Rome was very weak, between plagues and cultural denegation. Byzantium stood for much longer. However, you're right, in that Rome almost had to fall for something better to arise in its place. All cultures and societies, rise, decay, and fall apart only to be replaced.
How we define "dark age" matters too. Scientific progress continues to advance, our lives our richer and easier and we die less from war and violence. On the other hand, the milieu that allowed for this flourishing is falling apart rapidly, and our lives have less meaning than ever.
Let us hope that the end of Western civilization, rapidly approaching, is replaced with something better after a period of hardship, not something worse.
Rome was very weak, between plagues and cultural denegation. Byzantium stood for much longer. However, you're right, in that Rome almost had to fall for something better to arise in its place. All cultures and societies, rise, decay, and fall apart only to be replaced.
How we define "dark age" matters too. Scientific progress continues to advance, our lives our richer and easier and we die less from war and violence. On the other hand, the milieu that allowed for this flourishing is falling apart rapidly, and our lives have less meaning than ever.
Let us hope that the end of Western civilization, rapidly approaching, is replaced with something better after a period of hardship, not something worse.