There isn't it is just Poilitcally correct tripe (if something is there because it is Politically Correct then it is bound to be wrong), there seems to be some idea that the Romans had it coming to them and that the Roman Empire should have stopped being educated and trading and become paupers and ignorant fools, like the vast majority of Barbarians.

That the Barbarians had Art has never been disputed, however most could not read and write, and consequently they didn't have the learning and 'accumulated' knowledge that the Romans had.

There is a drive to dismiss the Dark ages as not Dark which again is tripe as no one can tell me who was King of the Hwicce and why they survived as a tribe long after other small realms had ceased, (that is just one example of hundreds) I have written a history of England, the 'Dark ages to the Vikings' and the most frutrating thing is the lack of knowledge of certain events, because so little is written at the time.