oh man the ancient world had SO MUCH more long-distance trade than the West is prepared to to think about we forget that the Dark Ages were exactly that. Europe's end of the global trade networks shut down, & to this day we still think of that shut-down state as "normal."https://twitter.com/IOnceAteALeaf/status/1031209548147843072 …
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Replying to @SarahTaber_bww
I have to admit to be *extremely* sceptical (like most 'early medievalists', I think) of the "Dark Ages", and sceptical too of any idea that long-distance trade networks in Europe shut down completely after, say, the 5thC... :-/
4 replies 4 retweets 72 likes -
Replying to @caitlinrgreen @SarahTaber_bww
Completely, no. What were the dark ages if not a time when Europe contracted into hundreds of pocket kingdoms, greatly restricting flows of people, ideas and material? Pretty much all the things you cite are highly portable status objects of great value (jewelry, spices, etc.)
1 reply 0 retweets 1 like -
Replying to @Infoseepage @SarahTaber_bww
Well, the Dark Ages didn't really exist, and the term is now widely avoided ;) Tbh, the arch evidence is, imho, pretty impressive and goes well beyond a handful portable objects, plus is backed up by the textual evidence for continued (or even intensified) links >
9 replies 0 retweets 7 likes -
Replying to @caitlinrgreen @Infoseepage
(7/) Is the term "Dark Ages" super passé amongst historical specialists? Yes. Is it relevant for addressing growth & attenuation of intercontinental food trade networks over thousand-year+ timespans and laypeople's perceptions thereof? Also yes.
2 replies 0 retweets 0 likes
Dr Caitlin Green Retweeted Dr Caitlin Green
Well, that's a somewhat different to the suggestion in the original tweet that the European end of the cross-continental trade networks shut down :) Though even on this basis I'd urge caution in using the 'Dark Ages' and am not wholly sold on the idea… https://twitter.com/caitlinrgreen/status/1031838636348780544 … :)
Dr Caitlin Green added,
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