fact that "the Dark Ages" may have been "dark" in Europe, but for the rest of the world, there was an incredible amount of progress made with technology, art & trade

[@MCdobbyGamer]

best year 2015 got my gaming pc worst year 2015 pretty much failed school

[@TheXGamer213]

i feel u *hugs*

[@ProfessorEisenoxid]

+TooDamnLitten Coincidence? Who knows..

[@MrGrunt-dw7lg]

there may be a correlation there bud.

[@BalvornLupus]

I think not.

[@actualliteralkiller2458]

Worst: day i was born Best: Day i die

[@mandaloretheangry9043]

that was dark

[@dianatagle8079]

literally was going to comment that

[@courtneyball8306]

no mr. poop butt hole!! Life if pretty cool.

[@syncout9586]

Oooo weeee! Mr Poopy Butthole is clinically depressed! Ooooo weeee!

[@Sam-xd9xt]

Bear. Tomorrow will be the best day of your life.

[@xtripplel_msh7283]

i am just watching this video because it was assigned for online schooling.

[@narutothewinnerof100]

That's cute.

[@elenasardarian4587]

Same

[@mylienoyas2008]

Same

[@jackyoutube8931]

Same

[@nosuchthing8]

Go watch the video clip about the mongols

[@clairedominguez]

anyone else cramming for the WHAP exam tomorrow? because uhhh me

[@sudsv1850]

bruh same tho realized i didn't know what the middle ages was :( oops

[@clairedominguez]

Suds V yeah, the whole 1000-1700’s is just a haze for me

[@jacksparrow-ib5ih]

Saaaaame

[@juliay4874]

What’s a WHAP lmao

[@tybrosarmy9621]

Claire D yeesssss

[@ShirleyBush]

As a History teacher, I enjoy watching these courses and how simply they are explained. However, most of my students complain about them due to the rapid speech. Is there any way you could slow it down a bit in order to allow for deeper understanding?

[@baseballlover312]

Best year, 1999. It's been all downhill since. And yes, that's when I was born. :P

[@trentonnewman9683]

baseballlover312 same here bro. But personally I think that humans never should have even come down from the trees. Maybe we shouldn't have ever left the water.

[@audng9934]

baseballlover312 Relatable.... but.... If everything has been downhill since, meaning it got worse, doesn't that mean 1999 was your best year??

[@loreenec8045]

Just to put it out there, from 1985-c.1997 were decent years from me, but after a family tragedy, the next 22 years were the Dark Ages for me, as was often cut off from a lot of people, but this year thanks to good technological advancement have certainly entered a new era of remaining in touch with people, good friendships etc, so this is kind of like the Communication Age. Like, we did have internet for a long time, but it's only recently that it's pretty safe to say that reliable internet with decent speed is more the norm now.

[@Anonymouslyanonymous667]

John Green is so wholesome.

[@josephmurphy9869]

I thought medieval times were call the dark ages because it was knight....

[@baronprocrastination1722]

*ba dum tss*

[@enderageous]

Ha Ha Ha

[@makinbacon6395]

Get out.

[@saeedhussain4646]

Joseph Murphy lol

[@tejashwiniramesh1]

ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha

[@akhilmaheshwary771]

The dark ages are one of my favorite periods in world history. The weaponry advanced at a very amazing speed, and the battles were absolutely amazing, for example, Lechfeld

[@powerist209]

One invention that we underrepresented, Carolingian Miniscule.

[@alalize]

And scientist, who could advance weapns even more (and do other great things, too), were killed and treated as witches, if were women. Yeah, a great period, really...

[@powerist209]

Daaloul Chiheb Ummm, that was a myth actually. Medieval Church tend to frown on Witch Burning since it's pagan culture. Well, Monks do research on science but tend towards sheep breeding and clock making.

[@akhilmaheshwary771]

See, a great time to be alive

[@akhilmaheshwary771]

It just makes you think about all the things you would do if you had a Tommy, a time machine, and a hell of a lot of ammo

[@annasundholm2090]

best: 2004 because i was born and i had zero responsibilities worst: 2018 because I had anxiety attacks throughout the whole year and I lost two of my pets and one of them was abducted

[@orionbaker7494]

Heyyyy 2004 kids unite

[@mightyelf2660]

@@orionbaker7494 yo

[@jm5390]

Worst: 2011 - shoulder surgery right before summer school, college transfers, school & personal crises Best: 2017 - trip to Australia, solar eclipse, multiple graduations, family reunion

[@willd.4808]

I'm binge-watching this entire series to prepare for my World History SAT. Thanks, John Green, AKA "a student's best friend." (Also Hank.)

[@JK_2998]

Best year : 2014 - Began year 11 in High school Worst year : 2015 - Began A levels

[@lumburgapalooza]

+Flying Spectacles I can't relate to any comment LESS. Just reading the words "high school" puts an anxious pit in my chest that spirals into an existential crisis where I have to reconcile my morality and feelings of responsibility to my family with my overwhelming urge to cause suffering to people who have wronged me and a sincere desire to die. It helps to talk though.

[@lumburgapalooza]

Alex Peters lol

[@WillyTheComposerOfficial]

Best year: 2015- Found myself Worst year: 2014- Abused drugs

[@Shadowfox-ms5hh]

+WillyTheComposer best year 2013 found a best friend worst year 2007 I got type 1 diabetes

[@rjn8001]

Best year 1996. I was finally tall enough to ride upside down roller coasters.

[@TylerDaSilva522]

This dude seems like someone that had ADHD and finally figured out how to focus all the energy on the things they love.

