--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In any event, there was no “fall” into…" description: "\"“In any event, there was no “fall” into “Dark Ages.” Instead, once freed of the bondage of Rome, Europe separated into hundreds of independent “statele..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b87/rodney-stark-7977_dark_in-any-event-there-was-no-fall-into-dark_1014716.png" --- # In any event, there was no “fall” into “Dark Ages.”… ![“In any event, there was no “fall” into “Dark Ages.” Instead, once freed of the bondage of Rome, Europe separated into hundreds of independent “statelets.”16 In many of these societies progress and increased production became profitable, and that ushered in “one of the great innovative eras of…” quote by Rodney Stark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b87/rodney-stark-7977_dark_in-any-event-there-was-no-fall-into-dark_1014716.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b87/rodney-stark-7977_dark_in-any-event-there-was-no-fall-into-dark_1014716.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b87/rodney-stark-7977_dark_in-any-event-there-was-no-fall-into-dark_1014716.png) > ““In any event, there was no “fall” into “Dark Ages.” Instead, once freed of the bondage of Rome, Europe separated into hundreds of independent “statelets.”16 In many of these societies progress and increased production became profitable, and that ushered in “one of the great innovative eras of mankind,” as technology was developed and put into use “on a scale no civilization had previously known.”” [Rodney Stark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rodney-stark/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. After Rome's fall, Europe fragmented into many small states, fostering competition that spurred innovation and large‑scale production. **In simple terms:** Fragmentation after Rome led to competition and innovation. Key Takeaway Embrace competition to drive progress. Themes history innovation politics Mood analytical thoughtful Type historical analytical When to use this quote - academic study - policy making - business strategy - technological development Key Concepts fragmentation economic growth Questions to Reflect On - How did competition shape technological advances? - What other factors contributed to growth? A Different Perspective The view may oversimplify complex causes of progress. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Civilization Previously](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/civilization-previously-2226219/) [Dark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dark/) [Dark ages](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dark-ages/) [Europe Separated](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/europe-separated-2226220/) [Innovative Eras](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/innovative-eras-2226218/) [Societies Progress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/societies-progress-2226221/) ## Related quotes > [Successful societies-those which progress economically and politically and can control the terms on which they deal with the outside world-succeed because they have found…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-fallows/successful-societies-those-which-progress-economically-and/) [James Fallows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-fallows/) > [“But Christendom was not merely a community of warriors or even a community of the nobility. 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As…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandra-day-o-connor/when-i-went-to-law-school-which-after-all-was-back-in-the-dark-ages/) [Sandra Day O'Connor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandra-day-o-connor/) > [The dark ages still reign over all humanity, and the depth and persistence of this domination are only now becoming clear. This Dark Ages…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-buckminster-fuller/the-dark-ages-still-reign-over-all-humanity-and-the-depth-and/) [R. Buckminster Fuller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-buckminster-fuller/) > [“Doyle: "What is it now, then?" Cordelia: "Isn't java supposed to be a coffee?" Doyle: "Ready to abandon the the Web project?" Cordelia: "No…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-passarella/doyle-what-is-it-now-then-cordelia-isn-t-java-supposed-to-be-a-coffee/) [John Passarella](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-passarella/) ## More by Rodney Stark > [High testosterone levels have been proven to make men more likely to commit crimes. The tendency in men toward risky behaviour keeps turning up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rodney-stark/high-testosterone-levels-have-been-proven-to-make-men-more-likely-to/) [Rodney Stark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rodney-stark/) > [“Keep in mind that democracy merely gives power to the people; it does not ensure that power will be used wisely or humanely.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rodney-stark/keep-in-mind-that-democracy-merely-gives-power-to-the-people-it-does/) [Rodney Stark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rodney-stark/) > [“Laws requiring a certain frequency of church attendance, the taking of Communion, and baptism of infants soon appeared all across the Lutheran areas of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rodney-stark/laws-requiring-a-certain-frequency-of-church-attendance-the-taking-of/) [Rodney Stark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rodney-stark/) > [“But Christendom was not merely a community of warriors or even a community of the nobility. 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They may actually have strong personal beliefs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rodney-stark/many-people-who-say-they-have-no-religion-are-simply-saying-they-have/) [Rodney Stark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rodney-stark/) > [“there is at least as much, and probably much more, variation on these matters among the Protestants of various types included in these merged…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rodney-stark/there-is-at-least-as-much-and-probably-much-more-variation-on-these/) [Rodney Stark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rodney-stark/) > [“What shall we Christians do with this rejected and condemned people, the Jews?’ Luther offered seven actions. 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