This is a question that has intrigued me for a while now. My reading suggests many dates from the early 300's right up to 1066, all of which have valid points and flaws, so its difficult to pin down a real date.
To just list a few and the motivation behind their nomination:
312- The conversion of the Emperor Constantine– (Religious)
378- Battle of Adrianople (Military)
476- Fall of the last Western Emperor (Political)
600(s).- Islamic Expansion (Agricultural)
800- Coronation of Charlemagne (Political Mk. II)
(Around) 1066- Norman conquest or beginning of Norman troubles (Anglocentric)
Does anyone have any other suggestions or opinions on when exactly the Medieval Period began?
When did the Middle Ages actually start?
Tyler Roberts
Joshua Cruz
No one says the middle ages began in 1066. They say the viking ages ended in 1066.
Cooper Campbell
If you look at many history books in the UK they address the beginning of the middle ages as 1066 with the previous years referred to as the 'dark age'
Its a very anglocentric view point but they do teach it here and it is the starting point for many books
Example:
And a teaching website:
historylearningsite.co.uk
People do believe this to be a starting date but it seems limited to the UK.
Landon Hernandez
Final fall of the Carolingian empire 888, last true empire in western Europe
with the death of Charles the fat.
I identify the middle age with feudalism and absence of empires, France was probably the most important here.
Xavier Kelly
Would you not count the HRE as a European Empire? Or Byzantium?
They would both qualify as Empires surely?
Jaxon Harris
"The Middle Ages" is generally considered to run from the Fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 AD to the Fall of the Eastern Roman Empire in 1453 AD. However, that's a pretty long block of time, so I don't see anything wrong with using Hastings in 1066 AD was another dividing point. The result looks something like this.
Jordan Carter
What do you think Anglocentrism means user?
Or are you daft?
Jonathan Reed
In Scandinavia it is common knowledge that the middle ages began in 1066. The viking age count as the last part of the iron age
Angel Brooks
Plague of Justinian?
Gavin Gonzalez
Do you know of any books that talk about that?
Or any links to someone saying that from a Scandinavian point?
Zachary Bailey
>HRE
>
Zachary Flores
Gunpowder age starts in 1453 because of Constantinople and Castilon?
Ethan Hill
>HRE
>Empire
Also
>Byzantium
>Western Europe
Byzantines were Orthodox. Western Europe were Catholics, or pagans getting rekt by Catholics.
Michael Morales
2025 end of the world confirmed
James Howard
the hand of nergal
James Edwards
It's a work in progress but basically yes.
Aaron Howard
The beginning of the First Crusade in 1096 AD makes more sense as a periodization marker.
Jeremiah Garcia
The Catholic and Orthodox churches split in 1054. Also depending on what you define as Western Europe they technically count until 624 in Spain if its Western Europe and until 1071 if Italy is Western Europe.
Anthony Miller
What is this, Civilization tech tree? Because no one uses a periodization like this IRL.
Ayden Sullivan
How was the Carolingian Empire more of an Empire than the HRE?
Andrew Carter
HRE elected their "Emperor"
Carson Murphy
desu senpai Periodization of ages overlap.
Caleb Butler
Where does it say that an Emperor cannot be elected?
Ethan Myers
The Middle Ages (at least as it regards Europe and the Mediterranean) is usually regarded as 476 (fall of Rome) until the fall of Constantinople as pointed out. Because that's so long, it's usually broken into the Early Middle Ages (476-1000) because a lot of important things happened around 1000 (including the battle of Hastings). Between 1000-1300 is termed the "High Middle Ages" and from 1300-1500 is generally referred to as the "late middle ages".
Christopher Wilson
Why not 1030? Its when Norway got piercing by the Thorn of Christianity, after a rather holy crusade to gather followers trough out Sweden.
It also marks the death of one of the greatest Saints in Norden.
You could also argue the period didn't really start until Black Death hit.
Camden Myers
How about the reign of Charles Martel were he developed and established feudalism.
Caleb Wright
>was de facto ruler of Francia from 718 until his death
Thats actually a good one too.
Thank you for sharing this information.