<b>The Late Middle Ages<b>

The Dark Ages witnessed widespread disruption throughout Europe and the replacement
of the previously predominant Roman culture with Germanic tribal culture. For 500
years Europe had suffered repeatedly from invasion and war. The life of the average
peasant was rarely affected, however, and social stability and culture gradually
recovered, although in new formats. By roughly the year 1000, Europeans were
creating a new medieval civilization that surpassed the ancients in almost every
way.