The middle ages were characterized by the development of modern states of Europe as they exist.
Explanation:
Middle ages are touted as the dark age of Europe but the foundation for the modern European city states and states was laid during the middle ages itself.
The middle ages was a also the time consolidation of the languages which began to be much less fluid as the time went on.
English codified itself by the end of the 13th century and so did French and German along with Spanish and Italian.
All these languages would pretty much reach their final form by the end of the middle ages and the countries they represented would gain a national character.
