The Dark Ages knew that they were dark, and we hear little talk about progress during those seven centuries which, as far as we can see, might have been cut out of history without any great loss to posterity. The Middle Ages (which we ought never to confuse with the Dark Ages), though they developed an interest ing type of civilization, set their hopes mainly on another world. The Church has never iencouraged'the belief that this world is steadily improving; the Middle Ages.