A reference to the Middle Ages or the period in European history between antiquity and the Italian Renaissance, often considered to be between the end of the Roman Empire in the 5th century and the early 15th century (from about 500 A.D. to about 1350 A.D.)

It is sometimes restricted to the later part of this period (after 1100 A.D.) and sometimes extended to 1450 A.D or 1500 A.D.