The beginning and ending of the Medieval period has long been debated. When asked the time line I, as often as not, give the dates that affected Britain more so than Europe. In Britain, it started around 1066 AD with William the Conqueror's invasion of England and ended in 1485 AD when the last Plantagenet ruler, Richard III, was defeated at Bosworth Field by Henry Tudor. Then came the Tudors who ruled for 118 years beginning with Henry VII and ending in 1603 with the death of Elizabeth I. Within the Tudor period is the Elizabethan Age which is from 1558 AD to 1603 AD.
In Medieval Europe the dates roughly span from the fall of the Western Roman Empire in the 5th century and go through the 15th century but that in itself is generalized as it is believed the movement from the Medieval period to the Renaissance in Europe started in Italy as early as the 14th century. Yet the Late Middle Ages is considered to be the 14th and 15th centuries. Interested in the Dark Ages? They are part of this time line too falling in the Early Middle Ages.
Confused? Don't be. For the purposes of The Medieval Chronicle we'll begin in the Early Middle Ages in the 5th century but we'll take the liberty of extending the era to include tales and information ending with the death of Elizabeth I thus allowing us to explore and learn even more.