The Dark Ages generally refer to the Early Middle Ages, a period in European history spanning roughly from the fall of the Western Roman Empire around 410-476 AD to about 900-1100 AD. Some sources narrow this range to between the 5th and 10th centuries, while others extend it up to the 14th or 15th centuries, encompassing the broader Middle Ages up to the Renaissance. The term "Dark Ages" originated in the 14th century with the Italian scholar Petrarch, who viewed this era as a time of cultural and intellectual decline compared to classical antiquity. The name reflects a perceived "darkness" in terms of fewer written records and less cultural advancement, though modern historians often reject the term as misleading since there were important innovations and developments during this time. In summary:
- The Dark Ages roughly cover from about 410-476 AD (fall of Roman Empire) to somewhere between 900 and 1100 AD.
- Sometimes it is extended up to the 14th or 15th centuries as part of the entire medieval period.
- The term was coined in the 14th century and originally implied cultural and intellectual decline.
- Modern scholarship questions the validity of the term and prefers terms like Early Middle Ages.
This period marks the transition from the classical world to the medieval world in Europe and is associated with social, economic, and political upheaval as well as the spread of Christianity and the formation of new kingdoms.