Final answer:
The Middle Ages began with the fall of the Roman Empire in 476 CE and ended with the Renaissance in the late fourteenth century. The period saw both hardships, like the Black Death, and significant developments, including the rise of cities and trade.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Middle Ages began with the fall of the Roman Empire in 476 CE and ended with the Renaissance in Italy about the late fourteenth century. This period was marked by a lack of centralized power and the retreat of people into walled cities for protection against threats like the Vikings and Mongols. Over time, Europe saw the decline of feudalism and the rise of cities as centers of trade and culture, setting the stage for the profound changes that characterized the Renaissance.
Despite being coined the 'Dark Ages' by Renaissance humanists, the Medieval period was rich with its own developments and transformations. The Byzantine Empire, for example, continued to thrive while in the West, realms like the Carolingian Empire took shape, incorporating Roman institutions and expanding Christianity. Technological and agricultural advancements during the High Middle Ages led to population growth and increased trade, culminating in significant intellectual and cultural evolution.
The eventual hardships of the Late Middle Ages, such as famine, plague, and war, notably the Black Death, greatly reduced the population but also set the stage for economic and social restructuring. This adversity alongside intellectual and artistic advancements finally ushered in the Early Modern period.