Despite the negative label, the Early Middle Ages were a dynamic time of transition and foundational change. The Dark Ages | Definition, Causes & History - Lesson
The "Dark Ages" was not a name used by people living in that era; it was created by later scholars to define it as a period of decline. Dark Ages in Medieval History
Historians now argue that the "darkness" refers more to our own lack of written records from the period rather than a lack of actual progress. Key Characteristics of the Period Despite the negative label, the Early Middle Ages