Term of The Day: Dark Ages

Dark Ages is a term once used to describe the early centuries of the Middle Ages, from the A.D. 400's to the 900’s. The word dark referred to a supposed lack of learning  during the period. We know now that the Middle Ages were not completely "dark." The period only seemed dark to scholars of the more advanced Renaisance and to historians later influenced by them.

From the 400's, civilization sank low in western Europe. Knowledge from the ancient Romans survived only in a few monastery, cathedral, and palace schools.

Knowledge acquired from ancient Greece almost disappeared. Few people received schooling. Many of the ancient artistic and technical skills were lost. In their ignorance, writers accepted popular stories and rumours as true. In the early 1000's, economic and political life began to revive in western Europe.

While such darkness existed in western Europe, life was brighter elsewhere. The Byzantine Empire preserve many features of Greek and Roman life (see Byzantine Empire). The Arabs spread a splendid civilization  from Spain to the borders of China (see Muslims).

For a description of life and culture of the Dark Ages, see Middle Ages; Feudalism; Renaissance.