LYCOS RETRIEVER 
Dark Ages
built 643 days ago
Answer: The “Dark Ages” are commonly considered to be the early part of the period known as the Middle Ages. Often the term “Dark Ages’ refers to the initial five hundred years following the fall of Rome. It is thought of as beginning around 450 AD and continuing till 1000 AD. Many trace the start of this period of history to the fall of the Roman Empire in 476. During this time period Rome and other cities deteriorated because of the invasions of barbarians from northern and central Europe. Since there was no longer an imperial authority with the power to protect the citizens of the cities, the urban population declined sharply during this period of history.
Source:
During the Dark Ages of Greece the old major settlements were abandoned (with the notable exception of Athens), and the population dropped dramatically in numbers. Within these three hundred years, the people of Greece lived in small groups that moved constantly in accordance with their new pastoral lifestyle and livestock needs, while they left no written record behind leading to the conclusion that they were illiterate. Later in the Dark Ages (between 950 and 750 BCE), Greeks relearned how to write once again, but this time instead of using the Linear B script used by the Mycenaeans, they adopted the alphabet used by the Phoenicians “innovating in a fundamental way by introducing vowels as letters. The Greek version of the alphabet eventually formed the base of the alphabet used for English today.” (Martin, 43)
Source:
The negative connotations of the expression Dark Ages have made it unpopular among historians of this period. The term Early Medieval is often preferred. The continuities between Dark Age society and late imperial Rome have been stressed by some writers, who wish to emphasise that medieval culture was already developing in the empire, and indeed continued to do so in the unconquered eastern (Byzantine) portion of the empire. However, many of the tribes who took over imperial land were initially pagan. The development of a solidly Christian Europe, in opposition to an Islamic empire based in North Africa and the Middle East, marks a major cultural and political shift, as does the development of the feudal system. With this, and the cultural developments after the Carolingian renaissance, the concept of the Dark Ages ceases to be meaningful.
Source:
Dark Ages [C]itizens have equal political influence. One has an opportunity, regardless of their real-life political atmosphere, to have a voice, to support a candidate. The popularly supported official wields legitimate influence. He is, and must remain, the representative of his supporters' needs or at least their momentary wishes. Players participate, as well, in creating and evolving the laws of a village. Players have created a wide variety of laws.
Source:
[T]he exact definition of the "Dark Ages" is somewhat debatable. The period is usually considered to run from the fall of Rome (ca. 500) to the battle of Hastings (1066). The name came from Renaissance historians who saw the takeover of the Western Roman Empire by Franks, Goths, Vandals, etc. as a descent into darkness where art, learning, and good manners were lost for centuries. There is ... an Anglo-centric aspect to it with the Norman Conquest being seen as the beginning of the light – although to be fair, 1066 did see the end of the Viking age with Harald Hardrada's defeat at Stamford Bridge.
Source:
The Dark Ages lasted from 1100 BC until 800 BC, or relatively to the time of Hellenic or Classical Greece. During this time the culture of Greece dwindled. Little is known of how many cultural elements were lost during the Dark Ages, but characteristic of the Dark Age, is the gradual decimation of any urbanized culture on the Greek mainland. In addition, many of the elements left from Mycenaean culture were destroyed, and writing, which had been so important during the Mycenaean, was not practiced. The great trading empire which had begun with the Minoans and was inherited by the Mycenaean's, was destroyed in the Dark Ages. Trade with Asia Minor, the Middle East, and Egypt stopped entirely.
Source:
MORE ABOUT
Dark Ages