What caused the Dark Ages?

Europe's Dark Ages have captivated people for centuries. There's been whole history textbooks written about them. They're shrouded in mystery and myth. From them, we get stories like Canterbury Tales and King Arthur and Camelot. read more

The"Dark Ages" is a historical periodization traditionally referring to the Middle Ages. It emphasizes the demographic, cultural and economic deterioration that supposedly occurred in Western Europe following the decline of the Roman Empire, and the relative scarcity of written records from the period. read more

The Dark Ages is a complicated conundrum that continues to fascinate historians to this day. Many people don’t know exactly why the Earth grew colder, or why the Black Plague just suddenly appeared in Europe in the 1300s. read more

The “Dark Ages” had a number of causes, but let me first point out that that the period only corresponded to the Early Middle Ages, from the fifth century to about the ninth century. The period is associated with the collapse of the western empire, brought about by invasion, but these invasions were made easier because the empire was already in decline. read more