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The "[[Middle Ages]]" is the period from the fall of the western [[Roman empire]] to the intellectual and cultural revival known as the "[[Renaissance]]".  As a rough approximation, the dates of the Middle Ages are from A.D. 500 to 1500, even though the Renaissance actually began hundreds of years earlier than 1500 and Rome fell before 500.  

The "[[Middle Ages]]" is the period from the fall of the western [[Roman empire]] to the intellectual and cultural revival known as the "[[Renaissance]]".  As a rough approximation, the dates of the Middle Ages are from A.D. 500 to 1500, even though the Renaissance actually began hundreds of years earlier than 1500 and Rome fell before 500.  

Both the beginning and end of the Middle Ages occurred in what is now [[Italy]].  The "Middle Ages" is a disparaging term to describe a bridge in time between the worthwhile ancient world that ended in A.D. 500, and the worthwhile Renaissance that arose on the other side of the break, in A.D. 1500.  Italian humanists (non-religious intellectuals) wanted to criticize the thousand years that separated the Roman empire from the Renaissance, because it was a period of monastic life and quiet Christian growth.   

Both the beginning and end of the Middle Ages occurred in what is now [[Italy]].  The "Middle Ages" is a disparaging term to describe a bridge in time between the worthwhile ancient world that ended in A.D. 500, and the worthwhile Renaissance that arose on the other side of the break, in A.D. 1500.  Italian humanists (non-religious intellectuals) wanted to criticize the thousand years that separated the Roman empire from the Renaissance, because it was a period of monastic life and quiet Christian spiritual growth.   

By A.D. 1500, humanists revered and esteemed the classical Greek and Roman civilizations of the ancient world, and revived the approach taken by those ancient civilizations.  The humanists viewed the mostly quiet religious activity between A.D. 500 and 1500 as a waste of time, and exaggerated the inactivity of the period as one of darkness and ignorance.

By A.D. 1500, humanists revered and esteemed the classical Greek and Roman civilizations of the ancient world, and revived the approach taken by those ancient civilizations.  The humanists viewed the mostly quiet spiritual growth between A.D. 500 and 1500 as a waste of time, and exaggerated the inactivity of the period as one of darkness and ignorance.

Recall that the [[Germanic tribes]] destroyed the Roman empire in the west in the A.D. 400s, and in particular [[Alaric]] the [[Visigoth]] sacked [[Rome]] in A.D. 410.  Many of the Germanic tribes eventually converted to [[Christianity]], but their own customs made the social organization of the Roman empire impossible to maintain.  The networks of roads, water, shipping and agriculture that flourished during the Roman empire began to decay.  There was little obvious scholarship or artistic activity either.  Except for the Carolingian court of [[Charlemagne]] discussed below, there was no kingdom in Europe from the fall of Rome to A.D. 1000.

Recall that the [[Germanic tribes]] destroyed the Roman empire in the west in the A.D. 400s, and in particular [[Alaric]] the [[Visigoth]] sacked [[Rome]] in A.D. 410.  Many of the Germanic tribes eventually converted to [[Christianity]], but their own customs made the social organization of the Roman empire impossible to maintain.  The networks of roads, water, shipping and agriculture that flourished during the Roman empire began to decay.  There was little obvious scholarship or artistic activity either.  Except for the Carolingian court of [[Charlemagne]] discussed below, there was no kingdom in Europe from the fall of Rome to A.D. 1000.