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~ The Medieval Period of History ~

The Middle Ages is a period in European history which, along with its adjective Medieval, was first referred to by italian scholars and academics of the late fifteenth century. They were basically stating that the society in which they now lived was significantly more civilized and advanced in many ways, than that which had existed during the previous thousand years. This may have been true within certain elite sections of Italian society which had begun to emulate the art and philosophy of ancient Greece, but generally in Italy and Europe overall no allpervading change had occurred. Historians since that time have, however, used the terms 'middle ages' and medieval as a convenient way to refer to that general period in European history. It has been regarded as extending approximately from the end of the fifth century AD, when the control of the Roman Empire had ended, until the end of the fifteenth century AD, when the modern world was considered to have begun. The concept that a new age had commenced across Europe after the fall of the Roman Empire, along with its laws and control of society, may be quite a valid one. However the idea that something revolutionary happened relating to philosophy, art, literature, science, religion and civilization generally etc at a certain date in the fifteenth century has much less foundation. Nevertheless, historians since the fifteenth century have put forward various convenient but arbitrary events and dates to contain this period.

The Beginning of the Middle Ages

476 AD Regarded as the end of rule across Europe by the Roman Empire. Being the date which Although Roman control of many parts of Europe had ceased several years previously due to rebellions and uprisings; in fact the Roman armies finally left Britain almost sixty years prior to that date.

The End of the Middle Ages

1453 The capture of Constantinople by the Turks 1453 The end of the Hundred Years' War between the English and the French, 1492 The Muslims being ejected from Spain 1492 The discovery of America by Columbus. 1517 The Protestant Reformation starting

These, plus various other dates ranging from the early fifteenth century to the mid seventeenth century, have been stated as being the end of the medieval period; including those relating to Christianity or monarchies. To complicate matters further the Middle Ages is considered to have consisted of 1. The Early middle Ages ( Dark Ages) 2 The high middle Ages 3 The Late Middle Ages