Introduction

The Middle Ages are not just any part of world history taking place in any part of the globe. According to long-accepted agreement among historians, taken over in standard university curricula and standard textbooks all over the world, the Middle Ages are a period in Europe's past that roughly covers the millennium between 500 and 1500 ce. Nowadays, the term 'medieval', with 'feudal' used as a regular alternative, often represents something backward and barbaric, which then is contrasted with more splendid cultures that preceded and followed the Middle Ages. From the thirteenth century onwards more and more Europeans crossed the frontiers of the continent of Europe. The most important difference between Europe, China and all the other highly developed regions of the world lies in the fact that there was no unitary authoritative structure in Europe. In Europe, the religious and political spheres became more clearly separated in the later Middle Ages.