History as science makes a start only from the facts and the confirmed documentary evidences. However, trying to characterize the historical periods or looking for causes and effects of various phenomena, scientists become often surprisingly subjective. An excellent example of that is the Middle Ages Era, even concrete time frames of which it is difficult to define.
Instruction
1. Disintegration of the Roman Empire is considered the beginning of the Middle Ages. It is quite obvious that so large-scale process cannot be limited only date or year: Rome fell in 410, however the last emperor abdicated only in 476. Therefore in order to avoid confusion, it is accepted to specify all fifth century in general. It should be noted that not defeat of Romans in itself is important, and the general decline of ancient art which was almost completely lost and destroyed during this period.
2. The early Middle Ages it is possible to call the next five centuries. After disintegration of the Roman Empire all laws existing in its territory ceased to work therefore the made habitable lands quickly were filled with immigrants from borders of the state. It provoked a lot of the conflicts on the national soil on the one hand, but also interpenetration of cultures — with another. In particular, the Christianity which was considered as rather doubtful cult until then began to develop much quicker: a big role played Reconquista (inning of the Iberian Peninsula) which proceeded up to 1492 in strengthening of religion.
3. About 300 years proceeded the High Middle Ages. Fast development of the states, growth of the population and multiple social changes became its main lines. Europe becomes "the center of the world", stable feudal society is established, and the church becomes the main political force in most the states. Crusades alternate with internal wars, there are knightly cults, folklore is enriched with stories about dragons, feats, great ladies.
4. The last period — the Late Middle Ages — has no accurate chronological framework. Thanks to technical progress, the feudal system consigned to the past, the church finally discredited itself in the opinion of the public, and multiple disasters (three-year crop failure, plague epidemic) provoked mass popular uprisings, revolts and revolutions.
5. To define the end of the Middle Ages rather difficult: someone compares it with discovery of America in the 1942nd year, someone — with reformation of 1517, and someone with the Great French Revolution of 1799 at all. It opinions only confirms subjectivity of any interpretation of history and, besides, quantity — convention of the concept "Middle Ages".