The Middle Ages loosely refers to the period between the 5th century and 15th century, from the fall of Rome to the beginning of the Renaissance in Europe. It was a term coined by Italian humanists, who saw this period as one of ignorance, in which the learning and culture of classical antiquity was forgotten.
However, as these lectures reveal, the Middle Ages saw transformative changes in Europe: the spread of Christianity, the birth of Gothic architecture and the seismic shift in cultural and economic power from the eastern Mediterranean to western Europe.