Final answer:
The term 'Dark Ages' was used by earlier historians to describe the medieval period as a time of decline. However, modern historians recognize the medieval period as rich in its own achievements and culture.
Step-by-step explanation:
The term "Dark Ages" was used by earlier historians to describe the medieval period due to their belief that it was a time of cultural, intellectual, and technological decline following the fall of the Roman Empire. Renaissance thinkers considered the Middle Ages as a period of darkness because they believed that there was a loss of the classical knowledge and achievements that characterized the Roman Empire. However, modern historians have dismissed this notion and recognize that the medieval period was actually rich in its own artistic and cultural achievements.