as this article emphasizes consider the 'Dark Ages' such a negative and inaccurate term that the period is more recently referred to as the 'early middle ages' instead.
The 'Dark Ages/Early Middle Ages' time period is roughly 450-800. As the article notes, the Catholic Church was a key institution and stabilizer in Europe. (I'm a little more familiar with western Europe than what was taking place in the Eastern Roman Empire or southern Spain).
The article posted I think tends to minimize the loss of 'civilization' and paints the period in a far better light, without a lot of explanation, to try to dispel stereotypes of the era as one of crude, primitive living, warring tribes and barbarians. However, on the positive, there are examples of intricate jewelry, weaponry and other items of the period that required advanced skill, and also remnants of dwellings and communities which indicate a higher standard of living than dismal poverty. As well, the laborers, builders, stonemasons and artisans who worked on the cathedrals of the later middle ages had experience and a high degree of technical skill.
*Serfdom however, was certainly a factor, along with illiteracy, lack of material security, safety and stability for the average person. It was rough going in western Europe in that period-- nothing bucolic or pastoral about it IMO.
Re Cathedrals- there were houses of worship, priories and abbeys in the Dark Ages/Early Middle Ages but building of the great (Gothic) cathedrals of Europe started later around the 12th century, after the Crusades as stated in this piece on Durham Cathedral. Also noted is how the promotion and display of holy relics then helped provide financial assistance for the construction of large religious buildings, among other efforts.
-- "Although cathedral building was driven by religious figures or institutions, it was often a community effort. From the mid-twelfth century, the Church started granting indulgences (forgiveness of sins) to those who would help to build a church or cathedral, and therefore, rather than going on crusades, which had been a popular means of absolving sins in the late eleventh century, people dedicated more effort to the construction of houses of God instead.
The construction of a cathedral was often led and financed to a large extent by the Cathedral Chapter (the senior clergy), while bishops tended to contribute at their own free will. However, at Durham, the bishops' contribution - both intellectual and financial, was substantial. Cathedral chapters financed the construction by actively raising money from their congregations, by creating systems of fining clerics for transgressions such as tardiness, and by arranging for relics to go on tour. Taking relics on tour was a very lucrative means of fund-raising."-- ...
https://www.durhamworldheritagesite.com/learn/architecture/cathedral/construction
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