the Dark Ages

plural noun

1

: the period of European history from about A.D. 500 to 1000 : the first 500 years of the Middle Ages

2

or the dark ages often humorous : the period of time before things developed into their modern form

In the dark ages before computers, we often wrote our letters by hand.

Her father's ideas about women are from the Dark Ages.

Examples of the Dark Ages in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The name was meant to invoke the rebirth of classical Roman values, which brought the Dark Ages to a close and ushered in the Renaissance. —David Conrads, The Christian Science Monitor, 30 Jan. 2025

Set in Europe during the Dark Ages, the story sees hordes from Hell invading Europe when the Six Petals, a secret sect of the Knights Templar, pray to God to drive back the demonic scourge. —Borys Kit, The Hollywood Reporter, 21 Jan. 2025

Any historian doing the Dark Ages is basically freewheeling. —H. Alan Scott, Newsweek, 26 Nov. 2024

Turns out, the new case management system heralded by some as the courthouse's escape from the Dark Ages was glitching. —Brooke Park, San Antonio Express-News, 3 Oct. 2024

Sign up And these masterpieces of the Dark Ages are not Ravenna's only attractions. —The Week Uk, theweek, 15 Sep. 2024

The guides were all so knowledgeable and educated us about the Roman empire, the Medici family, the Catholic Church, Leonardo Da Vinci, Michaelangelo, life during the Renaissance, life during the Dark Ages, and everything else. —Travel + Leisure Editors, Travel + Leisure, 12 Sep. 2024

The 5th century was the beginning of the Dark Ages in Britain. —Erik Kain, Forbes, 8 Sep. 2024

Clearly, with such expressions of vindictiveness and animosity, the party of Lincoln wishes to move our nation backwards to the Dark Ages of humanity. —Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 12 Aug. 2024