mittelalterliche

Mittelalterliche is an adjective form used in German to describe things belonging to or associated with the Middle Ages. It is the attributive form of mittelalterlich and is placed before a noun to indicate origin, style, or character linked to that historical period. Common uses include references to architecture, art, literature, and social practices, such as mittelalterliche Burg (medieval castle), mittelalterliche Manuskripte (medieval manuscripts), or mittelalterliche Bräuche (medieval customs).

In German, the ending of the adjective depends on gender, number, and case. For example: eine mittelalterliche Burg (feminine, singular, nominative), ein mittelalterliches Manuskript (neuter, singular, nominative), mittelalterliche Städte (plural). The term is versatile and can describe objects, styles, or phenomena that scholars classify as medieval, even when the exact dating varies by region.

Historically, the Middle Ages in Europe are roughly dated from the 5th to the late 15th century, though regional definitions differ. The label mittelalterlich is used across disciplines such as history, art history, archaeology, and literature to distinguish medieval forms from those of antiquity or the early modern period. Its usage helps organize discussions about architecture (gothic churches, fortifications), visual arts (illuminated manuscripts, sculpture), philosophy and theology, and daily life (dress, crafts, trade).

The term is descriptive and neutral, serving as a linguistic tool to categorize and analyze material and cultural remnants associated with the Middle Ages without asserting value judgments.