I think something biases our view of the Middle Ages ("Dark Ages") is simply the fact we associate it with cold windy huts in constantly raining North-Western Europe...and compare that with the Mediterranean, sunny da Vinci image of the Rennaissance.
But, while we all can agree that Rome reached an incredible height in (European) culture that easily needed a Millenium to even be in sight again, there are some more points to make to rehabilitate those days.
- Population density: Due to the Great Migration and a number of plagues in the early medieval, Europe was extremly sparse inhabited; it is really questionable if ANY culture could have done better. That is not an argument against calling those days 'Dark Ages', but to clarify why development was so slow.
- Religious Prosecution? Can you give me ANY example of that? I mean, religiously motivated prosecution, with approval of the clerical authorities and common people? Of course, there were anti-Jewish progroms during the Crusades and the Great Plague, but can you name any period without them? And of course there were the so-called crusades against Catharens (sp?), or independent peasants, and the Charlemagnes campaign against the Saxon, German raids against the infidel Slaves...but honestly, all of them were for land, gold or power, regardless of a christian disguise!
Compare that with the Witch-Hunting, Hugenots, etc...
- Agricultural Prosperity: Yes, really. Due to a period of raised temperature during the whole Middle Ages, you could even grow grain on Iceland, and live rather comfortable in Greenland. Whine was common in England or Northern Germany...
So no, this weren't days of famine and shortage.
- Architecture: The best example of the prosperity and artistry. Do you think the 'Gothic' (a classical Rennaissance word to diss the former Ages) cathedrals were built by starving slaves, paid by money pressed out of humilated infidels?
And don't forget, thanks to the wars following the Reformation, in combination with the changed climatic conditions, Germanies population was decimated more than by the Plague, but now Trade and Infrastructure were also destroyed...I for one would prefer to live in the 1100ADS than the 1600ADs, no question.
Now, back on topic:
7 new UUs....
Enkidu, the Hittite Chariot, the Chaspi Scout are confirmed, right?
So, we need Portugal (the Pike, most likely; would be fine, IMHO), and Dutch (another naval UU? Again, though everyone says 'Naval UUs s***!'? I want the DAF, preferable with a Caravan! A Recon/ Settler unit, able to retreat its full range when attacked, and best used to completely block your neighbors road net

exactly when he needs it desperatedly). Mayan's, no idea.