The Dark Ages is a Western European framing that leaves much of the contemporary world outside the picture. Byzantium, the Arabic world, and China complicate the idea of a general halt in development. Anglo-Saxon burhs provide an English example of substantial construction through fortified towns and large earthworks. Their inhabitants lived within the defenses, so protecting the town also meant protecting their own homes. The proposed advantage was that residents would be reluctant to abandon those homes.
Notable Point · 2:48:59-2:50:03
A wider Dark Ages and the Saxon burh
A Western European Dark Ages label can obscure Byzantium, the Arabic world, China, and large Anglo-Saxon programs of fortified urban construction.