Manufacturers Old Glory - Range includes Crusaders, Saracens, Mongols and Late Medieval Western Europe. Magister Militum - Range includes Crusaders, Saracens, Mongols and Samurai. Pendraken - Range includes Late Medieval Western European. Time Period The Middle Ages are traditionally defined as the period between the Norman Conquest of England in 1066 and the beginning of the Rennaisance and the rise of gunpowder weaponry, starting around 1450. Historical Background The recovery of Europe after the Dark Ages led to the creation of the first nation-states, particularly France and England, which fought each other in the Hundred Years War. In addition, the threat of invasion from the growing Muslim powers and the capture of the Holy Land led to a series of Crusades in which Western European armies clashed with Muslim armies. One of the most decisive battles of the Crusades was the Battle of Hattin, in which the famous Muslim general Saladin defeated the Western Crusaders and recaptured Jerusalem.