Middle Ages, the period in European history from the collapse of Roman civilization in the 5th century ce to the period of the Renaissance (variously interpreted as beginning in the 13th, 14th, or 15th century, depending on the region of Europe and other factors). A brief treatment of the Middle Ages follows.
The Medieval period also known as the Middle Ages is divided into the Early, High, and Late Medieval times. During early medieval times, England was in disarray and many villages and towns were simply deserted after the collapse of the Roman empire.