The Renaissance was not after the Middle Ages.
In the history of Europe , the Middle Ages or Medieval Period lasted from the 5th to the 15th century . The Renaissance ( [ rᵻˈneɪsəns ] , [ rɛnəˈsɑːns ] ) was a period in European history , from the 14th to the 17th century , regarded as the cultural bridge between the Middle Ages and modern history .