Barbarians to Angels: The Dark Ages Reconsidered

I've always pined for the Dark Ages of Northern Europe, and never been able to justify it - let's face it, the "barbarian" tribes have been brought into thorough disrepute by the dour Roman commentators of the late Empire. What a pleasure, then, to discover a book that dismantles those jaded opinions with wit and clarity. Peter Wells is a prominent archaeologist, and in this book he presents - in a fascinating and very readable way - an argument that the Dark Age German and Celtic groups were actually cosmopolitan, creative, innovative, and worldly. The basis of his argument: rather than relying on Roman opinion he relies on the actual archaeological evidence left behind by the supposed barbarians. The archaeological evidence - settlement ruins, burial finds, sacrificial finds, and so forth, reveals peoples who were anything but backward. They created exquisite new art forms, opened up expansive trade networks (forever shattering the notion that the old Heathens were somehow hermetically sealed from other cultures), and lived largely peaceful lives despite living in a time of great (but, argues Wells, much more gradual than previously understood) change. Wells' writing is crisp and bracing and his obvious enthusiasm for the minutiae of archaeological finds is infectious. This book is a powerful antithesis to the dry excesses of so many history texts. Wells also destroys the myth that premodern Europeans had terrible nutrition and dental health. Actual examination of the bodies from this period show that they were mostly well fed and had good teeth - which just shows the triumphalism of modern medical and dental science really is so much self-justificatory grandstanding. Indeed, the only real flaw in this book is that Wells seems to gently argue that the Dark Ages peoples should be celebrated as a stepping stone to Charlemagne and modernity - as opposed to simple appreciating their achievements on their own terms. He also fails to reflect on the extent of the violence and cruelty that Charlemagne utilised to consolidate his Christian powerbase - Wells is right to point out that the conversion was less sudden and simple than some folk would like to think, but I think he leans too far the other way in the process. On the other hand, he does make the important point that many pagan traditions lived on quite happily after the conversion. On the whole, and despite my ultimately very minimal criticisms, it is deeply refreshing to read such a thorough, detailed, and thoughtful book about European history. Wells grasps both the importance of details and the importance of the big picture, and on the whole this book is a must-read for anyone who has an interest in Northern European history. There are many brilliant quotes throughout the book but I think I might end on this very thought provoking question that Wells poses on page 201: "[W]hich people drive change? Is change brought about largely through the actions of leaders, or by the majority o

Peter Wells once again gives us a highly readable account of "Dark Age" peoples, showing that the age wasn't as dark as supposed. His writing style is engaging and enjoyable. His treatment of the subject is excellent for the average reader of history. Mr. Wells shows that civilized life really didn't end when Rome "fell". It continued to flourish and took off in new directions, influenced by people other than the Greeks and Romans. Cities didn't die, learning wasn't extinguished and art found new inspiration. Perhaps the reviewer who disparaged it as a subject already covered for decades should let the morons at the so-called "History Channel" know. They continue to perpetuate the stereotype of dark age, northern europeans as knuckle-dragging, dirty, unthinking, brutish creatures. The truth is very different and Peter Wells puts that nonsense in the ash heap where it belongs. Well done, Peter Wells!

Been to Europe lately? Every village seems to have an archaeological dig, and what this new information reveals is most interesting. Wells may be making too strong a case to talk of us now believing the barbarians have been revealed as angels, but certainly the Dark ages have been shown to much less dark than thought. What happened to the formerly Roman cities? "There is no archaeological evidence for destruction or even rapid abandonment of" (p 77) many once flourishing cities. Although Roman-style architecture ended, for the most part, habitation remained. Wells argues that in Britain a return to the original styles of building may be thought of as cultural choice rather than decline. He points to "rapidly accumulating signs of high status and great wealth in early Medieval London" (p 119). Even though there is evidence of some sorts of decline, the populations still had access to knowledge unknown before Rome, such as the use of iron. Lovely jewelry gives evidence of a taste for luxury and beauty. The book will make you reconsider your view of the Dark Ages.

I vaguely recall Ludwig von Mises, the famous free-market economist, writing that the Roman Empire fell because its economy was ruined by inflation and price controls. Because of the decrease in productivity, Rome was unable to fight back the hordes of barbarians attacking the empire. Wells explains how grave goods, artifacts, soil analysis, etc. gives a better picture of the emergence of Western civilization than the writings of pro-Roman fanatics like Gibbons, St. Jerome, Augustine, etc. For example: "If the stories recounted by the Dark Age writers were historically accurate, we would expect to find abundant material evidence for the arrival and settlement of new groups in different parts of Europe, with new types of houses, new styles of pottery and metalwork, and new burial practices. We would also expect to find evidence of abandonment in the areas from which people were suposed to have emigrated. But we do not find these patterns to any appreciable degree." (p. 31) I always thought that Germany and Scandinavia were the homelands of uncivilized warmongers that migrated south. Wells describes the development and changes that occured in farming villages throughout Europe: "Well beyond the frontiers of the Roman Empire, on the Jutland peninsula of Denmark, the village of Verbasse was inhabited continuously from the first to the eleventh century....In the early period, the settlement consisted of 13 farmsteads...furnaces for processing iron were situated outside of the settlement... By the eighth century, changes in the layout of the settlement indicate a growth in population and important changes in the scale and intensity of economic activity in this village." (p. 136) Very good read.

There are so many lengthy difficult books about the Early Middle Ages, written for and by specialists, what a delight to find a short and easy to read summary of the latest scholarship of this rapidly changing multi-disciplinary field, written for a general audience by a medieval scholar with an up to date and useful bibliography. The term "Dark Ages" has a long and complicated history ever since its invention by Italian Humanists in the 14th and 15th centuries. Modern medieval historians try to avoid the term Dark Ages with its pejorative implications. However some will still justify its use because the period was "dark to us", because of the lack of written record. However even this is no longer the case, a wealth of archaeological information has surfaced to enlighten the period. The old prejudices of a violent, backwards and stagnant time are falling away. Was it different from Rome? Yes, but to apply a value judgment of a "Dark Age" is inappropriate, this powerful metaphor has sadly shaped many peoples vision of the period. Peter Wells examines some of the enduring myths and shows, through new archaeological findings, rather than a sudden break with the past, a continuity of history. For example there is a myth that urban centers declined or were abandoned, Wells shows substantial evidence this was not the case, using a case example of London. There is a myth of continuous violence and warfare, however Wells suggests this could not have been the case because of freedom of movement and trade that was occurring. There is a myth that technology halted or went backwards, when in fact it was a period of innovation, including the deep plow, horse harness and 3-field system which created a surplus in food, population and specialization. There is a myth that Roman roads deteriorated, which is true, but the original Roman roads were built on ancient roadways and were mainly only meant for military purposes anyway. Artwork flourished in this period finding new and original expressions. Barbarians to Angels is a quick read for a general audience that summarizes a lot of recent and difficult scholarship. For more specialized works, to understand how we know what we know, the "proof", there is an excellent Bibliography.