The middle ages, or medieval period, is a period starting, in its earliest form, around the year 500 and lasting until, in its very late incarnation, the year 1500.

Usually the middles ages is divided into three periods; early middle ages (ca. 500-1000), high middle ages (ca. 1000-1300) and late middle ages (ca. 1300-1500).

In Europe the middle ages is often associated with knights, castles, the plague and crusades, and our perception of the period is still to some extent influenced by popular novels such as Walter Scott’s Ivanhoe and Howard Pyle’s Robin Hood.

Keynote speakers dealing with the middle ages typically go for a historical focus, possible angles including politics, military and war, art and culture, religion and much more.