The period that came before the Dark Ages is often referred to as the Classical Antiquity, which encompasses the ancient civilizations of Greece and Rome. This era is noted for significant advancements in culture, politics, science, and philosophy.
Classical Antiquity began around the 8th century BC with the rise of Greek city-states and included the flourishing of the Roman Empire, which reached its height in the 1st and 2nd centuries AD. During this time, there were remarkable achievements in literature, mathematics, and the arts, alongside the development of democratic principles and legal systems.
As the Western Roman Empire began to decline in the 3rd century AD, various factors such as invasions, economic troubles, and internal strife contributed to a fragmentation of centralized power. This gradual systemic breakdown is what is commonly viewed as the transition into the Dark Ages.
While the term “Dark Ages” often implies a void of cultural and scientific progress, it’s essential to acknowledge that there were still various regional developments occurring during this time. However, the contrast between the flourishing societies of Classical Antiquity and the perceived stagnation of the subsequent centuries paints a vivid picture of how this transition took place.