I'm a bit confused as to what role axes generally filled in the Early Middle Ages. I've heard they were used as sidearms instead of swords by those who couldn't afford swords, but also that they were sometimes preferred over swords because they were more effective against armour. Then there's the large two-handed axes that I assume were used as primary weapons, but in what context were these preferred over spears?

Heavy pole arms, 2 handed axes in this case, give more powerful blow than spears, but they strike slower. Against a shield wall you can perhaps strike shields to open a hole in defence. perhaps it was the main use in battle of hasting. some says it was against horses but i think spears can do better against horses.

The role they "generally"filled in the early Middle Ages, just like in any other age, was as tools. We have more finds than usual of axes specifically intended as weapons in this period, but they were still outnumbered by ordinary tool axes (some of which would have been suitable for use as weapons in a pinch).

As for specifically fighting-oriented axes, there's no broad generalisation that can encompass them all. Some were primary weapons carried in conjunction with secondary weapons (sometimes a sword, sometimes a lage knife/seax, sometimes a smaller axe). Some were back-up weapons for the spear. Some were just for showing off.

Axes play a major role in the early Middle Ages both as a weapon and a tool. Executioners would use bearded axes and the only thing missing is that there is little or no recorded use of double-bladed axes during this period.

One person with Bubonic plague, that they probably contracted in Colorado, does not make things in Michigan "medieval". As the article points out, the plague has never left us, and in the US it accounts for several deaths per year every year, especially in the western states. The article also points out that nowdays the plague is quite survivable, as long as it's treated early in the infection's development.

Take a look at what the CDC has for plague statistics: http://www.cdc.gov/plague/maps/

Hardly a medieval development.

--Eljay