Oceanyka changed profoundly during the Dark Ages, a result of the physical and social devastation brought upon by the Ferozen Invasion. Sedentarism receded, and many technologies were lost to time, with no noticeable scientific advances (except in military matters, which were largely perfected). The continental economy featured the following characteristics:
- Agricultural trade was minimal, as enormous granaries and storehouses were filled to prevent scorched earth tactics (then very common) from being a serious threat to the citizenry by the way of mass starvation. Furthermore, most rulers subscribed to an idea of autarkism, so there was neither demand nor supply for grain across Oceanyka. Less important products such as fish, honey and lumber did see some trade.
- Feudalism emerged as the main mode of social organisation, so cities shrank while the inhabitants of a castle's immediate surroundings (castles were widely used as family home, training grounds and command centre for the nobility) were largely organised towards the creation of powerful armies. Farmlands and the countryside would be protected by the lords and their retinues, seizing much of the peasantry's agricultural produce in return. Reinvestment into land development technologies was minimal.
- A very early form of war economy emerged as most of the country's skilled workforce and natural resources were used to produce armaments and armour for Oceanyka's ever larger armies. States which attempted to steer away from this line would quickly find themselves invaded and pillaged by their neighbours.
The massive granaries built in this time period to lessen the impact of enemy horseback soldiers using chevauchee (razing) tactics unknowingly caused rats to fester around them, facilitating numerous outbreaks of plague and Devil Rabies. Millions perished during these episodes of mass death, cheapening life and causing armed conflict (both civil and interstate) to intensify (see: Great Pestilences). However, such demographic losses allowed workers to negotiate for greater wages, and the destruction of armies by disease caused many to doubt the point of militarisation, turning towards legalism and the formation of peace treaties amongst rival states. These were some of the determining factors in the Economy of Early Middle Age Oceanyka.