When playing Skyrim, I cannot shake away the feeling that Tamriellic civilization took a step backwards compared to Oblivion. For example, In Oblivion, the Empire had a newspaper, guild halls present in almost every city, a centralized government and legion and the counties felt more united than the Holds of Skyrim. Then it occurred to me that the events in Skyrim are somewhat similar to the European Dark ages.

The (Roman) Empire
After the Septim dynasty is gone, the Empire's power started waning.
This can be compared to the Romans, who's waning power was the cause of the real life Dark Ages.
It can also explain the lack of central guilds in Skyrim. The Fighters and Mages guilds are empire sponsored. In the state the Empire is now in, sponsoring such guilds in Skyrim, which verges on seceding, would be very difficult.

The Aldmeri Dominion/The East Roman Empire
This is not the best comparison, but there are some similarities. Both were once part of the The Empire and breaking away is what some believe was the first step towards the Dark Ages.
The Dominion weakened the Empire by attacking it, forcing the Empire to put its resources into defending what is left. The split between the Roman Empires caused a serious lack of resources for the west Roman Empire. This caused the west Roman Empire to not being able to defend itself against the 'barbarians'.

The barbarian hordes and the Stormcloaks
Because the Romans were losing power during the start of the Dark ages, barbarian hordes started to regain control of their territories. Stormcloaks are doing the same. They use the Empire's weakened state to go back to the true Nord ways. This also caused an 'every hold/village for himself' mentality

Religious Conflict
This also played a role in real life when the old pagan religions became outlawed. And in Skyrim, where Talos became outlawed. This causes a huge conflict between multiple groups. I will not go into further details, to avoid toughing sensitive subjects.

Racism
When the Roman Empire was the main power in Europe, travelers were much more common. Therefore people of other races were a bit more accepted. When the Dark ages began, infrastructure was pretty much broken. Everyone who left the village had no insurance of returning and people did not know what happened outside. Therefore everything that was different was treated as evil.
I do not know how Skyrim was during the Empire's prime, but if the Empire is in charge, it would have been much less pro-Nord than it is now.

Dragons and the Black plague
Both were considered supernatural. Both are very destructive and the people are powerless to fight against them.

So, that was all I can think of. I do hope its not complete and utter nonsense. Like the things M'aiq would say.
Please tell me what you think.

very astute observations

and a good old read, thanx.

makes sense

Right on the money :thumbsup:

The Eastern Roman Empire considered themselves to be the real Roman Empire and continued to believe it 1000 years after the Western Empire fell.

The Aldmeri want nothing to do with the Empire of Man.

EDIT: and the black plague didn't happen during the dark ages.

Also the Imperial soldier robes(on skyrim)looks alot like the Roman's wee see today.

But they believe they are the rightful rulers of Tamriel which in my opinion is them saying "We're the Empire not you"

Trying to compare Tamriel to Europe is a fruitless activity.

my exact sentiments everytime I play this game

Sounds good, but Skyrim has always been the most wild and uncivil of all of the provinces so it makes sense to me.

There is evidence of the black plague from the times of the Ancient Egyptians to modern day China.
EDIT: Very good observations friendo.

Nice nice

I thought this as well. Skyrim is definitely the darkest game in the series thus far. I love it.

Hit the nail on the head there, with a big, nordic warhammer.

One tiny little nitpick. Skyrim has always been very pro-nord, it's Skyrim after all. I just assume it wasn't always so anti-everyone else.

This could also explain(in an abstract manner) why some weapons have disappeared. Wasnt the secret to making concrete lost for a while?

TES VI is going to have gyrocopters and naked statues.

Cool.

yeah if Skyrim is the dark ages, I can't wait for the Renaissance

You seem to be forgetting that marshy wasteland where talking lizards live. The one provience that while part of the Empire has never really been part of the Empire.

The Black Marsh makes Skyrim look like Cyrodill in terms of the untamed.

I wouldn't take it that far. People in Skyrim are still around the top of Maslow's Hierarchy of needs (Esteem/Love and belonging) unlike people in the Dark Ages where they had to give up their rights for protection and to fulfill their psychological needs. Plus, intellectual growth in Skyrim hasn't come to a complete standstill and concidering they still have a form of hard currency instead of regressing back into a barter system shows that they are better off than people in the Dark Ages.

I agree with you on everything but one part, not all intellectual growth died, it just slowed down.

^ Oh my mistake. I actually agree with that.

The same can be said about Morrowind and probably Valenwood, Summerset Isle, Elsweyr, Black Marsh and Hammerfell. The only provinces who seem very mixed and open are Cyrodiil and to some extent High Rock.

That said: I think OP makes some very good observations, but at the end of the day Tamriel follows the Tamrielic timeline.

I do believe OP means the very end of the Roman empire when Rome was about to get sacked life was like this. Rome couldn't afford to guard villages because they were so undermanned just like the Imperial legion during Skyrim where they have to start recruiting non-imperials into the ranks.