Changes

for detailed history see:

for detailed history see:

* [[Early Middle Ages]], 400AD to 1000 AD

* [[Early Middle Ages]], 400 AD to 1000 AD

* [[High Middle Ages]], 1000 to 1300 AD

* [[High Middle Ages]], 1000 AD to 1300 AD

* [[The Renaissance]]

* [[Late Middle Ages]], 1300 AD to 1500 AD

* [[Reformation]] and [[Renaissance]]

== General Notes ==

== General Notes ==

The '''Middle Ages''', also known as the Medieval period, is the period of [[Europe]]an history from the fall of the [[Roman Empire]] until the [[Renaissance]]. Historians have suggested different dates for its beginning and end. The beginning is most commonly set at the abdication of the last [[Roman Emperor|Emperor]] of the [[Roman Empire|Western Roman Empire]] in 476 AD, but the [[Visigoths|Gothic]] sack of [[Rome]] in 410 AD has also been suggested. The ending point is variously gives as the [[Ottoman]] conquest of [[Constantinople]] in 1453, the discovery of the New World by [[Christopher Columbus]] in 1492, or the Protestant [[Reformation]] in 1517. Other historians prefer a more vague periodization from 500 AD to 1500 AD, arguing that the change between epochs require a transitional period over many years, making it pointless to try to fix the change at an exact date.

The '''Middle Ages''', also known as the Medieval period, is the period of [[Europe]]an history from the fall of the [[Roman Empire]] until the beginnings of the [[Renaissance]] or the Protestant [[Reformation]]. Historians have suggested different dates for its beginning and end. The beginning is most commonly set at the abdication of the last [[Roman Emperor|Emperor]] of the [[Roman Empire|Western Roman Empire]] in 476 AD, but the [[Visigoths|Gothic]] sack of [[Rome]] in 410 AD has also been suggested. The ending point is variously given as the [[Ottoman]] conquest of [[Constantinople]] in 1453, the discovery of the New World by [[Christopher Columbus]] in 1492, or the Protestant [[Reformation]] in 1517. Other historians prefer a more vague periodization from 500 AD to 1500 AD, arguing that the change between epochs require a transitional period over many years, making it pointless to try to fix the change at an exact date.

*Crisis of the later Middle Ages

*Crisis of the later Middle Ages

One of the major events of the late Middle Ages is the [[Black Death]], a plague [[pandemic]] between 1347 and 1351, which is believed to have wiped out one-third of the European population. The plague had momentous consequences for the late medieval European society and mentality.

One of the major events of the late Middle Ages is the [[Black Death]], a plague [[pandemic]] that swept across most of Europe between 1347 and 1351 and which is believed to have wiped out one-third of the European population. The plague had momentous consequences for the late medieval European society and mentality.

==Society==

==Society==

Small economies of scale developed throughout the Middle Ages, in the form of [[vassalage]] between a lord and his clients.

Small economies of scale developed throughout the Middle Ages, in the form of [[vassalage]] between a lord and his clients.

A long period of missionary activities, as well as the support of the Carolingian Empire, meant that by the year 1000 AD, Christianity was again the dominant religion in Europe. A division occurred in 1054 AD, however, when the Church broke up into a Catholic western part and an Orthodox eastern part.

A long period of missionary activities, as well as the support of the Carolingian Empire, meant that by the year 1000 AD, Christianity was again the dominant religion in Europe. A division occurred in 1054 AD, however, when the Church broke up into a Catholic western part and an Orthodox eastern part.

The Church had many roles nowadays usually filled by the state. For instance: Till the end of the middle ages, the church was the only office, that had any say for the institution of [[marriage]]. The Church decided who could marry whom, how the marriage had to take place and how a marriage could be ended. No city, no state, no king had any power concerning the institution of marriage.

The Church had many roles that now are usually filled by the state. For instance: until the end of the middle ages, the Church was the only organization that had any say in the institution of [[marriage]]. The Church decided who could marry whom, how the marriage had to take place, and how a marriage could be ended. No city, no state, and no king had the final say concerning the institution of marriage.

==Later Perceptions of the Middle Ages==

==Later Perceptions of the Middle Ages==