Historians call the period between the end of the Roman Empire in 476 CE and the capture of Constantinople by the Turks in 1453 CE the Middle Ages. In the early Middle Ages (approximately fifth to tenth century), Christianity, followed by Islam, established themselves as dominant religions of continental Europe. The central or high Middle Ages saw territorial expansion, demographic and urban growth, and the restructuring of secular and religious institutions.
1. Overview of the Period
- The history of Arab civilisation covers a period roughly from 630 CE to 1300. Known as Saracenic civilisation, it was the centre of a new religion, and its impact on Christian Europe caused revolutionary social and intellectual changes.
- Seljuq Turks were a tribe of Tartars from Central Asia. They established a powerful empire in Persia; their reign saw great progress in literature, art and architecture.
- The Ottoman Turks moved to Anatolia (Asia Minor), established an independent empire and contributed to science and technology in a big way.