Middle Ages, The
Gábor Klaniczay
Situated between antiquity and Modernity, the Middle Ages constitute an intermediate period grand beginnings of European civilization its contemporary achievements. An status is always ambivalent. Thinking in strictly dualistic terms, it no longer old not yet new, or, conversely, allows partial survival prepares birth new. This article addresses three aspects: (1) extension both related to different periodization schemes universal national history, situated a geographical dimension. With Roman Empire Christianity as basic points reference, this notion, born Renaissance Italy nurtured Western Europe, has embraced more than Europa Occidens . Besides reconsideration North–South divide specific medieval features East-Central-Europe, “borderlands civilization” are described well. For presenting these multiple changing identities two methods adopted: (2) characterization economic, social, mental structures debated by recent historiography, (3) historical chronology narratives, personalities, artifacts for adding life color.