The period in European history from about from AD 800 to 1453, characterized by the feudal system, the military predominance of the knights, and the romanized Germanic kingdoms that developed after the fall of Rome , is also known as the Middle Ages. All of these developments were well underway by the 800s, but had been in the works for several centuries previously. The earlier period is commonly called the Dark Ages . The Middle Ages culminate in the Renaissance , which begins in Italy in the 14th century and extends into the Modern Period.