In the East, the Roman Empire didn't fall. Constantinople remained a glittering hub of law, Greek culture, and immense wealth.
While the Church preserved Latin, the general literacy rates plummeted compared to the Roman era. the_dark_ages_explained_part_1
In Europe, monasteries became "islands of light." Irish and Continental monks painstakingly copied manuscripts, ensuring that classical knowledge survived the transition. In the East, the Roman Empire didn't fall
Cities shrank as people moved to the countryside for safety and food. In the East
Europe broke into smaller, warring Germanic kingdoms (the Franks, Saxons, and Visigoths), leading to constant localized conflict. Why "Dark" is a Misnomer