Middle Ages 550-1500 By swright 476 The fall of the Roman Empire Period: 590 to 999 Early Middle Ages The Middle Ages started with the fall of Rome. 800 Charlemagne crowned as Holy Roman Emperor Period: 1000 to 1200 High Middle Ages Europe begins to take shape. 1064 The Battle of Hastings Period: 1200 to 1500 Late Middle Ages A period of revolts, famines and plagues. 1214 The Magna Carta was signed 1443 Gutenberg Invents Printing Press Period: 1509 to 1547 King Henry VIII ruled England