What is meant by the "dark ages "and when did they occur?

Question

Is there such a thing as the dark ages, and if so what time frame in history was it?

Answer 1

The term Dark Ages or Dark Age most commonly refers to the European Early Middle Ages, the period encompassing (roughly) 476 to 1000.
An era of ignorance, superstition, social chaos, or repression.
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Answer 2

I guess when you google dark ages, the medieval period must be the first result since Eveyone's answers on here are always from wikipedia... Dark Ages is a term in history often used to describe periods of little growth or cultural output (at least perceptually).... The earliest one I can think of is for the Greeks (or the area eventually dominated by the Greeks) following the Bronze Age and preceding the Archaic (when they started writing and counting and stuff) which was followed by the Classical (and i think also Hellenic) period (The good part with all the philosophers and such). This dark age was around 1000 BC, so beats the pre-renaissance period.

Just wanted to speak up for the Greeks here.

Answer 3

The Dark Ages is the Medieval Era. Nailing down the years is difficult, ranging basically from the fall of the Western Roman Empire to the Renaissance (475-1400).

Medievalists do not like the term Dark Ages because there were some advances in the West, despite much religious superstition.

Answer 4

The Dark Ages occur ed from the fall of the western Roman Empire until the 1300-1400, debatable.
In the western Roman Empire the people had indoor plumbing, central heating, doctors, and when it was dark a roman would strike a match and light an oil lamp. Matches were not seen again until the 1700s. When Rome fell allot of knowledge went with it. This is why it is often refered to as the dark ages, the lights went out.

Answer 5

The Dark Ages began when the Roman Empire fail and the Holy Roman Empire - the Roman Catholic Church - survived. The Church burned all writings that contained any wisdom, science and knowledge from the past ages are replaced it with a book a myths and legends with no scientific, educational or spiritual value.

Christian doctrine was designed to keep the masses subservient and the Church wealthy, which is why the Roman Catholic Church today is the single wealthiest organization in the entire world.

During the rule of the Church, thought, investigation, research into any field that might improve mankind was repressed. Intellectuals and free thinkers were burned alive.

Answer 6

An abused term but actually it is sorta 'cool.' What certain scholars were attempting to say was that records were scarce for a time following the collapse of the Roman Empire. As for dates debateable - - - The M M Society is close enough, 475 to 1000, and one can call that the Early Medeival Period .... But the times were "dark' because written record shed scant light on the era. Vikings and Vandals of all sorts burnt archives and destroyed records kept by churches and similar archives. Many nations relied on oral records and didn't bother with writing until late in their development (Vikings) or never (Vandals).

Pax------------------------

Answer 7

The Dark Ages popped up several hundred years ago and they were called that because it was thought that these people were not technologically advanced for their time.

That is not so. Many developments were made during that time so the term "the Dark Ages" is misleading.

Google the topic or look on Wikipedia for more info.

Answer 8

The Dark Ages was the period of time after the fall of the Roman Empire (around 600 AD) and the beginning of the Renaissance (around 1300 AD) in Europe. The Black Plague was during this time. Also, the Catholic Church was at its apex of power. It repressed education and learning at this time which slowed European advancement. It should be noted that the Dark Ages was only a European situation. Civilization was thriving in China, India, Peru (Incan Empire) and Southern Mexico (Aztec Empire). It was also the rise of Islam and its culture in the Arabian peninsula was thriving as well. I can keep going if you want.

Answer 9

It refers to the Early Middle Ages (app. the period between the year 500 to 1,000). The term dark ages was first used by the Italian poet Petrarch, meaning that people at that time "lived in darkness".
Note: the Middle Ages lasted until the 1500's, but that last period (1,000 to 1,500) is commonly known as the Late Middle Ages.

Answer 10

The time before the Renaissance Age.