were the dark ages dark

Dark Ages

The period of time between 476 and c.1100

“Dark”

Showing a decline in education and the arts

Consider the Merovingian Dynasty with regards to were the dark ages dark

The Merovingian Dynasty makes the Dark Ages seem dark. They would expand and conquer ruthlessly, and they didn’t really care about education or the arts
Clovis converted to Christianity, but mostly only used it as justification for conquest

They fostered a relationship between church and state, showing lightness
Major Domos from the Merovingian problem allowed people no leeway; no civilization
Martel stopped Muslims at the battle of Tours, showing how invasions were prevalent, and the Lombard invasion that Pepin showed this even more

Carolingian Dynasty

Coronation of Charlemagne shows how Church and secular powers cooperated, less dark, and shows that there was a government and order
Treaty of Verdun shows how the Dark ages could be dark because of disunity and disorder that emerged from this.
Education happened in Carolingian Dynasty, as well as monasteries, proving that it wasn't completely dark
They had their own renaissance with written law (like Canon Law), standardization (Carolingian miniscule, standardized Bible) which proves lightness in the dark ages
Medieval Synthesis brought the best of three worlds together, showing lightness

Invasions and Feudalism

Viking invasions forced people to adopt feudalism and the manor system, where people would hole up in self

Post invasions

Food supply and population increased in the late Middle Ages, showing lightness
Secular and religious authorities grappling for power: Dictatus Papae, lay investiture Gregory VII and Henry IV quarrel