[@nyxeily]

Best year: 2014 because everything was so simple and fun :) Worst year: 2016 everything was going down hill and I hit major depression :(

[@KevinJMcClintock]

2013 worst broke my back and lost my mom. 2014 best I'm still alive. I miss my mom but I know she'd be happy I'm learning on my free time.

[@morganburt2565]

Best wishes and stay strong, my friend.

[@MrVinnyable1]

Al-gebra was an Arabic mathematical invention. Great job CrashCourse.

[@belashashkani5908]

khwarazmi who invented al gebra was a persian , do not lie bro

[@anierutan1989]

al gebra , al chemy , al gorithm

[@shamlanhasawi311]

you may be confused with ibn al haytham who studied algorithms who was an arab

[@belashashkani5908]

Shamlan Hasawi ok i know ibn al haytham was an arab but khwarazmi invented algorithm and he was a persian

[@psichoparano]

and by the way Ibn Rochd was a north african berber ... keep lying to yourself arab ...

[@darksoul479]

Wow you have a very young audience, that's great!

[@MFRADIOSTUDIOS]

huge fan of you john green, i watch your videos for fun all the time. thank you

[@riyalukose6688]

best year: 2001 bc Shrek was released worst year: 1997 bc i was born

[@susankakakhel4644]

Riya Lukose soo you're 4...ummm...ok..i guess...

[@mouadgranderson9618]

gay

[@RipzCritical]

susan kakakhel How could you think she's 4?

[@susankakakhel4644]

T-Wrex oh wait i just finished reading it 3 times...thx for telling me..

[@RipzCritical]

susan kakakhel No problem. In case you're still having trouble, she was born in 1997 meaning she's 20 years old right now. Her favourite year was 2001 because Shrek, her favourite movie, was released.

[@mhmeekk3003]

After the work of Peter Brown, the concept of 'dark ages' in Europe in this period has been refuted. It was not a golden age, but it was certainly filled with improvement and advances that paved the way for the Renaissance.

[@abeddani992]

Abbasids are descendants of the uncle of the prophet, his name is Abbas bin Abdel Motaleb and are Arabs Your videos are unbelievably informative I love your style man

[@HoshikawaHikari]

OH THAT'S WHY 'OH THAT'S WHY' is my favourite part from this episode~ XD

[@adonis8417]

Worst year: 1812 best year: 1776

[@albertgizatulin167]

Haha 1812 and 1945 my best years and 1991 worst one....

[@mitchross4002]

But what about 1945 and the entire 1920s?

[@ameenadnan8408]

Adonis Excuse me? But do you have a problem with Tchaikovsky masterpiece??????

[@uponamidnightdreary]

Adonis 1812 was a good year because it started off the era of good feelings

[@Damo2690]

worst 1204 best 1314

[@Atomicnick101]

Lmao my year gonna be the worst as soon as college board hits me with that 2

[@giovannamunoz1120]

lol that's what im thinking with this AP exam . . .

[@boblol811]

+Atomicnick lmao true

[@dennisk5500]

Buddy, you do a hell of a job with this series. Kudos

[@YusufSaidCANBAZ]

wow such a nice narration of history!

[@throwmeaname]

Thanks for putting a different perspective in an otherwise euro centric definition of Middle Ages. Also, I like the point regarding Religion and Science. I don't see why people think the two can't coexist together.

[@Barde_Jaune]

I find this series a little too focused on the eastern world. I mean, there's a lot to be said about the European middle ages. How come there isn't an entire episode describing the relations, treasons, and wars between the different european kingdoms ? Nothing about the Hundred Years' War ?

[@DonAl_Capone]

But it's boring and depressing; do you really want to learn about the plague 40 times.

[@arttukirjavainen1119]

i believe its because European history is well talked about in many history classes but rest of the world is left allmost untouched.

[@ethanj454]

I'd even say that it could pay more attention to Africa and the Americas.

[@Tripserpentine]

Because focus in western school lies with the west, while history is not just the west. Plus the term Dark ages is a western based word, in the Dark ages the Eastern part of the world (Islamic Empires and China, Asia and so on) where enlightened and most certainly not Dark. so to explain why the Dark ages are a wrong way of describing the world you should focus on the east. Greetings a western History student. Besides western school's drown you in European History XD

[@arttukirjavainen1119]

Tripserpentine You are completely right. Its pains me that our history classes focus so much on europe and later north america. this leaves an expression that nothing major or intresting happened outside of europe and because of this many people think that Africa and Asia were just full of tribal barbarians who never did anything great.

[@avapavkov714]

I learned SO much in this one

[@LunaLena221]

It is cute that john thinks I’ve had a whole good year

[@ronburgundy8031]

Best 1975 Worst 2001 Brick convinced me Enron's weather derivatives were a sure fire deal.

[@harrison6082]

Anyone see the hand appearing out behind the chalkboard in the end when he shoots the poppers?

[@audreywarner3067]

yes omg!!

[@superfrizzyizzy]

lmao i did

[@Katie-md7mh]

hes so calm in this episode lol

[@emilydrinkswater]

omg your holden shirt made this year best somehow

[@Aa11qq]

Best year : Idk theyre all just ok Worste year : this one because I have to take this stupid history test.

[@vramkira6109]

History test in 1hr wish me luck

[@ceplio]

good luck haha im funni

[@oskaripeurala2612]

History is fun

[@nathanielthomas4437]

MAsterOplayer tests are not.

[@zacharybaxter820]

Both are fun.

[@JarinUdom]

This video is a good example of why you should never read the KZbin comments

[@WilliamJones-Halibut-vq1fs]

Why, so you can believe his distorted propagandistic history?

[@horariojoselo7178]

Excellent as always John! Thanks from Argentina.