The Real Reason the Middle Ages Were Called the Dark Ages

Historians divide the Middle Ages into three periods: the Early Middle Ages, the High Middle Ages, and the Late Middle Ages (also known as Medieval times). The Early Middle Ages, roughly 500 to 1000 AD, were also called the “Dark Ages,” a term first introduced by 14th-century scholar Petrarch. So, how did the first part of the Middle Ages come to be recognized as the "Dark Ages"? The term "Dark Ages" persisted for generations and is still used today, though scholars are attempting to phase it out. THE 'DARK AGES' TODAYNorse Vikings on the Coast of the New World - 10th Century | powerofforever/GettyImagesWe know where the term came from, but why, specifically, was it called the "Dark Ages"?