The Middle Ages was the roughly 1,000-year span between the fall of the Roman Empire and the beginning of the Renaissance in Europe. Although the era of the Middle Ages is often portrayed as intellectually and artistically stagnant, this was not entirely the case. Agriculture and Gothic architecture flourished, as did the Catholic Church, which wielded tremendous power throughout Europe.
Source: http://www.history.com/topics/middle-ages
Video: http://www.history.com/topics/black-death/videos#life-after-people-plague
Source: http://www.history.com/topics/middle-ages
Video: http://www.history.com/topics/black-death/videos#life-after-people-plague