[Antoninus]

The timing coincides with the Justinian Plague, widely believed to be the first appearance of the Black Death in Europe. It is possible that the plague was so rampant and took hold so quickly because the population was already weakened by starvation.

Interesting, but I'm not buying it. Procopius reports the Black Death originating out of Africa, spreading through Persia and later to the Roman Empire. Besides, the 540s AD were not the "Dark Ages" yet. Indeed, it was a period of renewal--the last gasp of the Roman Empire.

[Robert A Cook PE]

He is proposing not that the comet "was"the Dark Ages, but rather that the impact (at 536 plus or minus) greatly increased stress in Europe (health, food, economy, and storage of food were affected) that greatly increased the destruction of the Roman civilization.

The Roman Empire was tottering, but under the stress of (starving but armed and dangerous) barbarians coming in after the destruction of THEIR previous hunting and farming areas (Goth, Huns, Vandals, and Mongols and other all began invading from the East after this time.....)

That destruction of civilization and trade and learning, in turn, WAS the Dark Ages.