The Dark Ages is a historical periodization traditionally referring to the Middle Ages, that asserts that a demographic, cultural, and economic deterioration occurred in Western Europe following the decline of the Roman Empire.The term employs traditional light-versus-darkness imagery to contrast the era's "darkness" (lack of records) with earlier and later periods of "light" (abundance of records).The concept of a "Dark Age" originated in the 1330s with the Italian scholar Petrarch, who regarded the post-Roman centuries as "dark" compared to the light of classical antiquity.The Dark Ages Collection features:HISTORY OF THE LATER ROMAN EMPIRE, by J.B. BuryTHE STORY OF THE GOTHS, by Henry BradleyTHE DARK AGES, by Charles OmanVISIGOTHS PILLAGE ROME, by Edward GibbonHUNS INVADE THE EASTERN ROMAN EMPIRE; ATTILA DICTATES A TREATY OF PEACE, by Edward GibbonTHE ENGLISH CONQUEST OF BRITAIN, by John Green & Charles KnightATTILA INVADES WESTERN EUROPE; BATTLE OF CHÂLONS, by Edward Creasy & Edward GibbonFOUNDATION OF VENICE, by Thomas Hodgkin & John RuskinCLOVIS FOUNDS THE KINGDOM OF THE FRANKS: IT BECOMES CHRISTIAN, by Francois GuizotPUBLICATION OF THE JUSTINIAN CODE, by Edward GibbonAUGUSTINE'S MISSIONARY WORK IN ENGLAND, by Venerable Bede & John GreenTHE HEGIRA; CAREER OF MAHOMET: THE KORAN: AND MAHOMETAN CREED, by Washington Irving & Simon OckleyTHE SARACEN CONQUEST OF SYRIA, by Simon OckleySARACENS CONQUER EGYPT; DESTRUCTION OF THE LIBRARY AT ALEXANDRIA, by Washington IrvingEVOLUTION OF THE DOGESHIP IN VENICE, by William HazlittSARACENS IN SPAIN: BATTLE OF THE GUADALETE, by Ahmed ibn Mahomet Al-MakkariBATTLE OF TOURS, by Edward CreasyFOUNDING OF THE CARLOVINGIAN DYNASTY; PÉPIN THE SHORT USURPS THE FRANKISH CROWN, by Francois GuizotCAREER OF CHARLEMAGNE, by Francois GuizotEGBERT BECOMES KING OF THE ANGLO-SAXON HEPTARCHY, by David Hume