The medieval period, also known as the Middle Ages, generally refers to the time between the fall of the Western Roman Empire in the 5th century AD and the beginning of the Renaissance in the 15th century.
It is typically divided into three main sub-periods: the Early Middle Ages (approximately 500-1000 AD), the High Middle Ages (approximately 1000-1300 AD), and the Late Middle Ages (approximately 1300-1500 AD).