Mittelalters

Mittelalters is the German term for the Middle Ages, the broad historical period in Europe roughly from the 5th to the late 15th century. In English, the designation is the Middle Ages; the term Mittelalter appears in German-language historiography and popular discourse to describe the same era's political, social, religious, and cultural developments.

The period is often subdivided into Early Middle Ages (c. 5th–10th centuries), High Middle Ages (c. 11th–13th), and Late Middle Ages (c. 14th–15th). It begins with the collapse of the Western Roman Empire and ends with transitions into the early modern era, marked by the Renaissance and maritime exploration. Key institutions include feudalism, the manorial system, and the Catholic Church.

Economy and society were organized around a hierarchical structure of lords, vassals, and serfs. Towns and guilds grew during the High Middle Ages, while agricultural innovations such as the three-field system and heavy plow expanded production. Climate fluctuations and plagues, especially the Black Death, caused demographic shocks in the Late Middle Ages.

Culture and learning were shaped by religious life, monastic scholarship, and the rise of universities in places like Bologna, Paris, and Oxford. Architectural and artistic forms progressed from Romanesque to Gothic; scholastic philosophy sought to reconcile faith and reason. Literature flourished in vernacular languages alongside Latin.

The Mittelalters left enduring legacies in law, governance, art, and education, influencing later European society. The era is seen as a bridge between antiquity and the early modern world, with diverse regional variations across Europe and beyond.