Final answer:
The event that marked the end of the Dark Ages is D) The Renaissance, an era of cultural, artistic, and intellectual enlightenment that began in the late 14th century and signaled the transition into modern history.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Renaissance was a period of great cultural, artistic, and intellectual growth that began in Italy in the late 14th century and spread throughout Europe. This era is characterized by a renewed interest in the classical learning of Greece and Rome and is often cited as the bridge between the Middle Ages and modern history.
The increased emphasis on the individual and the worldly, as opposed to the spiritual and religious, made the Renaissance a pivotal moment in the transition out of the medieval period.
The Renaissance triggered changes in many areas of society, including the arts, sciences, and technology, and led to subsequent movements, such as the Age of Exploration, which in turn set the stage for European colonialism. In 1492, Christopher Columbus's voyage across the Atlantic symbolized the onset of European colonialism, occurring after the Dark Ages had concluded.