I remember the formulation "middle" ages or "dark" ages is from Petrarca. Being a linguist, he compared the latin during the middle ages with that of ... (Cicero i thought? and some other one, i don't remember).

It was a total different society, total different way of living, total different values and priorities. It is hard to imagine life in the Middle Ages.

That's why it seems so mysterious, but also so attractive, i suppose.


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