The Dark Ages was not a sudden or complete decline, and there were periods of progress during this time. However, in general, the period was marked by a decrease in literacy, a loss of classical knowledge and literature, and a decline in trade and economic activity.
The causes of the Dark Ages are complex and varied. Some of the factors that contributed to the decline included:
* The collapse of the Western Roman Empire and the resulting power vacuum
* Invasions by Germanic and other tribes from outside the Roman Empire
* Economic dislocation and famine
* The rise of Christianity and its conflict with traditional Roman religion
* The outbreak of the bubonic plague in the 14th century
The end of the Dark Ages is usually marked by the beginning of the High Middle Ages, which lasted from about the 10th to the 13th centuries. This period was marked by a renewed interest in classical learning and literature, a growth in trade and economic activity, and the rise of new political and social institutions such as feudalism and the Crusades.
The High Middle Ages was a time of great change and progress in Europe, but it was also a time of violence and conflict. The period ended with the outbreak of the Black Death in the 14th century, which killed an estimated 75-200 million people and caused widespread economic and social disruption.
The end of the Middle Ages and the beginning of the Renaissance is usually marked by the fall of Constantinople to the Ottomans in 1453 and the invention of the printing press by Johannes Gutenberg in 1450. These events led to a renewed interest in classical learning and literature, a growth in trade and economic activity, and the rise of new political and social institutions such as nation-states and capitalism.