Why did Renaissance thinkers refer to the time period after the fall of the Western Roman Empire as the "Dark Ages"? because many people who lived during the Middle Ages resisted the spread of Christianity because many people who lived during the Middle Ages resisted the spread of Christianity because they believed that there were few significant scientific achievements because they believed that there were few significant scientific achievements because the weather during much of the Middle Ages was cold and rainy because the weather during much of the Middle Ages was cold and rainy because they believed Christianity discouraged the creation of beautiful art because they believed Christianity discouraged the creation of beautiful art