Our chieftain said,

"Strictly speaking, a historical "dark age" refers to a period for which there are few written sources and the period of English history from the Fifth to the Eighth Century does fall into that category. But, in popular parlance, a "Dark Age" is a period of unrelieved barbarism, primativism and ignorance. This gives the wrong impression about early medieval England."

I totally agree. I think that much of the reason that the term "Dark Ages" has been in vogue is for the greater population. I might need some time to properly think this over, but oh-well.


Dark or not, fifth to eight century England is a time of very few sources, a factor that can make study of this rea quite overcrowded and/or difficult.

Thiudareiks said it best,
"few written sources"

rather than

"unrelieved barbarism, primativism and ignorance"