In actuality, the "Dark Ages" are far from a barbarian
time of decay.
European civilization has been formed
during the "Dark Ages", and almost everything that we
usually think of as
Western Culture has been invented
during the "Dark Ages".
Here are just a few examples:
This is of course far from a complete list, but should be
enough to show the importance of the "Dark Ages" in a
global context. We are all, in fact, children of the
"Dark Ages" culturally and socially. (At least those of us
who have European ancescestors.)