Mesjetës

Mesjetës, also known as the Middle Ages, refers to a long period in European history approximately spanning from the fall of the Western Roman Empire in the 5th century to the beginning of the Renaissance and the early modern era in the 15th century. In Albanian historiography the term covers the Early, High, and Late Middle Ages, with regional differences in chronology.

Society and politics during the era were shaped by the feudal order: a hierarchical system of kings, lords, vassals, and peasants; a largely rural and manorial economy; and frequent political fragmentation in many regions. The Catholic Church emerged as a central institution, influencing governance, education, and culture, while religious differences culminated in the East–West Schism of 1054, which formalized divisions between Western Latin Christendom and Byzantine Orthodoxy.

Economy and culture saw gradual revival and transformation. Agricultural innovations such as the heavy plow and improved three-field rotation supported population growth and urban development. Trade networks revived, giving rise to towns, guilds, and a more dynamic economy. Intellectual life expanded through scholasticism and the growth of universities; Latin was the lingua franca of learning, with vernacular literatures developing in later centuries. Artistic and architectural styles evolved from Romanesque forms to Gothic architecture, marked by monumental cathedrals, castles, and monastic complexes.

Late in the period, crises such as plagues, famines, and warfare reshaped society and contributed to the decline of feudal structures. The era culminated in transitions to the Renaissance, broader humanism, and expanding transregional contacts, along with the beginnings of Ottoman expansion into southeastern Europe. In various regions, including the Albanian lands, medieval state formation and Christian institutions laid foundations that would influence the early modern era.