The Middle Ages
The Medieval Period extended from the fall of the Roman Empire in 476 A.D. to the start of the Renaissance in the late 1400s. Also referred to as the Dark Ages, this time period saw major transformations across the European continent, especially in terms of religion. Christianity became widespread throughout Europe, leading to the Crusades. The Black Death, which is thought to have taken the lives of more than 100 million people, occurred during this time.