The Dark Ages are one of Oceanyka's most tragic historical events, lasting from the year 35 CE (the Fall of Mir, the Imperial Capital) until the 11th century. It is characterised by a lack, and even regression, of technological, cultural and scientific progress. During this period, organised states rarely exceeded the size of a duchy, while nomadic lifestyles gained popularity. Aboriginal populations saw a rapid migration to the fertile western coasts, far from the invading Ferozen. The Austronesians, who with their excellent seamanship had previously traded with Oceanyka's coastal kingdoms, increasingly began to fear, evade and isolate Australia. To top it all off, this period saw at least five major epidemics, known as the Great Pestilences, in which millions of Oceanykans perished. It took almost a millennium for Aboriginals, whose culture and religion was largely tied to the land, to rebuild their civilisation; similarly the previously tribal and semi-nomadic Ferozen took their time creating a sedentary, orderly social organisation. Eventually Oceanyka transitioned into the Early Middle Ages, owing largely to trade and diplomacy with Malay states, beginning with the Oceanykan Involvement in the Chola Invasion of Srivijaya.
