The Middle Ages, or medieval period, spanned roughly from 500 to 1500 AD and traditionally represents the central chapter of European history, bridging classical antiquity and the modern era. This era is often divided into the early, high, and late Middle Ages, with each period marking significant changes in social structure, economy, and political power. The period saw the rise of agriculture as the primary economic force, a society built on intrapersonal power relations, and a decentralised system of government with limited administrative reach. In the Early Middle Ages, Western Europe experienced the decline of centralised Roman authority and the beginning of Germanic tribal migrations, leading to the fall of the Western Roman Empire. This transition period, sometimes called the Dark Ages, saw the establishment of new kingdoms, a reduced tax system, and land-based military financing. The Eastern Roman Empire, also known as the Byzantine Empire, remained although it lost significant territories to Early Muslim conquests. By the 9th century, the Carolingian Empire briefly unified parts of Western Europe before breaking into fragmented, competitive states. The High Middle Ages, from 1000 onward, were characterized by population growth, agricultural innovation, and economic expansion. Feudalism emerged as a dominant social structure, with knights serving lords in exchange for land. The Catholic Church grew in authority, but it faced conflicts with secular rulers over control. Scholasticism and the establishment of universities fostered new intellectual pursuits, while architectural innovations in Romanesque and Gothic architecture flourished. However, the Late Middle Ages brought challenges, including famine, the Black Death, and the Hundred Years' War, which led to social upheaval and significant population decline. By the end of this period, Renaissance ideas began to emerge, setting the stage for the Age of Discovery. Source: Wikipedia (en)