End of the Middle Ages Day
May 29, Thursday
Historical context
The Middle Ages began after the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 AD and lasted about a thousand years. Its end is traditionally associated with a number of events that occurred in the late 15th century, including:
* The fall of Constantinople in 1453
* The invention of the printing press by Johannes Gutenberg around 1440
* The end of the Hundred Years' War in 1453
* The discovery of America by Christopher Columbus in 1492
However, May 29 was chosen as a symbolic date for the end of the Middle Ages because of the fall of Constantinople on May 29, 1453 — an event that marked the end of the Eastern Roman (Byzantine) Empire and became a milestone in the transition to the modern era.
How it is celebrated
Although this day is not an official holiday in any country, it is used:
* To conduct educational events on the history of the Middle Ages and the Renaissance
* Museums, universities and cultural centers organize lectures, exhibitions and seminars
* Historians and enthusiasts of medieval culture discuss the impact of this era on the modern world
* Online platforms publish articles, facts, and historical overviews related to the end of the Middle Ages
Significance
End of the Middle Ages Day offers a chance to reflect on the profound changes that occurred in European society: from the development of science and art to the beginning of the Age of Discovery. It is an opportunity to reconsider the role of the Middle Ages as not only a "dark" period but also a fundamental era in the history of civilization.