Just to be factual. The dark ages was a long lasting fallout of the fall of Rome and the last phases of the great migrations. When things started to get strait we've got the black death and the mini ice age the Ottoman invasions (fall of Byzantine) and Europe plunged back to darkness again. During the whole period the church was the only organization what kept the remnants of science and moral values alive and safe. The renaissance was based on this salvaged knowledge and later these principles formed the foundations of the age of enlightenment as well. Of course it came for a price, but you can't make an omelette without breaking eggs. Also, don't forget that we are talking about everyday people with all the mistakes of the everyday people.