Why do historians call the dark ages as a period when Europe slept?

The term "Dark Ages" is an outdated term used to describe the period of European history from the fall of the Western Roman Empire in the 5th century to the beginning of the High Middle Ages around the 10th century. The phrase "Europe slept" is simply not an accurate description of this period. While it is true that many aspects of European society and culture declined during this time, there was still a great deal of activity and development, especially in the areas of religion, art, and literature.