What Are The Dark Ages?

According to historiography, the expression Dark Ages or Dark Age usually referred to the European Early Middle Ages, the time encompassing approximately 476 to 1000.

This theory of a dark age was formed by Italian scholar Francesco Petrarca and was initially projected as a broad condemnation of the quality of Late Latin literature. Over the period of years historians extended this expression to incorporate not only the need of Latin literature, but also a lack of modern written history and objective cultural achievements all together.

In countries like Britain and America the expression Dark Ages at times has been applied by experts, with severe aptitude, as an expression of periodization. This application of the term is planned as non-judgmental and plainly means the virtual lack of printed record.

In the area of historiography, the phrase Dark Ages or Age is mainly used in reference to the early middle ages in the continent of Europe, in the period which approximately spanned 476 to 1000.

The term Dark Age was coined by an Italian academic called Francesco Petrarca and was actually meant to convey a critical opinion of the nature of Late Latin literature. Later on, historians started using the term on a wider scale to encompass not solely the absence of Latin literature, but an absence of modern written history and material literary accomplishments overall as well. Today, the term has been further expanded to refer to the middle ages as a time when civilization was backward in thoughts and actions, making it more of a derogatory usage.