The Dark Ages, when you hear something like that you would probably think of a bad time. A moment that no one wants to think about and that people think is terrible and wrong. But is it really true? I think this period was really a struggle and was dark for people at the time. But does this mean that nothing good came from the Middle Ages? Not necessarily. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay The term “Dark Ages” was used to describe a period of time. An Italian scholar named Petrarch coined the term in 1300 to illustrate what he thought was the collapse in the quality of Latin literature from the period of the ancient Greeks and Romans. When the Germanic peoples conquered the former Roman Empire, to which Petrarch (an Italian scholar) was loyal, they eliminated the ancient Roman traditions to favor their own. Petrarch believed that the teachings of the ancient Romans and Greeks represented the pinnacle of human achievement. He viewed the era that followed as dark and chaotic because, for him, there were no great leaders present, no scientific achievements achieved, and no great works of art produced. The "Dark Ages" began when the empire fell around 500 AD. Groups such as the Goths had encroached beyond the borders of the Empire. The Romans were worn down by a Germanic revolt in the late 4th century. But in 410 the Visigothic king Alaric successfully sacked the city of Rome. The Empire spent the next few decades under constant threat before the "Eternal City" was sacked again in 455, this time by the Vandals. Indeed, many of the barbarians who sacked the city of Rome and brought down the Western Empire had earned their military ranks by serving in the Roman legions. took much of Europe by storm. Causing tragedy and destruction in its path. At first it was most likely carried by fleas living on black rats that traveled on all merchant ships, spreading throughout the Mediterranean basin and Europe. Killing over 50 million people in the 14th century, or 60% of the entire European population. Tons of families lost loved ones and many did not survive. Please note: this is just an example. Get a custom article from our expert writers now. Get a Custom Essay Overall, the “Dark Ages” were actually dark. But that being said, in the end, the Dark Ages seemed to cast a dark shadow. But it provided a brighter path to the future. Without going through the “Dark Ages” we may not have made the progress that brought us here today. Just like everything in life, you have to learn from your mistakes to truly succeed.