Test Your Knowledge of the Dark Ages

King Arthur's legendary Knights of the Round Table were the most famous in the world. They lived with him in Camelot, his castle. The way that these knights were seated was designed to give them all an equal place at the table.

Rats have often been thought of as being dirty animals, and unfortunately, their reputation might be deserved! They were responsible for spreading the Black Plague in Europe and Asia during the Dark Ages.

The Feudal System was a way of life in the Dark Ages where the lord of a certain area protected the peasants. In return, they pledged loyalty to him.

Serfs were peasants who lived under the protection of local lords in exchange for taxes and crops through much of the Dark Ages. They existed in what was known as the Feudal System.

The Roman Empire fell in 476 A.D., ushering in the era of the Dark Ages which lasted for approximately 1,000 years. The Roman Empire is still known as one of the most powerful that ever existed in the world.

The Black Plague was also known as the Bubonic Plague, named after the swollen areas of the lymph nodes, called buboes. Death was slow and painful. It was one of the worst epidemics during the Dark Ages.

The printing press existed before Johannes Gutenberg, but he improved the typesetting and printing processes, revolutionizing the way that information, specifically the printed word, was distributed. If you love reading books, you can thank Johann Gutenberg.

The Crusades were a series of eight wars that were the result of clashes between Muslims and Christians. The Knights Templar (popularized in "Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade") were a huge part of the Crusades.

Dante Alighieri was one of the important poets of the late Middle Ages. His masterpiece, "The Divine Comedy," explored religion and culture in the Dark Ages. It's still considered to be one of the best books ever written.

Famine is the correct word for an epidemic of widespread hunger. Although there are still famines in the world today, this particular problem was very widespread during the Dark Ages.

This Catholic Church was one of the dominant institutions during the Dark Ages. It was considered to be as powerful as the state, and often the two were inseparable and ruled together.

Vlad Dracula, or Vlad the Impaler, was a Romanian prince who was famous for skewering his enemies on large sticks. He was the inspiration for Dracula stories and lore.

Joan of Arc famously heard voices that led her to lead the French army to victory. This famous female helped the French dominate over the British in the Battle of Orleans. She was burned at the stake at the tender age of 19.

Buddhism spread to China about two thousand years ago, but around the year 500 A.D., the Bodhidharma came to China and founded the Ch'am school of Buddhism, which today is better known by its Japanese name, Zen.

Gunpowder was first used in 919 at the epic battle of Langshan Jiang. It was a total game-changer and has shaped the trajectory of modern warfare.

The notorious Genghis Khan was not only a notable emperor who conquered half the world, many people today are related to him! He was one of the most pivotal figures of the Dark Ages.

The Hundred Years War was an epic conflict between France and England. Joan of Arc, one of the most popular and famous figures of the Dark Ages, fought for France in this war.

Christopher Columbus sailed across the ocean to try to find a new route to India. He stumbled upon what we now know as North America and remains an important but controversial figure to this day.

The legendary Robin Hood famously stole from the rich and gave to the poor and is loosely based on Hereward the Wake, an Anglo-Saxon nobleman who lived in eleventh-century England.

Muhammad was born in 570 and is considered to be the most important prophet in Islam. Today, Islam is one of the dominant religions in the world and practiced in many different countries all over the globe.

William Wallace, or Braveheart, was a Scottish leader who rose up against the British and fought for Scottish Independence. His nickname was a testament to his ability to fight against the British. He was popularized in the Mel Gibson film "Braveheart".

Staring in 835, the Vikings wreaked havoc on Europe. Their domination lasted almost 200 years and they were famously brutal. Contrary to Hollywood portrayals, these seafaring folk did not actually wear horns on their helmets.

Cathedrals were celebrations of Gothic architecture and symbols of the power of the Catholic Church during the Dark Ages. Many famous large churches were constructed during this time period and many still stand today.

Knights were the elite of the elite. The first knights fought for King Charlemagne and they were prevalent all throughout the rest of the Dark Ages. They have been popularized in pop culture, fairy tales and movies like Monty Python and the Holy Grail.

Monasteries provided a safe haven for monks who wanted to devote their lives to God. They were generally well educated and helped the local community. Some monks still live in these dwellings today.

Moats were a simple and effective way to protect the castle from foes. They were deep trenches full of water located right outside the castle walls and to cross this body of water you needed to use a drawbridge.

Merlin was the mythical wizard who aided King Arthur and his magnificent Knights of the Round Table during the Dark Ages. He is popularized in film, television and many different fairy tales.

May Day celebrations were an important way to signify the ushering in of the summer months. Since winters were often more difficult during the Dark Ages, the beginning of summer was very important.

Archery is still practiced today and requires a steady hand, good eye coordination, and the ability to guess where the arrow will land. The best practitioners of this sport were often made to sit on castle walls and shoot down at their enemies.

Breastplates were used by knights to protect their chests from attacks by their enemies.

Jousts were fun parts of tournaments where knights would try to knock each other off horses for prize money. Nobody was trying to seriously hurt anyone else. You can still see them today at Renaissance Fairs.

The Holy Grail, or the cup of Christ, is one of the most important religious relics in Christianity. It's possible that many of the Crusades were fought to obtain this cup. This holy relic was sought after by the knights of Camelot.

Cake was not a staple during the Dark Ages, at least for the lower classes. The upper classes sometimes had it, but the cakes of those times were likely a combination of sweet and savory.

A Coat of Arms was one of the distinguishing features that told other knights who each knight was fighting for. It was proudly displayed on the knight's armor, and many families still have them today.

Also known as Charles I, Charlemagne is the most famous ruler of the Dark Ages and is known for founding the German and French monarchies. He is arguably one of the most important historical figures of all time.