Alternative spellings

• mediaeval (UK), mediæval (non-contemporary)

Adjective

medieval (comparative more medieval, superlative most medieval)

Positive medieval

Comparative more medieval

Superlative most medieval

1. of or relating to the Middle Ages, perhaps AD 650 to 1550.
2. having characteristics associated with the Middle Ages.
3. archaic.
4. brutal.
   • 1969 Mar 24, New York Magazine, page 58:

     Brute force can get you into any apartment if you want to get medieval about it.

   • 2003, Robert Ludlum, The Janson Directive, page 579:

     "Oh, what a nifty idea," Collins said dryly. "Get a bunch of angry brothers with a blowtorch and some pliers and get medieval on his ass."

Derived terms

• medievalism
• medievalist
• medievalize

Noun

Singular medieval

Plural medievals

medieval (plural medievals)

1. Someone living in the Middle Ages.
2. A medieval one.
   • Thank God for modern remedies, the medievals were often useless or even harmful.

The Middle Ages of European history (adjectivial form medieval or mediæval) is a period of international history covering roughly a millennium in the 5th century through 16th centuries. It is commonly dated from the fall of the Western Roman Empire, and contrasted with a later Early Modern Period; the time during which the Reformation and the rise of humanism in the Italian Renaissance unfolded are generally associated with the transition out of the Middle Ages, with European overseas expansion as a succeeding process, but such dates are approximate and based upon nuanced arguments.

More specific starting and ending points are sometimes adopted by scholars to suit their respective specializations or current focus. In particular, in British history, the Middle Ages are often understood to start at the Norman conquest of 1066 and continue through to about the end of the 15th century (the era between the fall of the Roman Empire and the Norman conquest is referred to as the Anglo-Saxon period). "Periodization issues" are discussed in later section of this article.

The Middle Ages included the first sustained urbanization of northern and western Europe. Many modern European countries owe their origins to events and trends in the Middle Ages; present European political boundaries are, in many regards, the result of the military and dynastic outcomes during this period.

• Anglo-Saxon (9)
• Viking (21)

See also:

• Society: History: By Time Period: Middle Ages (493)

• The Heroic Age
  heroicage.org
  Online journal for the study of Northwestern Europe from the Late Roman Empire to the advent of the Norman Empire aimed at both professionals and amateurs. US-based, but has British academics on the editorial board.
• Society for Medieval Archaeology
  medievalarchaeology.org
  Newsletter, research funds administered by the society for which applications can be made, membership fees, brief details of the society's journal and monograph series.

• Medieval Climate Not So Hot
  sciencedaily.com
  From ScienceDaily, idea that there's no need to worry about human-induced global warming because the world's climate in medieval time was at least as warm as today's is flawed. (October 20, 2003)