A reference work published in 1883 equates the Dark Ages with the Middle Ages, but beginning with William Paton Ker in 1904, the term "Dark Ages" is generally restricted to the early part of the medieval period.
Et referenceværk udgivet i 1883 sidestiller den mørke tid med middelalderen, men begynder med William Paton Ker i 1904 bliver termen "Dark Ages" generelt brugt til den tidlige middelalder.