Actually not to be a thorn in anyone's side but historically speaking the dark ages had a lack of religion, that's why (along with the lack of proper documentation at the time) they are called the dark ages.

The great enlightenment and renaissance are when religion truly ruled people's lives. During the dark ages The Catholic church(most of Europe was catholic or orthodox) was very corrupt at this time, this lead to the breaking of the church and the formation of the protestant church and the beginning of the enlightenment. 

The Dark ages were a period of feudal war that ground out nations after the fall of the Roman Empire.

This had been a history lesson with MrFoxNews

Cheers Gentlemen :P