Final answer:
Europeans referred to the time between the end of the Roman Empire and the start of the Renaissance as the Middle Ages because they perceived it as a period of decline and little progress. They contrasted it with the Renaissance, which they saw as a time of rebirth and advancement.
Step-by-step explanation:
Europeans after 1300 used the term 'Middle Ages' to refer to the time between the end of the Roman Empire and the start of the Renaissance because they saw it as a period of decline and stagnation. They believed that it was a time characterized by a lack of progress in areas such as military strength, trade, and architecture. They saw the Renaissance as a period of rebirth and advancement, marking the transition from the 'darkness' of the Middle Ages to the 'light' of the modern age.