As a means of recording the passage of
Time the 9th century was that
Century that lasted from
801 to
900 .
dish was made in 9th century
Iraq . It is housed in the
Smithsonian Institute in
Washington, D.C. ]]
Starting about 400 years after the period, influential figures in the early phases of the
Renaissance would refer back to these times, and the 3 centuries previous, as the "
Dark Ages ". The reference based on the eclipse of the
Western Roman Empire , after 476 C.E., and the general loss of classical art forms, reduction of urban centers, and diffusion of political power to a petty level. Regional enities never grew to the level of nationhood, let alone empire. Only the
Roman Catholic Papacy , had true international power, and this was somewhat limited, due to poor communications between the regions of Europe. Classical civilization's former record was preserved by the efforts of Catholic monks, hand copying manuscripts, but since only a tiny percentage of the populace could read and write, little information or knowledge was diseminated. Most western people were engaged in rural agriculture, and the Roman cities were largely in ruins. Still, certain arts, related to the Church and the ruling class led to at least a small degree of support to artisans. There is a legacy of brass and gold objects preserved in the world's museums from the Europe's "
Dark Ages ".
First and foremost, art existed because the Church required it. The basic tools of the Roman Catholic mass, would create thousands of golden art objects. Sacred cups, vessels, reliqueries, crucifixes, rosaries, alter pieces, and statues of the
Virgin and Child or Saints all kept the flame of art from dying out in the period. Architecture began to revive to some extent by the 9th century. It took the form of Church facilites of all kinds, and the first castle fortifications, since
Roman times, began to take form in simple "moat and baily" castles. or simple "strong point" tower structures, with little refinement.
