Does intellectual depression refer to the people of the Dark Ages or historical knowledge of the time?

Intellectual depression typically refers to the perceived stagnation or decline in scholarly and cultural achievements during the early Middle Ages, often associated with the Dark Ages. This term reflects the lack of significant advancements in knowledge, learning, and intellectual thought during that period, rather than the people themselves. While the era saw a decrease in literacy and classical knowledge preservation, it also set the stage for future intellectual revival in the later Middle Ages and the Renaissance. Thus, intellectual depression pertains more to the historical context and knowledge of the time than to the individuals living during it.