Dark Ages, , ,

(Dark Ages, , ,)

There is a reason why the Dark Ages were called "dark." After the decline and fall of the Roman Empire, what had been imperial control, not just in Rome but across Roman territory, what had been progress and day to day living as an average Roman, there was a break. Trash was no longer collected. Water systems failed to be maintained. Art, literature, were all curtailed. The barbarian hosts that had absorbed the Empire, especially in the West, did not immediately subsume what had been the role of Roman authority. The end of Rome was also the end to Antiquity. Humanity would have to re-lean the fundamentals of civilization all over again and it would take the next Millenium for that education to be effected.


Europe would now seem to be on the precipice of a new Dark Age and it will be dark. To expand on the analogy, the Continent, especially in the East, is looking at the approaching winter with the same dread as any Game of Thrones episode. Like the weakened Empire of the Fifth Century, so Europe has weakened itself in the wake of the Ukraine War. At this critical moment, Europe is gong dark. Again.


How might have things looked for the average Roman on September 5th, AD 476, the day after what has been considered the end of the Western Roman Empire. The world had changed in a matter of decades to the point that Italy's conquerors settled down and became farmers. But that slow decline had to take a confluence of factors and it well beyond bad Emperors. Their decisions. Their choices.


Like the leadership today. Like the Purple of old, Europe over the last few years has committed to its own green climate policy and limiting its own energy output in the process. Now, with Russia in the Ukraine, all such sources have been valved off from the Continent and, with no supplemental supplies, there will assuredly be a crisis for people over the coming months. Progress is being made, however.


Germany is getting back to coal as an example. And in the proverbial barbarians at the gate situation, it will incumbent on Europe to start recognizing this reality that seeing green is not all it's colored up to be. Ask the Romans.

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