- Understanding the need for educated people within his empire, the French ruler Charlemagne directed the Catholic church to provide teachers and educators. He issued a decree requiring them to provide free education to "commoners," intelligent and interested boys who wanted to attend school. Under his orders, all monasteries and cathedrals were to establish schools to offer this free education. He had hopes of securing clerks and administrators in this way.
- Students often found themselves sitting on the floor and using ivory or bone styluses to write lesson notes on wooden tablets covered with a green or black wax. An empire's knights were required to be educated, and they did more than just protect the empire and the honor of its women.
When it came to schoolwork and classes, girls were ignored unless they had rich parents who insisted they attend school. Secular schools grew after the 10th century, but they were rare in Europe before that. - Higher education opportunities increased during the latter part of the Dark Ages, and they played a huge part in moving the world into the Renaissance and modern ages when universities began sprouting up across Europe. With the expansion of knowledge, new fields of study opened up, allowing for a deeper education at universities. Boys 14 to 15 years old entered the university upon completion of elementary courses. Pope Gregory VIII issued a decree in 1079 that led to the opening of several Catholic educational centers. Formal schools appeared across Europe over the next few hundred years.
- Even with education being open to young boys freely, most of people during the Dark Ages were illiterate, showing rulers the importance of education. Even the upper class was not exempt from illiteracy. The number of children attending school did not see substantial growth until well after the 10th century.
Churches Doubled as Schools
Schoolwork and Classes
Universities
Illiteracy
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